With the Colors | Page 9

wasn't 'much of a soldier,' or shirked in your duty--well, say, What sort of a chance have other men got when tested on Judgment Day? You fought them all, you did; and when?They quit, you started in again!"
"Shut up!" said the soul of Sergeant Todd; "you're still in my squad,
McQuade,?I say that I lacked what you did not lack--courage to die, unafraid. I was a coward, a trembling coward, deep in my craven heart; I fought with the fear of that fear at my soul, playing no hero's part! You can't understand it--but I?Had none of the courage--_to die!_
"And now that I'm dead," said the troubled soul of the one-time
Sergeant Todd,?"It didn't seem right that those who live should think I have met our God As a brave man does: his honor clear, with his courage unscathed
and whole.?On this high plane there is no room for a fear-troubled human soul; So Sergeant Todd" (he bowed his head)?"_Fears no more_--for his body's dead!"
THE BUSY LADY
We meet ev'ry week to make surgical dressings--?And one woman does it dead wrong;?I watched her a day--then I just _had_ to say,?"My dear! If I may--that's too long!"?While I was explaining the teacher came by--?She's so cross that her mouth's just a _line_--?And found fault with me and my work....
After that?I'll mind _no one's_ business _but mine!_
To-day I was filling my neighbor's slow mind?With War-Garden ideas and lore,?When a dog I don't _know_ just _ruined_ mine--so?I'll not advise _her_ any more!?Then a talk that I gave to the Home Service Group?On "Waste" was _quite_ spoiled--though 'twas fine--?By my bread burning up while I talked....
After this?I'll mind _no one's_ business but _mine!_
At a lecture on "Hospital Units at Work"?A woman (who looked fifty-three)?Ere the talk had _begun_ started _crying_....
Her son?Has gone, she confided to me.?"But you should be _brave_ and 'buck up'," I remarked.?"And _yours_?" she asked.... How did she divine?That _I_ am not married?... Oh, well, after this?I'll mind _no one's_ business--b-but mine!
OVERDOING IT
This horrid old war is right _in_ our house?Making itself _at home_, goodness sakes!?The scraps from our table won't feed a _mouse_?We've cut out desserts, salads, and cakes.?Monday is meatless and Tuesday is dry,?Wednesday is _sugarless_, too, gee whiz!?Our plates must be _cleaned_, they tell us. That's why?We _eat_ the garbage before it _is_!
So I bought a melon the other day?When ma was 'tending a Red Cross tea.?I wanted it _awful_ bad.... Anyway?It wasn't so _big_--just right for me--?And then, just to keep from wasting a _drop_,?I _ate it all up!_... Our colored Liz?Says Pa told the doctor, "My fault, old top--?"'We eat the garbage before it is.'"
The doctor was writing a 'scription note?When I come to, turned over and grinned,?And he frowned at Pa, as he wrote and wrote,?Till Pa grew red like his cheeks was _skinned_.?"Eating the garbage? Now, listen, man,?If that's your game it's good for _my_ biz.?But if _I_ was _you_, I surely would 'can'?"'We eat the garbage before it is!'"
THE GIVERS
_"I've given a lot of my time and work?To helping my country," says he;?"No one can tell you that I am a shirk?In the great cause of Liberty!"?(Perhaps you have met him??Well, then, forget him!)_
John Lampas was a Greek,?John Lampas isn't now;?He's just a plain American?And eating soldier chow.?He joined the army recently,?But first--he gave away?His touring car, his watch, his cash?To the Red Cross one day,?And then enlisted. "That's all I can do,"?He said; "and I'm glad to give it, for true!"
He doesn't ask for praise,?For jollies, or for guff;?He gave because this land gave him?A _chance_--which was enough!?He hasn't got a dollar;?He's just a khakied man,?But, somehow, he seems mighty like?A _true_ American!?His cash and his watch and his auto he gave,?And then himself. Was that foolish, or brave?
_So when I hear that other chap?Congratulate himself because?He gave "some time"--I'd like to rap?Him once across his selfish paws!?(Because I have met him--?I want to forget him!)_
HULLO, SOLDIER! HOW'S THE BOY?
We're not a bit deluded by the notion?That this is just a picnic, or that we?Enlisted for a trip across the ocean--?There's work ahead, not just a joyous spree.?Of course we sing and talk and sometimes dance;?But get this in your mind--that when we hear?"Hullo, Soldier! How's the boy?" as we disembark in France, _They_ will hear us answer, "Ready!"
Loud and clear;?They will see that we _are_ ready,
Never fear.
Don't you think that we are just a bunch of flivvers;?We've measured up the job that must be done?And we know what we are facing, though the shivers?Don't turn our spines to rubber--not a one!?The Prussian scorned the world. Well, let him scorn it?(The world exchanges loathing for that scorn);?We haven't put on khaki to adorn it,?But to make the Prussian sorry
He was born;?And to send him back, his "Kultur"
Banner torn!
So it doesn't matter that some foolish people?Bemoan the