JOHN BULL'S WAY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2286, 21 October 1914, Page 6

JOHN BULL'S WAY

John Bull may be only a shopman, just an average business man, But out in the wild waste places you will meet with. Mb caravan, Tho ends of the earth are the counters on which his goods are dis- ■ played. , / ■■ , And the seas of the world are highways by which he carries his trade. He mapped the earth to his liking, he has branches everywhere, And the nations trade at his counter for they know that his price is fair. His goo'ds have been'manufactured on a. strictly genuine plan, And he sticks to his own bad bargains—He's an Englishman! Came a pirate drunk with ambition, a' death's head nailed to the prow, . \ . Tearing His own pledged treaties, voiding his sacred vow, Trampling his neighbour's landmark, burning the peaceful town.' John Bull fingered hie rifle, still handling the'parcels down. Till he wrote on his window a message, a message for all to read— "Business conducted as usual, while alterations proceed."- ' Left his missus and kiddies to carry his business on, Sailed for the round of shooting, "Good-bye and God bless you, ■ ' : John." There wasn't a crowd at the station to riot and make a fuss, That may be the way with others, it isn't the way with us. Scarcely a word to the missus, and the missus was well content, Not even a linp to the Kaiser to tell him why ho wont. Till out of the Northern silence came a message quiet and cool, Bringing cheer to the merchants trading in London Pool, Nothing proud; vain, glorious of enemies sunk and slain, "The North Sea's clear for shipping—get back to your boats again." Swift through the homes of England the marvellous message ran, The simple business statement of an average business man t An eye to the foes of England, an eye to routes of trade, Running his business as usual,-resolute, unafraid. He gave us a fighting watchword, a message as clear as day, That we can assist our country in our own particular way, Scotching the idle rumour running hot-foot through the town, • Doing our business as usual, keeping our shutters down.: ' Whon the fighting is over and done with, and it may be early or late, John Bull will come back to his counter to make up his books to date. • ■ V Full payment without any discount, he will get when the trouble is past,. When the pirate is hanged from his yard-arm and the wardogs are kennelled at last., —London Exchange.