The Deserter.

Maoriland Worker, Volume 2, Issue 36, 10 November 1911, Page 4

The Deserter.

By "PUT-'EM-UP."

You came to our aid a friend in need,

You came when the lights were low ; And we grasped your hand, a friend

indeed,

And loyally vowed, you know, To a man, whene'er you called, we'd

come, We'd travel the tracks you tread, And to the roll of the kettledrum, We'd follow where'er you lead. You sounded, we heard, the bugle call; We mustered, and side by side, At the roll-call answered, ready all, In the ranks for you would guide. Armed ready on guilt-stainied tracks to sleuth,

The fakers of right to face; Sworn to a man in the name of truth

These tracks we would ne'er retrace. We marched away at your signal too, With an army praps small, but still Each heart that beat in our band beat true, And we'd fight till those hearts were still; For woman chained, to a cruel despair And the kids, we'd stand or fall— The foe might figlit for their selfish

self; We'd fight for mankind- —that's all. We're in the fight, and each tongue is filled

To the tip with a heart's command; With a foeman' s bribe your tongue is stilled,

But the foeman will understand. Your undrawn sword was a costly thing, For the sheathed sword soon must rust, And worthless service to the king He gives who sells a trust. From your lofty stool in the council

hall, You would point us the bridle-track; We're marching east, from the west you call,

And you dream you can hail us back. But your dream must end, and the day must dawn, When our vict'ry you'll not mistake, When you hear it roar from the east-' em shore, From your dream in tho west you'll Wftk«. .- ■'•.■."--■■'