MY BROTHER WOT STAYED AT 'OME.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 129, 7 January 1916, Page 4

MY BROTHER WOT STAYED AT 'OME.

Dedicated to my Coldfooted Cobbers.

I'm pullin' oil mc coLur?, I've chucked me away, I'm goin' back tcr Cairo ']cr draw me bloumin' pay; I'm ted up with bein' a eoldier, So elp ma bob 1 am, Cfcewin' mouldy biscuits An' eattn' bread an' jam; I'm sick er iightin' Mr Turk, Out on me blecdin' owr, When I thinks of 'ini in 'Stralur— Me brother wot Ftayed at 'ome.

I'll bet li.'s waiki;-.' up (her strict, 'ls chest puffed out with pride, A skitin' to is bl:omin' cobbers Of 'owe saved 13 ide. An' here's me in this bloorrin' trench, Where I can't even straight me 'ead, For fear a bally sniper 'Ull plug it up with lean". But 'e 'olds 'n 'ead up 'igh enough When up ther s reet 't'll roam; But there ain't no bullets over thereMe brother wot stayed at 'ome.

'E reads tlur "Morcin' "Erald," An' seis ther Tutks is on thcr tun; lh:n 'e brags about Australia, And wot 'er boys 'ave done ; 'E shines bclorc trnr barmaids—'E'a good at beety skitin'— But round ther corner of iher street Is where 'e does ther fightin'. 'ls dugout's in ther taproom, Ther bar's 's lirin' zone, An' the billiard cue ther rifle— Of me brother wot stayed at 'om?.

'E'a nut a bad ehot in thj Held, When 'e gets on a bunny's track, Ad' there ain't no bloomin' danger, 'Cos a bunny can't shoot back; But it's different 'ere with Mr lurk, Lor' Lumme 'e ain't aif slick If 'e gets 'is peepers on yer first My oath! he'll make yer sick; But 'e wjn't risk 'is bloomin' 'ide, Why, 'is 'eait's a frigid zone, An' 'is feet ate bloomin' icebergs— Me brother wot stayed at 'ome.

I'm pullin' off me colcurs, I've chucked me web away, An' I'm Iyin' down me title, I don't care wot thsy say; If 'e can shirk 'is duty, Ses 'e won't go ter drill, Well, two can play ther same game, Then in comes Kaiser Bill. I'm not afraid er bullets. I'd 'ave died without a gtoan, But he's put the kybosh on it allMe brother wot Btayed at 'orne.

Now, when 1 sea ter muther, "I've volunteered ter tight," She sep, "Gawd bless yer, laddie, An' bring yer back alright.'' But 'ini— 'e celled me a chocolate Eoldier, An' a flix bob tourut, too; E se?, "Ye'll never see the fit in' line, Not even get a view' ; E' ses, "You'll have a line trip Acrosa the ocean's foam," But Btill 'e wouldn't come 'imself - Me biother wot stayed at 'ome.

I'd like to 'ave ini over ere Just to show 'im 'ow things are, For it ain't all bc?r in' skittles An' there ain't no bloomin' bar; We're in these bally trenches Eight days out of ten, We can't get a blosmitT spell, '(Job we 'avent got ther mer>; For Mr Turk is wily, 'E ain't ro lazy drone, An' : e's twenty times as brave As me brother who stayed at 'ome.

I've picked up me cN Lte-Enlield, An' I've buckled me web about, tor I'm only a Ll jomin' private An' I've got to see it out; An' though 'e shames 'is manhto.l, An' Bteins 'is pedigree, Thank God there's Borne of us old 'ur.s left, An' we'll fight until we're free; But should tliir foe o'erpower us, An' we gets overthrown, Then 'e'll know 'e 'elped ter kill me-

Me brother wot stayed at 'ome,

--No, 1182, Sig. Tom Skeyhili, 81b Battalion, Ist A.l F., in Supplement to "The Farm Bulletin," 'Xmas, 1915.