THE CALL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 59, 9 November 1914, Page 5

THE CALL.

Lad, with the merry smile and the eyes, Quick as a hawk’s and clear as th® day, You, who have counted the game the prize, Here is the game of games to play. Never a goal—the captains say— [ Matches the one that’s needed now: Put the blazer and cap away— England’s colours await your brow. Mae, with square-avt jaws and chin,, Always, it seems, you have moved to your end Sure of yourself, intent to win Fame and wealth and the power to bend — AH that you've made you’re called to • spend j AH that yon ’ve sought yewr ’re asked to miss—What ’« ambition compared with this That, a man lay down his life for kis friend ? Dreamer ) oft in your glancing mind Brave with drinking the fasrie brew, You have smiten the orgres blind When the fair Princess cried out to you. Dreamer, what if your dreams are true? Yonder'a a bayonet, magical, since Him whom it strikes, the blade sinks through— Take it and strike for England., Prince! Friend with the face so hard and worn, The Devil and you have sometimes met, And now you curse the day you were born And want one boon of God—to forgot. Ah, but I know, and yet—aud yet— I out tkere in the shrapnel spray, You shall stand up and not regret The Life that gave so splendid a day. Lover of ease, you've lolled and forgot All the things that you meant to right; Life has been soft for you, kaa it not? What offer does England make tonight ? This —to toil and to mareh and to fight Ae sever you’ve dreamed since your life began; This—to carry the steel-swept height, Tkiet—to know that you’ve played the man! Brothers, brothers, the time is short, Nor soon again shall it so betide That a man may pass from the common sort Sudd'en and stand by the heroes * side. Are there some that being named yet bide?— Hark once more to the clarion call— Sounded by him who deathless died—/‘Thin day England expests you all,’ 1 ' —R. E. VEENBDE, in The’ Times,