THE SWEET LITTLE MAN.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 286, 12 May 1915, Page 2

THE SWEET LITTLE MAN.

DEDICATED TO THE STAY-AT-HOME RASHERS. (i>y Oliver Wendell Holmes). Sow. while our soldiers are fighting our battles, I'at'h at his post to do all that he can, Down among reVs and contraband chattels, What are you doing, my sweet little man? , ■ (, 'All the brave boys under canvas are sleeping, All of them pressing to march with the van, Ear from the home where the sweethearts are weeping; What are you waiting for, sweet little man? You, with the terrible warlike moustaches, Fit for a colonel or chief of a clan. You with the waist made for sword belts and sashes, Where arcs your shoulder-straps, sweet little mail?

Bring him the buttonless garment of woman, Cover his face lest it freckle and tan; Muster the Apron-strings Guards on the Common—l That is the corps for the sweet little man. (live him for escort a file of young misses, Each of them armed with a deadly rattan, They shall defend him from laughter and hisses Aimed by low boys at the sweet little All the fair maidens about him shall cluster, Pluck the white feathers from bonnet • and fan, Make him a plume like a turkey-wing duster— That is the crest for tile sweet little Oh, the Apron-string Cluards are the fellows! Drilling each (lay since our troubles began—"Handle your walking-sticks!" "Shoulder umbrellas!" That is the style for the sweet little

Have we a, nation to save? In the first placo Saving yourselves is the sensible plan, "Surely the spot where there's shooting's the worst place " Where I can stand,'' said the sweet little man.

Catch me confiding mv person with strangers, Think how the cowardly Rull-I'unners ran ? In ilie brigade of tlio Stay-at-home Rangers -Marches my corps, says the sweet little' man.

Such was the stud' of the MalnkofTta kers, Such were the soldiers that scaled the lleiian: Truenhmt housemaids and bloodthirsty Quakers, 'have not the wrath of the sweet little man.

Yield Mm (ho sidewalk, vo nursery maidens! Sauvc qui pent! Bridget; and right about! Ann— F:orce as a shark in a school of menhadens. See him advancing, the sweet little man!

"When the red Hails of the battlefield's tliß'shors l!eat out the Continent's wheat from its bran, While wind scatters the chall'y seceshers What will become of the sweet little man?

When the brown -soldiers come back from tin* borders, How will he look when his features they scan? Ifow will he feel when lie gets nnirehin" orders, ° Signed by his lady-love? sweet little man.

Fear not for him, though the rebels expect him— Lite is too precious to shorten its span; "Woman her broomstick shall raise to protect him— Will she not fight for the sweet little man ?

Xow, then, nine cheers for the Stay-at-home Rangers! Blow the great fish-horn, and beat the big pan! First in the field that is furthest from danger, Take your white feather plume, sweet iitilc man!