ORIGINAL VERSE.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 July 1921, Page 6

ORIGINAL VERSE.

A RETURNED SOLDIER’S LAMENT. A soldier once fought in tjie European War. Four long years of service be saw, And just at the last was badly smacked up IRy one of the shells made by Bertha Von Krupp. They patched up his wounds, and then sent him home, . Ten thousand miles he’d crossed o'er the foam ; And when he got there a nice girl he met, 1 and the love of that nice girl he set out to get. i Well, all went smoothly till her Ma came to see That ter daughter’s affections were no longer free. So she turned her round, and put her foot down. And these are- the words she said with a frown: "My daughter, yon really mUSt give up that man; I He's been out of the country since the great war began, . And the things he has seen, and the things te has done. Make him no fit companion for you, my sweet one.” "Oh, mother!” the daughter then sadly replied. “He fought, for us bravely, and almost he died. Bis wounds pain him yet, they were got for our sake. I cannot, I cannot, my plighted troth brJak.” I I The mother replied: "He’s a physical wreck, | And on his advances you must put a check: i You don’t want a husband under ti e- ground, So buck up! my daughter, and find someone around.” And she did. —By “Returned.”