'Taught me the gipsy-folks' bolee; Kind o' volcano she were, For she knifed me one night 'cause I wished she was white, And I learned about women from 'er. Then I come 'ome in the trooper, 'Long of a kid o' sixteen Girl from a convent at Meerut, An' I wouldn't do such, 'cause I liked 'er too much, I've taken my fun where I've found it, For the more you 'ave known o' the others An' the end of it's sittin' and thinkin', An' dreamin' Hell-fires to see; So be warned by my lot (which I know you will not), An' learn about women from me! *Slang. What did the colonel's lady think? Somebody asked the sergeant's wife, An' she told 'em true. When you get to a man in the case, For the colonel's lady an' Judy O'Grady BILL 'AWKINS. "As anybody seen Bill 'Awkins ?" "Now 'ow in the devil would I know ?" "'E's taken my girl out walkin', An' I've got to tell 'im so Gawd-bless-'im ! I've got to tell 'im so." "D'yer know what 'e's like, Bill 'Awkins ?" "Now what in the devil would I care ?" "'E's the livin', breathin' image of an organgrinder's monkey, With a pound of grease in 'is 'air Gawd-bless-'im! An' a pound o' grease in 'is 'air." "An' s'pose you met Bill 'Awkins, Now what in the devil 'ud ye do ?” "I'd open 'is cheek to 'is chin-strap buckle, An' bung up 'is both eyes, too— An' bung up 'is both eyes, too!" "Look 'ere, where 'e comes, Bill 'Awkins! Now what in the devil will you say?" "It isn't fit an' proper to be fightin' on a Sunday, So I'll pass 'im the time o' day Gawd-bless-'im! I'll pass 'im the time o' day!" THE MOTHER-LODGE. THERE WAS Rundle, Station Master, Our Master twice was 'e, With 'im that kept the Europe shop, Old Framjee Eduljee. Outside-" Sergeant! Sir! Salute! Salaam!” Inside-" Brother," an' it doesn't do no 'arm. We met upon the Level an' we parted on the Square, An' I was Junior Deacon in my Mother Lodge out there! We'd Bola Nath, Accountant, An' Saul the Aden Jew, An' Din Mohammed, draughtsman |