THE SHUT-EYE SENTRY SEZ the Junior Orderly Sergeant For the wine was old and the night is cold, An' the best we may go wrong, So, 'fore 'e gits to the sentry-box, So it was "" Rounds! What Rounds?" at two of a frosty night, 'E's 'oldin' on by the sergeant's sash, but, sentry, shut your eye. An' it was "Pass! All's well!" Oh, ain't'e drippin' tight! 'E'll need an affidavit pretty badly by-an'-by. The moon was white on the barricks, The road was white an' wide, An' the Orderly Orf'cer took it all, An' the ten-foot ditch beside. An' the corporal pulled an' the sergeant pushed, Though it was "Rounds! What Rounds?" O corporal, 'old 'im up! 'E's usin' 'is cap as it shouldn't be used, but, sentry, shut your eye. An' it was "Pass! All's well!" Ho, shun the foamin' cup! 'E'll need, etc. 'Twas after four in the mornin'; We 'ad to stop the fun, An' we sent 'im 'ome on a bullock-cart, With 'is belt an' stock undone; But we sluiced 'im down an' we washed 'im out, When we saved 'im, smart as a bombardier, It'ad been "Rounds! What Rounds?" Oh, shove 'im straight again! 'E's usin' 'is sword for a bicycle, but, sentry, shut Pass! All's well!" 'E's called me "Darlin' Jane"! 'E'll need, etc. The drill was long an' 'eavy, The sky was 'ot an' blue, An' 'is eye was wild an' 'is 'air was wet, They'd done it on their 'ead; But you ought to 'ave 'eard 'em markin' time To 'ide the things 'e said! For it was "Right flank—wheel!" for "Alt, an' stand at ease!" An'"Left extend!" for " Centre close!" O marker, shut your eye! An' it was, "Ere, sir, 'ere! before the Colonel sees!" So he needed affidavits pretty badly by-an'-by. There was two-an'-thirty sergeants, There was just nine 'undred rank an' file There was me 'e'd kissed in the sentry-box, But I took my oath, which were Bible truth, There's them that's 'ot an' 'aughty, There's them that's cold an' 'ard, But there comes a night when the best gets tight, And then turns out the Guard. I've seen them 'ide their liquor In every kind o' way, But most depends on makin' friends With Privit Thomas A.! When it is "Rounds! What Rounds?" 'E's breathin' through 'is nose. 'E's reelin', rollin', roarin' tight, but, sentry, shut your eye. An' it is "Pass! All's well!" An' that's the way it goes: We'll'elp 'im for 'is mother, an' 'e'll 'elp us by-an'-by! "MARY, PITY WOMEN!" You call yourself a man, For all you used to swear, My certain shame to bear? I 'ate you, grinnin' there. . . . Nice while it lasted, an' now it is over Tear out your 'eart an' good-bye to your lover! What's the use o' grievin', when the mother that bore you (Mary, pity women!) knew it all before you? It aren't no false alarm, The finish to your fun; An' now you'll off an' run With some new fool in tow. Your 'eart? You 'aven't none. Ah, Gawd, I love you so! |