Classic Poem

Our sinful town is calm of nights —
No flag of Blood and Fire unfurled —
Except when One-eyed Billy fights,
Or hurls his scorn at all the world.
He sobers up and prays no more —
No more he testifies the Word —
Our Army men are at the War,
And Booth's old drum is never heard.

No more we see the torch lights flare
From Ryan's Pub, when sinners meet;
No more we hear the brazen blare
Of instruments come down the street,
With Billy with a brand new " save "
And reddest guernsey in the land,
And with a haircut and a shave —
Drum-major of the Army band!

No more we see across the " Park "
The S.A. Barracks all aglow;
A single gas-jet lights the dark,
A single lassie runs the show,
And other shows — she travels round
To help them here and there a bit;
She knows the Bush — and knows her ground —
She's very small, but she has grit.

She said to me the other day:
" I wish you would come in to-night;
I think 'twould help me, anyway,
And give me better strength to fight. "
I scarce knew what she meant, for she
Hath humour in her winsome face —
Unless 'twould help her heart to see
A Bully bard in halls of grace.

But I grow tired of doing right —
And then I thought I'd let her know
That I was saved one strenuous night
In old North Sydney years ago;
And " never had no luck until
I got run in and fined five bob; "
(And also that I never will
Until I lose me stiddy job.)

" But that old save's " wore out", " she said;
" And those old days are past and gone.
Come in to-night! and clear your head,
And get a brand new save put on.
You know that I'm a stranger here,
And find it very dull and slow " —
She paused and brushed away a tear —
" You'll help me more than you can know. "

And so I went, a sinner grey,
And sat amongst the earnest few,
And prayed, when she said: " Let us pray " —
Or rather, I pretended to.
And when the others rose to go
(They very seldom stay out late)
She sat for half an hour or so
Beside the Unregenerate.

She showed me (sitting by my side)
A letter from a chaplain's hand
That told her how her sweetheart died
A hero's death in No Man's Land.
I'd known them both in days gone by
(What time the chaplain used to swear).
I read the lines and saw that my
Unworthy name was mentioned there.

Then, blind with tears she bent her head;
But just as soon the tears were stayed.
" Now , Brother! Let us pray, " she said;
And then her brother knelt and prayed.
And far, or near, it seemed to me,
Or yesterday, or long ago:
In this town — or across the sea —
Booth's Drum was sobbing soft and low.

But what the Army people lack
Shall be in full restored to them;
For " Captain Jack " is coming back
With one leg and a D.S.M.
And Booth's old drum shall wake once more
(Good Lord! They'll bang the barracks down!)
And One-eyed Billy, as of yore,
Shall save the honour of the town.