Rhymes of a Red Cross Man

<p><SPAN name="link2H_4_0017" id="link2H_4_0017"></SPAN></p> <br/> <h2> Young Fellow My Lad </h2> <p>"Where are you going, Young Fellow My Lad,<br/> On this glittering morn of May?"<br/> "I'm going to join the Colours, Dad;<br/> They're looking for men, they say."<br/> "But you're only a boy, Young Fellow My Lad;<br/> You aren't obliged to go."<br/> "I'm seventeen and a quarter, Dad,<br/> And ever so strong, you know."<br/> <br/> . . . . .<br/> <br/> "So you're off to France, Young Fellow My Lad,<br/> And you're looking so fit and bright."<br/> "I'm terribly sorry to leave you, Dad,<br/> But I feel that I'm doing right."<br/> "God bless you and keep you, Young Fellow My Lad,<br/> You're all of my life, you know."<br/> "Don't worry. I'll soon be back, dear Dad,<br/> And I'm awfully proud to go."<br/> <br/> . . . . .<br/> <br/> "Why don't you write, Young Fellow My Lad?<br/> I watch for the post each day;<br/> And I miss you so, and I'm awfully sad,<br/> And it's months since you went away.<br/> And I've had the fire in the parlour lit,<br/> And I'm keeping it burning bright<br/> Till my boy comes home; and here I sit<br/> Into the quiet night."<br/> <br/> . . . . .<br/> <br/> "What is the matter, Young Fellow My Lad?<br/> No letter again to-day.<br/> Why did the postman look so sad,<br/> And sigh as he turned away?<br/> I hear them tell that we've gained new ground,<br/> But a terrible price we've paid:<br/> God grant, my boy, that you're safe and sound;<br/> But oh I'm afraid, afraid."<br/> <br/> . . . . .<br/> <br/> "They've told me the truth, Young Fellow My Lad:<br/> You'll never come back again:<br/> <i>(OH GOD! THE DREAMS AND THE DREAMS I'VE HAD,<br/> AND THE HOPES I'VE NURSED IN VAIN!)</i><br/> For you passed in the night, Young Fellow My Lad,<br/> And you proved in the cruel test<br/> Of the screaming shell and the battle hell<br/> That my boy was one of the best.<br/> <br/> "So you'll live, you'll live, Young Fellow My Lad,<br/> In the gleam of the evening star,<br/> In the wood-note wild and the laugh of the child,<br/> In all sweet things that are.<br/> And you'll never die, my wonderful boy,<br/> While life is noble and true;<br/> For all our beauty and hope and joy<br/> We will owe to our lads like you."<br/></p> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />