Punch/Volume 147/Issue 3826/To a False Patriot
He came obedient to the Call;
He might have shirked like half his mates
Who, while their comrades fight and fall,
Still go to swell the football gates.
He might have shirked like half his mates
Who, while their comrades fight and fall,
Still go to swell the football gates.
And you, a patriot in your prime,
You waved a flag above his head,
And hoped he'd have a high old time,
And slapped him on the back and said:
You waved a flag above his head,
And hoped he'd have a high old time,
And slapped him on the back and said:
"You'll show 'em what we British are!
Give us your hand, old pal, to shake;"
And took him round from bar to bar
And made him drunk—for England's sake.
Give us your hand, old pal, to shake;"
And took him round from bar to bar
And made him drunk—for England's sake.
That's how you helped him. Yesterday,
Clear-eyed and earnest, keen and hard,
He held himself the soldier's way
And now they've got him under guard.
Clear-eyed and earnest, keen and hard,
He held himself the soldier's way
And now they've got him under guard.
That doesn't hurt you; you're all right;
Your easy conscience takes no blame:
But he, poor boy, with morning's light,
He eats his heart out, sick with shame.
Your easy conscience takes no blame:
But he, poor boy, with morning's light,
He eats his heart out, sick with shame.
What's that to you? You understand
Nothing of all his bitter pain;
You have no regiment to brand;
You have no uniform to stain;
Nothing of all his bitter pain;
You have no regiment to brand;
You have no uniform to stain;
No vow of service to abuse,
No pledge to King and country due;
But he had something dear to lose,
And he has lost it—thanks to you.
O. S.
No pledge to King and country due;
But he had something dear to lose,
And he has lost it—thanks to you.
O. S.