smmm mi CCABHET CROVES j^ fZ'^mJj i — '; m'"^ MMMMIiMaMWtfMM Class _^_1£±L_ Book V.^C^t ^ GopightN". 1AA3 COPYRIGHT DEPOSrr. n '^ -^ ElgMTH ARMY KORPS BALLADS G. GARNET GROVES Copyright, igoj By G. Garnrt Groves WESTERN BLANK BOOK COMPANY TACOMA, WASHINGTON v^ " PRELUDE Comrades of days that are gone— Friends of to-day I know;— So long as the tie remains. The stronger that tie shall grow. Let us search thro' an old campaign For the sorrow and mirth we wrongJit, The lives that shine beyond the brine In lands ive dearly bought. CX:>NTRNU^S Pkri.udr Page Wheke I Would Be 7 Pakana^uk 10 Hawaii 13 When the Troop-Ship Sails to the East . 16 Ballad of the Out Bkeak . ... 19 Beside the Fash; 23 Bacalok 25 Scouting . . . .... 27 Advance on Santa Makia . . . . 29 Rail-Road Patrol . . . . .33 Ants' Nest 36 At Meraquena 38 The Prisoner 42 Manila Guard 48 Baj.lad OK AN Armv Oven . . . 50 Battle of Beno Tower .... .% Tondo Fire bO On Outpost to Ballad of the North Line . . .65 Roast Pork 71 Night Outpost 73 Contents The FiMPiNO Indian 77 Spectok ok Lolombov . . . .81 Aboard THE Troop-Ship .... 85 Ballad OF THE Phantom Sage . . . 89 Whex the Troop-Ship Sails to Japan . 95 At Hong Kong ... , . 99 The Sentinel's Song . . . lOl Madrigal ... ... 505 In Springtime ..... 106 Down on the Amazon . . . 108 Four Great Gods . . . . Ill Eighth Army Corps Ballads WHERE I WOULD BE. There is somethino: in the spring time, In them spicy tropic smells, In the jungle and the rice-field, In the twilight of the dells: That is calling, calling, calling. And it's there that I would be, On the beach at Paranaque, Looking lazy out to sea. There the winds are in the palm trees, I can hear them to this day. They are calling to the breakers, And I wonder what they say : They are calling, calling, calling. And it's there that I would stay, By the mangos and the cocos. Looking out across the bay. Where I Would Be 'J'here's a, girl down on the calla, Like tlie sunshine and the dew, Her lips were made for kisses. But she ain't "ot none for you: And her heart is sad with waiting;: For a Yankee soldier lad. But he's gone— and gone forever— With a promise what was bad. There's the barracks by the river, And the barracks by tlie sea. There's the block-house and the trenches, Where the soldiei*s used to be: And there's pay-dirt in the foothills. And its there that I would be. Where some sparkling mountain warbler Tumbles down toward the sea. 'J'hore's the wall about the Old Town, With its dunc'cons and its guns. There's the black-hole and the flood-gates, Where the nniddy T^asig runs: There's the bi*eezy bi-oad Tjuneta — And its there that T would stay, AVith my lovely senei'itta— Looking out across the bay. Where I Would Bt For the wind is in the palm trees, I can hear it to this da\'. It is calling to the breakers. And I wonder what they say: They are callino-, callino-. callino-. And its there that I would be. By the mangos and the eocos, Looking Ihzv out to so^i. 10 Faranaque *PARANAQUE. Paranaque's on the Bay! Blow the buj^ie, sound the drum, There is where our army lay, Waiting" for the ships to come. Waiting' in the boiling sun, Digging peanuts in the sand, Dog-tents were as good as none. Rain poured thro' to beat the band. Forragin' for cookin' wood Was our duty on fatigue. Had to find it dry and good. Had to steal it from a nig. Had to rustle in the rain Tearin' down a shack or two, Takin' every fence amain— **^rind that bridge of long ])amboo^ Outpost was the worst 'st' iilace. In the trenches in the mud, Sleep ne'er stared us in the face AVhen we heard the bullets thud. Night ns black as Erebus, Parana que ^^ Rain a pourin' from the clouds. No one seemed to care a cuss HoAV much time the world allowed. Niggers crawlin' thro' the brush All the achin', livelong night, Soldiers trampin' thro' the slush Till the morning's sudden l^ght. Every livin' l)reathin' thing Had a queer nro-tropic haze, Every sound a diiterent ring. Every thought a different phase. Talked of piles of poison snakes. Shark that rolled out in the bay. All the horrm-s of earthquakes. All wild animals of prey. All the poison ants and flies, Tarantulas and centipedes. That we'd never read in lies, AVere rehearsed well for our needs. Talked about the Great AA'alled Town, How we'd storm and how we'd take it. Though if we were half cut down, AVhether we could surely make it. But there'll never be a doubt, 12 Paranaque AVhere the fla^ and bufrle call ns. Like true warriors we'll be out. In the front nnd tliickcst hIwhn's. ' PHrMnM((ne*s on tlu' l>ay. Bhnv the })U' valleys near, I lie down in thy jungles Unarmed, without a fear. Of all the isles in ocean That God hath eared to make, Thine are the only ones of worth He freed from beast and snake. Born in the wild mid-oeean, IMarked by the crowded world. Thy name goes out on the four winds, And round the earth is whirl'd. Thy hills and dales shall l)lossom, To furnish ships their loads. And nations all shall know thee. As ":\[art of the Oreat Cross Koads." Whether in storm or sadness, Whether by nipht or day, Ye haA'C no fear for the future, The flag is there to stay. Ye have no fears to borrow. Ye have no cares to seal. Hawaii 15 Ye have no quarrels to settle, Nor ghastly wounds to heal. But look to the East at morning-. And look to the West at night, And see the flyino: galleons. Fast hoving into sight ; Thine honor locked up the flag-— Which trust no foe can sever, Thine aims be fair, as fruits ye bear, For thou art free forever. * Pronounced Y-k-kee. 16 H'hen the Troopship Sails to the East WHEN THE TROOPSHIP SAILS TO THK EAST. ** We doirt care it' we never come back !" Is what tlie soldiers sanji", Wliile niarcbiiig- down on ^Market Street ']\Jid cheer and shout and bang. *'0 stand away you rookies, You'll have to stay and drill, You've got to learn the service rules Or take the service pill." "We're off and away to the wai-s today, And we'll make room for you, Our banners bri«>ht shall see the lii^ht Of a tropical sun an' dew ; Our banners bright shall stream in the fight From mart-head and from main, 'Tis ours to take where south seas bi'eak Ere w'e come back again." "The sei'vice rules are not for fools. To jostle ()Y to break, You'll find 'em real like tempered steel, And swift as a diving drake. You'll learn to know where 'ere you go, When the Troopship Sails to the East 17 And the law will hold you to it, There's much to do 'fore you get through, And but one way to do it." The troopship sails across the sea. It leaves their homes behind, Their hearts are gay by night and day. In face of a strong trade wind ; If mind is sad the heart is glad. With hope of battles gain, For sphere of thought is all unbought. The seas— from main to main. The troopship sails into the Bay, Her anchors rattle down, The boys descry from sea to sky The crumbling Old Walled Town ; The boys descry from sea to sky A. pamorama grand. And each would swop his berth and slop, For a place upon the land. "This world and then the fire-works!" Is what the soldiers said, A sliding down the gang-plank. All loaded down with lead : drive the cascos side by side, 18 When the Troopship Sails to the East And load them down with men, 'Tis a welcome treat to mind and feet, To tread on land a^ain. 'Tis a welcome treat to mind and feet Tg tread on foreign sod, Where bugle notes and true blue-coats, Go side by side with God : For price of land where 'er we stand, Is stajnped upon our flag ; May they that sneer at price so dear, Be burned with furnace slag. Ballad oj the Outbreak 19 BALLAD OF THE OUTBREAK. Tw:s on the fourth of February In eighteen ninety-nine, Our guards were out on posts about Old grey Manila Town. Our guards were in her streets so dim, And on her streets so bright. Yet none e 'er guessed of storm that pressed, Hard down upon our right. And none once thought of screaming shot. That soon the air would cleft. In ribbon strings as Hell-mouth sings, Hard down upon our left. And no one knew of swarthy crew, Who's hearts were set to rid, The boys in blue and Spaniards, too. From sea to Bilibid. 'Twas nine at night that on our right An orderly came swift. He brought the news . The enemy moves, As gathering storm-clouds drift : From left the same news quickly came, The guards all double tramp, When volleys sing with battles ring At Santa Mesa camp. 20 Ballad of the Outbreak Our bugles call within the wall, And beyond the Pasigs right, Ten thousand men at quick step then, Go clanging to the fight: And they all knew their places, too, Their line must stand to birth, For Yankee stock 'fore doomed must lock. Its line around the earth. The niggers' shot flew thick and hot Above the stone locked toAvn, Our gunboats threw their searchlights true To run their trenches down; And where the light showed foe in sight. It bare down on their flank, Where ten-inch shell works quick and well As it cuts its way in a rank. The power it holds draws out men's souls To fry on a screaming nose, And a hundred cry to God on high Whenever a twelve-inch goes. They come in files for twenty miles. And hem the city round, As winds are bound to sweep the town So are their heart strings Avound, Our searchlights daojce o^ their adva^ce,— Ballad of the Outbreak 21 Hard on their left and right, Our volleys true cut through and through And leave no line in sight. The citizens pass in frantic mass To gain the old walled town, And carriages crash o 'er men and dash The women and children down. The chenos flew their queues shot through The holes in the gaping wall, They carried their gain in bundles twain And swore that they owned it all. Great irons brown came rattling down And closed the Escolta's doors; Ten thousand shot on roofs are hot While the hailing battle roars. And a wail of wars goes up to the stars As if it were judgment eve, And heathen Chinee that cannot flee Hides himself in his sleeve. Once more they come with furious hum To drive us to the sea, Once more they chase to hiding-place Resolved to let us be. And thousands must to bite the dust, 22 Ballad of the Outbreak Their wounds cannot be healed, Tliey lay in piles for miles and miles Upon the bloody field. Their renmants chase from place to place Their shouts call up the dawn. When morning's light broke thro' the night We found that the foe had gone. And it shall be from sea to sea AVhere'er our proud flag streams, That whatever meet with Yankee fleet Be blown to smithereens. And we shall stand from land to land God 's messengers of light, And we shall win in battles din The grip of a close fought fight. For long as stars shall shine on wars Our line shall stand to birth, For Yankee stock 'fore-doomed shall lock Its line around the earth. Beside the Pasi^ 23 BESIDE THE PASIG. I stood beside the Pasij^js troubled tide, At evening's ever changing glow; I saw a hundred boats at anchor ride, I watched the murky waters come and go. And now and then a native bark shot by, Filled with the forests wholesome store; And here and there the water cabbage lie, Lodged 'gainst the boats along the shore. And great black cascos filled with oil and hemp, Came floating down and slowly passed me by ; Here rafts of cocoanuts that closely keep, The rivers foamy margin where they lie. I heard the booming of the sun-set gun, And watched the fishers toiling 'gainst the stream ; I heard the washers pounding on the bund. And saw the dreamer smoking thro' his dream. 24 Beside the Pasi^ The watch is set, the streets are cleared, The rumbling:s of a busy city cease, The weary provost on his circuit steered, Looks anxiously toward his short release. Then darkness settles over land and sea, Search lights sweep the heavens and the shore ; A land breeze rustles thro' a mango tree, A pukme sings his monotone the more. The call to quarters sounds the city through. The wicked current 'gainst a casco slaps. Then bugles wake the evening air anew, Clear thrilling notes, prolonged— 'tis taps. Bacalor 25 BACALOR. Bacalor is sun and dust, nipa huts and straw, Everythino^ that's said and done is straight agin' the law; Niggei^ all a free-love sort and don't believe in clothes, Just the way God sent him here that's the way he goes. Says he is a patriot and loves his country, too, Keeps a shiny bowie-knife hid for me and you; . 0, he is sage and very grave, and shmy as alpaca. But all he knows (and this I know) is Lino and tobacca. Wake up in the morning feeling like a fool. Shuffle out to reville, for that's an army rule ; Next your out in line of squads searcliing f Qr the foe. And where you hadn't ought to be, that's where your apt to go. 26 Bacalor Camp out in the open field and sizzle in the sun, Watch the old Artificer a patching up his gun. Never was a hotter place and never will there be, Than the plain of Bacalor— inland from the sea. Bacalor is sun and dust, dogs and red-eyed rats. Mosquitoes and tarantulas, ants and bugs and bats: What a pleasant place to be— just above sea level, Climatic conditions true to grow a red-hot devil. Fever is a common thing— prickly heat and itch— Germs of every dread disease in the water ditch. And when the last Great Bugle Call rings out across the moor I'd hate to be among the men that/s %^t\\ to Bacalor. Scouting 27 SCOUTING. Scouting ill the inorniiifi', AVhen our vano'uard moves, Trampiii^- throupfh the eane-break Dripping with the dews; Heard a bullet whistle low— Looking* around to see, It had found a comrade Just below the knee. Tramping in the noon-day, Throats as dry as chalk, Dust had filled the voice-box Till we couldn't talk; Felt the fever in our bones Drawing* out our life, Felt the cramps at every step, Cutting like a knife. In the furrowed rice fields, When the sun is low. Aching for the word to halt- Hungry as a crow; Heard a bullet singing low— ]LiOoked around surprised, 28 Scouting It had found a comrade Square between the eyes. In the tang'led jungle, Searching out the foe, Battling with the boa snake, Scaring up the doe; In the muddy nipa swamps Little did we make, Tramping on the crocodile And poison water snake. Scaring up the caribou In his muddy lair, Kneeling down to drink the slush Little caring where; Brushing otf a centipede — Felt the prickly heat. Stinging like a thousand pins From our heads to feet. In the tangled forest, Where the python glides. Fuzzy black tarantulas Hanging to our sides; There I left my comrade, Death had gripped him tight, Rolled up in his poncho. In the arms of night. Advance on Santa Maria 29 ADVANCE ON SANTA MARIA. AVe lay on the fields at Bocaue; The night was waning' away, A\'e knew on the wings of the morning Our line would move on to the fray. We knew on the wings of the morning Spirits of friends and of foe, Would float o'er the smoke of the battle Wherever death summonses go. Would spirits released hover o 'er us % Would they hear the roar of the fray? Would they know and grapple together? Whoever shall know or can say. AVe heard the tramp of our columns Crossing the sun-baked fields, We heard the whiz of the night-birds, And the jingling jink of the steels. We heard the artillery coming, Down on the graveled road; A rumble like distant thunder In upper air's abode. Moaning low in the night breeze The slender bamboos toss, 30 Advance on Santa Maria Over our sleeping columns, Under the Southern Cross. No bugle call awakes us— We're up by night and away, Ere stars in the skies above us Go twinkling out to the day. We're out and in line of battle. We're watching the wood ahead, We wait for the march of the morning. That streaks the sky with red. The big guns thunder at daybreak; Their chilled steel bolts are swift. They tell the foe in the city The American lines are adrift. They crash thro' twenty house-tops. They break the strong stone walls, They hurry the half-dressed thousands Out of their bamboo stalls. There's the hustle and bustle of panic, Over the dusty way, Their bull -carts break by the roadside That leads to San Jose ; There's the pleading cry of the childi'en, The prayer of mother and maid, Advance on Santa Maria 31 There's the curse of the heathen warrior — The gashes the shells have made. Our line moves over the prairie ; We ford the river in haste, The shorts go in to the shirt-tops, The longs go in to the waist. We know when we see their trenches There's something to take and to give, And minutes we lose on the rice-field Will lessen our chances to live. Our line moves on o 'er the paddies ; We drop at a thousand yards, And send a thousand ounce bullets As a gift to the enemy's guards. We charge in the wind-chased smoke cloud All dripping with water and mud. We stumble in sharp-staked pitfalls, We spatter the ground with blood. We're over their earthen breastworks, We're under the red rose-oak, * ' No carie combate ! Amigo ! ' ' They shout thro' the din and the smoke. We're on and beyond the city. The reserve comes up behind, 32 • Advance on Santa Maria We know when their work is finished, The town will be blown to the wind. We look to the mountains beyond us, Alive with the homeless folk. We look to the city behind us And see it go up in smoke. And who is to pay the damage? Our lives are free to mend Rents in our starry banner The God of Battle must send. If the price be a life we'll give it. Either on land or on sea ; If the price be a nation's honor. The strong 'st best let us be. Far over the wind-whipped ocean We'll shout our liberties cheer, While we're civilizing the natives With Bible, bullets and beer. Railroad Patrol RAILROAD PATROL. Patrol in' on the railroad In the middle of the night, Was a work I never cared about; I never thought it rig-ht To send, three men a hikin' For three miles up the track. And never get a minute's rest. Till they hiked the three miles back. One night was dark and cloudy, They starts the third relief, And I had drawn to first place And trembled like a leaf; For it was life and it was death, No reck which way you went. If I'd offered my head at auction You wouldn't have bid a cent. Less than a mile to north of us The enemy lay thick, And often as Ave tramped along We heard the breach-bolt click. Ai:d often as we marched along A whizzmg spear went by. Ye' no one knew from whence it came Nor where the enemy lie. 34 Railroad Patrol There was field to either side of us And gloomy woodland, too, And nip a huts in lines along Where Spanish roads went through. And here the fields swept to the track, And there the bamboo w^eaves Its dainty net-work overhead All interlocked with leaves. We tramped the three miles up the track All silent as could be, We tramped the three miles half way back And stopped most suddenly. And I was leadin' the patrol My heart rose up in pain, And struggled hard to free itself And then beat down again. * We all dropped down between the rails And lie there as if dead, And watched the enemy's line go by Scarce twenty yards ahead. Company after company In single file the foe, Loomed up like Satan's dusl^ band As over and on they go. kailroad Patrol 35 We all hugged to the dumb leak ties A wishin' we was one, I never mind 0' breathin' till Their line had passed and gone. But was thinkin' of the mischief That they were sure to make, Down in the town of BuUican Before the night would break. Was thinkin' of the pleasantness Of being caught by them. And spitted on the live bamboo And left or boloed then; Or gagged and tied and staked across The field-ants porus nest. Or whipped beneath a beastly load— With never a minute's rest. We didn't mind the fightin' Ner tarantulas black an ' hairy, We didn't mind night out-post For that was necessary. We didn't mind the starvin' Nor sun, nor rain, nor blow. But we kicked on night patrolin' — It lacked the ghost of a show. 36 Ani's Nesi ANT'S NEST. Tt was a wearx' outpost— ca me in at five A. M.. Marching like a carabou in a inuddj^ fen ; We, tlie Aveary ontpost, steering in like monks. Found tlie Company ^^ patrol sleeping in onr bunks. Then the Corporal swore an oath clad in steel and lead. Stamped around and found a hump and on it laid his head; Sleep had closed his weary eyes just about a minute, AVhen that hump begaji to move— for there was something in it. A roaring oath, a whorl of dust, a blue shirt in the air. A pounding, striking, brushing, biting in his beard and hair. The weary outpost stood aghast, didn't know 'but ''Doby" /Int's Ugs^ 37 ll;t(l been bittoM nnd the bite s:a.ve him hy- drophobe. When tlie fight was over a.nd his clothes wei-e on the ground, Said lie, "That's near'st bein' licked I ever was first round ; 1 don't believe in niakin' out— but, by the the millions dead — ir 1 had had another round. I'm sure I'd lost my head." .N'ow the moral of this ditty is as plain as any g*host, Be (careful where you lay your head when you come in off post. 'I'arantulas and centipedes may crawl alorit^; your pants. But they are nothing when compared with a little nest of ants. 38 At Maraquena AT MARAQUENA. Our lino had rested on the field, Our picket guards were out; The weary stretched out on the ground, The strong sat round about. And some were smoking wheezy pipes, And some were chewing beetle, And some were swapping old time lies, And some resumed to whittle. The rain in torrents fell on us. And wet us to the bone; And filled the paddies to the brim:— It made us think of home. And all the ridges on the field Swarmed thick with biting ants, That crawled in at our leggin' tops And up our brown-duck pants. The wounded groaned in open field, The strong swore with a. zeal, The bull-train stuck a league to rear, And could n 't move a wheel. Ai Mataquena 39 And all the privates swore galore, Because there was no bread ; When suddenly a volley flew — Close o'er our Major's head. The outposts rush in through the slush, With tale of lurking foe; x\nd every man forgot his pain, When the order came to go. It 's hustle up with gun and belt And get into the line, We all can march without a torch When mausers sing so fine. And out we marched by companies, And halted all in a row; And then the Major's voice rang out — ''Fore- ward— guide center— Ho!" And down we marched toward a wood From whence their volleys flew, We heard them calling: ''Yankee dogs Come down, we'll fight with you." "We'll bind you here and stake you there And leave you for the crows, 40 At Maraquena The mouk, the ape, the boa-snake, Shall roost in your empty clothes." And then their whistling shot flew high And cut the tops of trees, And then their whistling balls flew down And sizzed low in the breeze. And some were steel and some were brass And some were ricochet. And some were slugs from half-inch rods That flew along our way. We stretched our line across the draw Till it connected through. Then waited for their rifles light To make our volleys true. The mountain air was crisp and chill, Our khaki suits were thin, But little we reck the price of a neck When duty calls tls in. Our eager eyes search through the dark, Our anxious fingers tip The triggers of four-hundred guna \\^v\<\. close againii- the hip. Al Mat aquena 41 A full moun' burst the rain-clouds througii, And put our line in sight, When lo! They fled and we were left Ti) battle with the ni^ht. 42 The Frisongr THE PRISONER. In a jungle deep, on a river road, A bullock-man stretched out on top of his load. Then blue smoke curled from his great cigar, As he gazed at the heavens and thought of the war. The caribou grazed in the rice-fields near. And the soldier's mind ran free from fear; From mud and mire, from blood and sun, Thoughts journeyed away as a brook doth run. But his home lay bare before his face, And his mind ran over that grand old place ; From a mother's corner so cozy and neat. To the icicled window and pane of sleet, To a brother building a trench of snow, And a sister storming the works with a hoe; For all these things he had heard before, And his thoughts sped on from the scenes of war. As murmur is murmur, or death is death, The Prisoner 43 A sudden soiiDd from his eyes all cleft ; He clutches his rifle— and up from the dells, Came a whorl of fire, and whits and yells. And one not hardened to things like these. Must shake for his life, and shoot to the breeze. But the trooper was brave and fearlessly led, And fought with his comrades till they were dead; And he was wounded in head and hand. And lay as a corpse on the blood-stained sand; AA^hile the great black mass came on with a rush. He heard a gurgle, a groan or gush. And prayed to the God— Who gives and ends. To hurry his life out along with his friends. The native warriors plundered the carts. And chopped up his comrades and ate their hearts ; And he must hear and see and wait. The whirl of the bolo to settle his fate: ^"^ The Prisoner But Llic brown chief saw— Uu'uuuJi the dull moon light. The trooper's eyes— live coals in the nioht He came, and then in a deep voice said? ''Guard this man as the eye in the head!'' Bind up his wounds and brino- hi,n forth. That we may leai-n of troops in the Noi-th." All day he traveled and packed a load. Thro' a lonely pass on a mountain road; And ever and on, these words ran clear -Sigg-ie" ! ''Siggie" ! Hissed out in his ear. 'Hurry! Hurry! we give thee life. So long as you clear frAm the point of the knife." At last they emerged from ih^ wooded hills. To a broad low ]ilain. full of fever and chills: Wliei'c the crocodile feeds in the scum- bound slews. And natives drink bino to drive out the blues; Where cane-fields nod where the winds kiss thro', Lifting the leaves and the morning: dew. The Prisoner 45 In the streets of the city of Balaoug, The trooper rested his load on a log : And the forked pains in his head and back, AVere halted now that the straps were slack : And all the villagers flocked to see. The bearded giant from beyond the sea. They have taken liis gannents and sold tlioin out, And left him clothed in a nipa clout : And the white skin burned to a crimson red. When a tropical sun shone over head. But the natives laughed and mocked his pain, As they hurried him on o'er the sun-baked plain. The blood print is soon upon the sod. Where foot of the wretched trooper trod. And his heart turns dumb to pain and fear. As he sees the blue-shirts far, far to the rear : Their shouts are muffled, their volleys seein, To rise in the mists of some devilish dream. And the red skin peels to the bolo stroke. And the red stream follows each bayonet poke, 46 The Prisoner As on to the mountain pass they steer, \> ith— siggie, siggie, hissed out in his ear. In a jungle deep, by a river road, The trooper rested his head on his load: But his mind was filled with cruel pains, And he looked for a rifle to blow out his brains. For he knew no succor would ever ride, Thro ' the mountain trails where the robbers hide. The great queen beetle wheels over the rice. And the air is filled with fire and spice : But all that beauty was dumb and blind. To a trooper brave, with a ruined mind. As he gazed to the distant twinkling skies, A fuzzy black mass hung over his eyes ; That dropping straight from a moss-grown teak, Fastened its fangs in the trooper's cheek. Without a shudder, a groan or cry, A prayer went forth to his God on high, A prayer of joy— in death or life, Of a soul released from a Hell-bound strife. The poison struck at the struggling life, The Prisoner 47 As the heart's fount follows the plimsre of a knife; And the trooper's soul at the dead of night, Went out on the winds in its upward flight. who shall tell, as the years roll on. His mother dear— where her son has gone: And who shall say but the birds that fly, And circle and sing in the tropical sky, That life and honor stand first of all. In a soldier's death for his country's call. 45 The Mnni/a Guard THE MANILA GUARD. Come list to the lay of h Provost Guard As he travels around liis beat. He's at home and abroad in ninety-nine "Rut he's sino-ing of ninety-eight. When his word was jiood as a pension clieek. And a brass ''scale wei<>ht" as gold,* And any name was grood as his For all the grog-shop sold. AA^hen five in gold brought twelve in Mex., And double-eagles fifty. When Monte games were on the street — Hi ! But guards were tlirifty. When Monte playing in the street AVas hard against the law, The guards raked many a Paso in— The officers never saw. AVhen we were watchin' barrels o' wine AVay down beyond the quay, AA^e used to fill our canteens up And coolly walk away. AVhen we were lord of all the town AVe went just where we chose, The Manila Guard 49 And none dared ask the reason why AVe searched among his clothes. And none dared ask the reason wh> AVe drank their best old wine, And never even thanking them Or saying it was fine. We payed them all in pantomine, AYhieh made them understand— That if they said a word we'd rip Them up as countraband. But now its mighty different, They've cut us down to zero, And all the Bud-weiser we get, We plank down the Denero. "t Now all the Dons well understand— And all the Chenos. too. The way to cut us quickly off From the tricks we used to do. The secret lies in knowing how To tell our officers Just how their guards have overrun Their privilege of affairs. *Sonie of the natives exchang^ed fruit for small brass weig-hts, thinkino^ them American gold. fMoney. 50 Ballad of an Army Oven BALLAD OF AN ARMY OVEN. Our company never had much to do 'Xcept to work. And that all day and all ni^ht, too» In boilin' sun and dark and dew. Seemed like the officei^ never cared Much how we bloomin' privates fared: But what was in their minds all day— Was keepin' the men to work some way. I was mighty sick o' patrol: And was thinkin' how To get out o' answerin' roll Call. An' better 'n all How to g:et out o' doin' truard: For twenty-four hours was mighty hard : Besides a man's apt to lose his sleep. And can't make it up for more 'n a week. '* Don't know where to find a man," Our Sergeant sez. "Of course I'll do the best I can, "We're dyin' for old time Yankee *pan': "And the oven shall be built for you, "If it costs the company a shiner or two." Ballad of an Army Oven 51 J ) An' I sit on a mahogany log With eyes and ears Wide open as a terrier dog A' huntin' moles in a mossy bogg. "What's that? An oven-Kahoolawe- '' Perhaps I could build it— let me see. Then the cook sez : '' On Calle Chague* "I learned of a nigger mason today." ''You'll find him around the market place ''He's a loAV built duck with a scar on his face." An' straight the Sergeant started away: An' I jumps up An' ran to catch him an' sez: "Say, "I'd like to inquire if I may— "Did you say you wanted an oven built ^ "That's my profession silver and gilt; "I make all things out o' brick or stone; "From basement up to steeple an' dome; "Can save you money— an' then — " It 's better to pay it to one o ' the men. ' ' "Why, sure," said he. "Your just the man"— "What '11 you take?" I though a while— then sez: "I ken— 52 Ballad of an Afmy Oven "With the help o' two or three other men, ''Do the whole dern job for a shiner; ''Build it strong- an' a good deal finer "Than a nigger 'd do." An' he sez: "AVell "That's a bargain. I'll go tell "Cap. An' I'll see the "Top" for yon, "He'll set you off duty a week or two." So in a thrice the bargain was made: An' I set to work, With pick an' hoe an' shovel an' spade, A levelin' off a place by the wall, An ' a thinkin ' how in the devil 'n all To build the thing. By all that's lean An oven was somethin' I'd never seen. AVhile I was thinkin' over my "snap," Somethin ' gave my shoulder a slap : A familiar voice rang in my ear — I knowed 'thout lookin' Cap was near. I drops my shovel : stood straight in the yoke, An' Cap he spoke: "What are you up to, schemin' lout, "What the duce are ye about, "Do you want the company to pay for this, ' ' It seems to me enough that ye miss Ballad of an Army Oven 53 "Retreat an' doiii' guard: AYhat if the work be rough, "Don't the government pay ye enough? "At this stage of the game you ought to know "We need your profession. And so "I'll detail you to build the oven." Ge! But didn't he say that lovin'! An' turned on his heel an' left just then, Mad as a banty settin' hen. An' I stood still for a minute or two, A lookin' blue: An' waitin' till the boys got through Guyin' me. Onesez: "Oh-ho "You will tell us all you know— "Get down and dig, there's nothin' finer, "We'll turn out and help you spend your Shiner. ' ' An' the cook he sez: "If I was you, "I'd be in no hurry 'bout gettin' through." An' I sez— quick as the boys went out: — "That's just what I've been thinkin* about." So I worked on for a week or two. And no one knew What en earth I was up to : 54 Ballad of an Army Oven A ridin' out around the town, Locatin' brick an' stone: an' down In the Alhambra : an' what I lost, I added to what the bricks had cost. An' the company payed it 'thout a kick: An' next day I bought a few more brick. An' I rid about for days an' days, In various ways, A buyin' sand an' lime an' stays; First on the Luneta and then in Binondo, Through the Walled City and out to Tondo : Down to Malate and thro' Santa Cruiz, Out to San Polock and thro ' San Luiz : Through San Megiel, Ermeta and Paco,— In all my meanderings steered clear of Queipo. An' always stoppin' at noon each day. At the old hotel— La Oriente. The oven was built of stone and brick, A foot thick On sides and bottom. But the trick Of coverin' it over bothered me: Finally I struck on the i'd Of a piece of iron, square-like, see— A hole in one corner for a chimble, There was no doubt ' twould work to a " T ; " Ballad of an Army Oven 55 An' I remembered that in the Freola,** Was iron enough to build a gondola. So got permission : went in one day, An ' hauled away A piece of steel— the boj^s all say Weighed a ton. 'Twas just the checker, Made her look like a double-decker; I built the chimble higher than the wall, An' piled on sand an' stone an' all Was ready. We piled in coal an' wood, An ' soon found out her draft was good. An' all the boys were happy as clams, A thinkin' of pies an' puddins an' yams: Among all companies far an' near, As an oven builder I hadn't a peer. An the cook's detail was kneadin' bread Enough to last two days ahead. But in the mornin' the cook took note,— The steel had warped up like a boat, An' bricks an' chimney had fallen in, Where the raised loaves ought to have been : An' the cussin' I got I'll always remember, Down in Manila one morn in November, I learned how man's reputation may Rise an' fall in a single day. *Chog--way Street. **Shipyard. 56 Ballad of the Battle of Beno Tower BALLAD OF THE BATTLE OF BENO TOWER. There is many a battle recorded In letters of crimson and gold, And thousands of stories are hoarded, Because of the glory they hold; But battle or legend or story. There is none can equal in part. This tale of a row on the Chogue, That flows from a veteran's heart. The city was wrapped in her night robe, All sounds were drifting to sleep. Save the roll of the tide in the Pasig, And tramp of a sentry on beat ; But unseen f oemen were watching From house top and from wall, For a light in the Beno Tower— A signal when all should fall. They meant to fall on the sentries And cut them down in the street. Then rush the principal barracks And bolo our troops while asleep. But the ear of the watch had discovered, Ballad of the Battle of Beno Tower 57 And every soldier knew, Of devilish plot for booty Contrived by villainous crew. The guard on the street was doubled, The guards on the bridge were three ; And one must watch from the center, With his rifle cocked on his knee. Still as the walls at Paco The crowded city grew, AYhen a light flashed down from the Tower, Blood-red through the dark and the dew. A flash, and a ball fleAv skyward, Ciitting the dumb night air, Tearing from shell to mortar, Singing the natives' hair. But the flame still pierced the darkness, And every foeman knew — But stopped at the crack of the rifle. Perplexed. What should they do % They had not long to wonder, They had not long to wait, For the roar of guns in the Chogue, Soon sealed their hard earned fate. They tremble to think of the future, 58 Ballad of the Battle of Beno Tower Lest apprehended they be, How life would be drawn in the dungeon Or black-hole caves of the sea. And they longed to shift their quarters But dared not move a hand, Cool balistrade they longed to trade For a place on a catamaran. AA^here sea-birds cry to each other, And free waves foam at the rails. Where free winds laden with perfume Tighten the bamboo sails. They prayed to the God of darkness, They shook from heads to feet, AVould rather than loot be a bandicoot, And burrow beneath the street : Prayed for power of breath and look Of gilding basilisk. Then cursed all things alive or dead, And laughed at the loss of a risk. The fight down on the Chogue Raged like a racing sea. The guards from seven quarters Cross-fired the guards from three; The tower was shot to ribbons, Ballad of the Battle of Beno Tower 59 The light was snuffled from the wick, And the row was settled as handy And straight as a burro can kick. All night was a black-robed terror, But blacker still was the day For the niggers— when caught in the round- up- Had a tolerable debt to pay. As Solomon read the roses, The guards must read the face. For look of truth from guilt forsooth, Is marked in every race. But not in humane history Did ever guards bring in, ;More thorough clinkered graduates From schools of heathen sin. 60 Ballad of the Tondo Fire BALLAD OF THE TONDO FIRE. Blood-red ! Blood-red ! The sipmal fled To East and AVest and South, The natives saw their roofs of straw Glowing- as g:lows Hells-mouth: The natives knew its meaning', too, It cut their hearts in twain; They learn the cost from Avhat they lost. In a mile of solid flame. The roaring flames are like the roar Of a hundred racing trains; The bamboo peps fi^om heat and drops, As drops the tropic rains: The draught nuist make the whirlwind take The flying nipa high, AVhere through the night with blood-red light, It burns against the sky. Their soldiers creep from street to street, 'Tis bold we must agree, They call the guard but gates are barred In front of Company C. They call the Captain of the Guard, Ballad of the Tondo Fire 61 He answers straight and swift; One hundred rifle balls flew down. To set their souls adrift. A piercing scream cuts thro' the blast AVhere a sweep of steel has gone. And bellowing roar of tortured beasts. Steals over the city till dawn : AVith oaths and yells, with guns and bells, The Tondo of filth and mire, — Swift as a typhoon on the seas, — Goes up in the flood of fire. Their soldiers fall beside the wall. And lie there thro' the night, The bullets whit while niggers get Beyond the line of light: But foe must stop where'er they drop. The Springfield balls are sure, Their weight is fair, the holes they tear, Must make the body pure. Above the bells in Queipo Square, I watch the whirling race, The black and blue where flames stab thro'. The blood-red at the base ; The jet-black cloud high in the sky, 62 Ballad oj the Tondo Fire The anxioiLs hordes below. If the wind should blow from the north I trow, The city must surely go. But a land breeze blew the cloud away, Far out across the bay, And the mornin*>' lit^ht broke thro' the night From the mountains far away ; And the mother calls to the blackened walls, But the lost cannot be found. And the cheno sifts in the fleshless drift. While the sentr>^ tramps the round. The Outpost 63 THE OUTPOST. Land of eternal spring: A garden vast and wild, Bathed in a mountain breeze, A tropical verdure smiled. The song of busy birds Come forth t'roin every nook. And lisping on the breeze Come murmurs from the brook. And misty ciris clouds Float here and there and on, They crown each mountain peak They linger— and are gone. Across the terraced fields, The cuskoo calls alone; Beyond the wooded ridge, The land is not our own. For the Insurgents keep, Their camp fires burning bright. They're dreaming all the day, And marching all the night. 64 The Outpost Around deserted homes, Ripe cane and tall corn wave, And swine and poultry feed From many a shallow grave. Beneath the man^^os shade, From boAvlder cool and brown, I watch the distant fields, Up rugged slope and down. Ballad of the North Line 65 BALLAD OF THE NORTH LINE. There's never a place in all the world So written in my heart, There's never a wind between the worlds Can drift ns far apart: There's never a thoiio-ht in all the world So stamped upon my mind, As place and thought of battles fought — Three thousand leagues behind. We went out to Caloocan loaded down with lead. We went thro' her burning streets tramp- ing o'er the dead; We went on to Malabon waist-deep in a slew, Had to hold the wounded up and use our rifles, too. How the bullets whistled by — Hi ! The privates swore, That was out to Malabon with the brave Eight Corps. We went on to Mareloa ; stopped a few at Polo, Amigos flew with all they had— a caribou and bolo : 66 Ballad of the North Line But left a few soldados in the ditches here and there, With a bullet thro' their thorax and the field ants in their hair. We drove 'em at the dayliorht ; we watched 'em thro' the niizht, By the fires of their Peublas they were fools enough to light. The crimson in the south sky tells the North Line all that 's ncAV, And the blood-red in the north sky tells the South Line what to do. While the great lights in the harbor keep a chasing thro' the sky. Talking to each other on the clouds that hustle by. We fought 'em by the river, they were forty to our one. But they dropped away to twenty 'fore they took the hint to run. We fought 'em at Bocaue and drove ^em past Bigaa, Of course it was a bitter way o' teachin' them the law; But we found there was no other way so Ballad of the North Line 67 simple and so strong, And the Filipino Indian was learnin' right along. We routed them at BuUican ; they tried to burn the bridge, And we caught 'em with our longtoms long before they made the ridge; We drove 'em past Guiguinto : It was an awful sight, Te see our men a dyin' in the depot there that night. AVay up at Santa Ysabel we had to lose a few ; The wood was lined with trenches there, that bunched us to get through. But we drove 'em from their stronghold as we'd always done before, And Sundayed at IMalolos with the luckys of the corps. Of course there was a buryin' squad along o' the reserve. But when it come to diggin' pits they didn't care to serve: So they dumped them in the river and they floated out to sea, 68 Ballad of the North Line 'Twas a harvest for the Chinamen that OAATied the soap factory. And some that lay out on the fields they carried at their ease, And burned upon the rice-stacks to kill the dread disease. We went on to Calumpit— 'twas an ugly place,— Lines of trenches everywhere that stared us in the face : And pitfalls that were covered o'er with nipa, sticks and hay. And every gill of earth they'd dug they'd carried far away. You scarce could tell the bloomin' things they looked so like the ground, But if 3'ou 've ever fell in one you know best what you found. On the level fields at Quingaa some found a dusty grave; We had to lose a Colonel that was bravest of the brave, In the swamps at Santa Thomas, in the hills at Nazagara, Ballad of the North Line 69 We had to lose a comrade here and there along our way. Up at San Isidro while marchino: round the swamp We met 'em every morning and had our usual romp ; With old Arriat behind us and old Arriat ahead, We kept marching thro' the jungle that we'd cleared with screaming lead. Heard the monkeys chatter from the branches at the dawn, Heard the cuckoo calling up the timid spotted fawn; Heard the bullets kissing thro' the great banana leaves, Slept to dream that we were home beneath parental eaves. The North Line's at Fernando and the South Line's at the Lake, Their boys can tell the stories of the towns they had to take; Their boys can tell the stories of the blood and dust and sun, 70 Ballad of the North Line While the glory of their triumphs are re- corded one by one. While the glory of their triumphs far do^^^l the ages rings, You 11 always know an Eighth Corps lad for this is what he sings. There's never a place in all the world So written in my heart, There's never a wind between the worlds Can drift us far apart : There's never a thought in all the world So stamped upon my mind. As place and thought of battle fought Three thousand leagues behind. Roast Pork 71 ROAST PORK. Camped out on San Tolon road Watching for the foe, Lounging in and out of camp From dawn till evening's glow; Woods were full of chicken, Carabou and kine. But all our dusty palates craved Was devil-so uled swine. So when the scouts Avent out by day To hunt the wily nig. They killed and dressed and brought to camp A little spotted pig; We roasted him upon the coals And ate him to the ears, His bones made a burnt offering To dry the owner's tears. Then an order came to camp From farther up the line. It read: ''Beware! Don't kill or eat The nigrger-fattened swine. For he is what the buzzard is!" 72 Roast Pork Our Major said. " 'Tis plain He eats the late killed carrion — The bodies on the plain." And then we knew and understood That droves of Chinese hogs, Had rifled all the shallow graves, The which we'd laid to dogs. This story is as straight as Job, As historic as Latin, The hogs were fattened on the flesh That thev were meant to fatten. Night Outpost 73 NIGHT OUTPOST. The night was dark as a dungeon ! The outposts all were new, Singled out in the jungle AVith Pilars border crew; And mine was on the highway Under a bread-fruit tree, I could hear the drone of the beetle, The voice of a lone ' ' pukme. ' ' The jungle was thick and thorny, And full of tropical life, Snakes with the deadly venom, Men with the whetted knife. Wild dogs— skinny and scabby, Hogs with tusks to tear, But worse than all— them niggers— They seemed to be everywhere. I lay pinched on the road-bed, Afraid to breathe or stir, I listened to the brush crack, And the night-bird's mystic whirr. I heard the ripe fruit falling Do\^Ti to the ground with a thud, 74 . Night Outpost I heard the buffaloes rolling In their wallows of mud. A thousand thoughts per minute, Each brought a deady fear, Thought of the whizzing bolo, Pains from the poisoned spear. Something always told me That in the dead of night, AYas time enough for dreaming, But never a time to fight. ]\ry eyes search out the darkness While temple pains shoot thro', I watch a tile of warriors From Pilar 's border crew. In company front I see them, And then in single file. In sets of four I loose them From my vision's dial. A visionary army Seemed closing round our camp I listened to the murmur, I Iieard the muffled tramp ; The iiiinutes all were hours, The hours all were days; Night Outpost 75 And the task of doing outpost May be told in various ways. I started ! 'Tis the enemy ! A hot breath reached my cheek, It chilled me to the marrow : I scarce could move or speak. But turned my head to leeward, And there t'wixt me and sky, Some giant monster told me My time had come to die. Two fiery eyes glared into mine With a hellish-opal glow, And the fetid breath that reached my face, Was worse than the fumes below. If I had opened my lungs to it, I had died a wind-whipped flame. But truth in war is the open scar, Not ballads that sing of fame. I moved my gun around to port To fill the thing with lead, When tusks a pair shot through the air Close range above my head. Grim duty flashed upon me, My fear had gone apace, "6 Night Outpost I thrust my glistening bayonet Hard into empty space. I fired twice: a wild boar fell And struggled hard to death; I felt a rare uneasiness A breathing minus breath. The guard came running up to see— One says, ''He's killed, be dod— !* A bread fruit struck me on the head And landed me in nod. The Filipino Indian 77 THE FILIPINO INDIAN* We have many roving Indians at home, From Alaska to the sunny Cocoa Keys, And your lucky in a squabble all alone If you haven't mixed with any worse 'n these. They will ever stand for beino: friend or foe, And are brave as any warrior black or white, When they're warin' they will always let you know So that you may have a half a show to fight. But the Filipino Indian he's full of gum- a-lac. He's an India-rubber gimmie-cane when he's behind your back; And he's king of kings of cowards when the sun is in his face, And for higher kings of liars there's no other in the race. He is always nuoy pobre** and he's much amigof too, 78 The FilipUio Indian He tells his lie so earnestly the guards will let him through; For they're sorry for a nigger with a sick and starvin' wife, And they give him half their rations just to save his darlin's life. He takes all that you give him and he lugs it to his friends, They eat and laugh together in their wooded mountain dens ; Remember boys it's double-sin to give the sumphs a straw, It's a comfort to the enemy and that's agin' the law. the Filipino Indian he's full of schemin' ways. You'll never get the Injin truth in anything he says; He's past the art of teachin' for he thinks his way is best. And he'll always be an Indian no matter how he's blest. He greets you in the mornin' with a bow that's long and low, And he says in hearty accents, '^Magan- dungarapopo;"$ The Filipino Indian 79 And you think of a coyote as you watch him sneakin' past; For every slidin' glance he gives you think will be the last. He's friendly in the morning and he's busy thro ' the day, And every sack of rice he gets he'll carry far awa}^; You'd think he was the truest friend and wouldn 't deign to fight, Remember boys he's got a gun and he'll come out at night. there's no fool like an old fool, his id's always stick, You can beat and kill an old dog but you can 't teach him a trick. And the Filipino heathen in his house up in a tree, Says: "I'll chance the God my father had: He 's good enough for me. ' ' He takes a drachm of beno and chews the beetle, too, He don't believe a word you say unless he knows it's true; He's suspicious of all creatures no matter what their place, 80 The Filipino Indian And he thinks the bloomin' white man is a hood-wink on his race. You'll find him quick as ligtning, in wit he doesn't lack, You can always find a bolo up his sleeve or down his back: And when you learn to know him you'll be sorry for his lot, For a caribou and bolo are the only friends he's got. the Filipino Indian ! He'll full of chow- chow bark. He's an ugly thing to handle when you meet him in the dark, And he's king of kings of cowards when the sun is in his face, And for higher king of liars there's no other in the race. ^Referring to the uncivilized tribes. **Very poor. tOood friend. |Good morning. Specior of Lolomboy 81 SPECTOR OF LOLOMBOY. I stood on guard at the Western Gate That faced toward the sea, And wondered if that sweet song I heard Would ever come back to me. I watched the pale moon climbing up High in the midnight sky, And all the field was lighted up With a spectral light there by. I watched the shadows on the grass; Some seemed to shift about. And one grey pile I centered on And tried to reason out. The wind blew free from tree to tree. It sang a ''devil's dirge," It drew the robes of spirit night Around me like a scourge. When first we came to Lolomboy We made a gruesome find In bones and skulls and skeletons— The chapel floor was lined. Men had died from ghastly wounds, And some from want of care, 82 Specto r of Lolo m b oy For no man either black or white Had dared to venture there Since we had passed, in hickory haste, Driving the dusky foe, As a cold northwest Dakota wind Drives o'er the frozen snow. For sixty miles a running' fight And now a rest we sought, Within the walls of Lolomboy— A cool and breezy spot. Oh, sixty miles of mud and slush. Of dust and dirt and sun, Was just the thing for soldier boys With Tinos on the run. I knew the bones of twenty men Were piled along yon pass. Where all the bleaching sun-scorched skulls Grinned at us thro' the grass. I knew the day we piled them there We'd multiplied our sins. By setting femers up on end. And playing at nine-pins. With five in Mex. up on each side We rolled the skulls away. And I was winner of the prize On that eventful day. Spector of Lolomboy 83 I watched the gray pile in the grass, It seemed to writhe and work, As if it were the tri-compound Of spirit, sprite and spirk. And then a ghastly form stood up And walked toward the wall, Followed true by a bony crew, All naked slim and tall. The first called thro' a tongueless mouth, And twirled a fleshless arm, ''Ye need not fear that we appear. We wish our guard no harm." "File Right!" They march around by twos. Then "right by file" they go; "As skirmishers!" The line spreads out, All in a perfect row. And thus at rest they sang a song. In accents fair and sweet, The verse so low I could not know. But this did they repeat : ' ' O some are held and silver belled. And joyous as the lark, A.nd some are gripped in the poison fan^s Of the spirit of the outer dark." The wind blew free from tree to tree. 84 Spector of Lo lorn boy It blew the song away, And all was still from wall to hill, As an oyster in the bay. ''On the right ! Assemble !" called the chief, They rnmble low and rattle, And some thrcAV off a hand or foot. The same he'd lost in battle. The second knocked the right man down, The next one trips and goes, And so it happened one by one They fell where they arose. The pale moon dipped behind a cloud And all was dark and still. But even yet unto this day I see them bones at drill. Aboard the Troopship 85 ABOARD THE TROOPSHIP. Ridin' on the Givernment Across the briny sea, Lookin' for the halt-block Where our next stop u'd be. Scttin' on an anchor stalk Quiet as could be, Lookin' at the fire break In the twisted sea. Put yer ear ag^ainst the rail. Hear the screw blades play, Hear the engin's even pulse, Steady night and day. Stretch out on the foreward boom To dream the night away, Watch the stars chase forth and back Like they were at play. See the dipper— night by night, Sinkin' in the sea, See the cross a climbin' up Watch- word like and free. 86 Aboard the Troopship Settiii' on a capstan Lookin' wise about, Waitin' for fatio^ue call, All on board the boat. Heard the waves a slashin' At her iron sides, Heard the boys a janglin' As to where she rides. 'Way to port is water, 'Way to star-board too, And front and aft is water. Up-hill to the blue. Heard a man say: "Jack-pot," And another: "Fifteen-two," Another sez: "I'll call you," And another: "I'll raise ye two. One yelped out: "I'm be^n'," Another he says "Check," And one, "A hundred aces;" Says another: "Cut the deck." when yer eatin' swag'in', And half the boys are sick, Aboard the Troopship 87 The wind whips somefin' in yer face, That turns yer stomach quick. Heard a man a sino-in' An old love melody, Heard another a throwin' up His breakfast in the sea. One sez: "I know the reason ''Why the sky is blue; "The bloomin' water makes it, "Paddy, what say you!" An ' Paddy sez : "I 'm thinkin '— "But it never yet has dawned, "How in thunderin' creation "We'll get across the pond. "You see now — we've been sailin' "West for many a day, "But now we've cross the Merid'n, "And 'er goin' the other way. "So we'll get back to 'Frisco "In all brob-billities, "And niver have a chance to show ' ' Our fightin ' qualities. ' ' 88 Aboard the Troopship ''You're talkin' like an Indian: ''Now listen Pat, I'll show "You all about the Meridian:" But I heard fatigue call blow. Settin' on a capstan Lookin' wise about, Longin' for the sick call- All on board the boat. Heard the chaplin' preachin', For it was Sunday morn, Heard the sergeant cursin' The reason he was born. And when I heard the sick call Sez I : " My fever wills, That I should fall in line and get Some o' them quinine pills." Fer no matter what your ail may be You'll get a pill that is. The same they gavo me yesterday Fer siatic rhumatiz. Ballad of the Phantom Sage 89 BALLAD OF THE PHANTOM SAGE. War is Hell : and Hell the grave; The Greek will tell us that, Are they one and the same with different name, Who'll read us the riddle to that^ May we walk in life thro' the one, While we lay our bones in the other ^ May we jest as we toss to the wind The dust of somebody's mother 1* These thoughts hung in my mind, As I stood on a cossack post ; When a man glided out of the gloom, Like a phantom glides after a ghost. A man glided out of the gloom, And halted close to my side, I disobeyed orders "to halt," Yet had no desire to hide. I could have dropped under the bank. That guarded the river's edge, I could have plunged into the heart Of a pricklev bamboo hedge. ^^ I eould have cried, "Call out the guard! Or darted behind a tree. 90 Ballad of the Fhantom Sage Or blow'd a hole thro' his head, With my old forty-five-seventy. But I had no thought of a man, Such as we see in the ranks, Nor that that a man should fear. So much as the shadows of cranks ; But thought of lone mountain caves And distant desert sands. Of skies beyond our skies, And lands beyond our land. Grim visaged and old was he, His hair was white as the swan, But black as a crow in the night Was the long silk gown he had on; His long white locks were curls, Way down to the girth of his waist, They were tossed like silk by the breeze. They were straightened and curled an;^. laced. His eyes were bright as the fire That glows in the electric snark. But when we stood face to face, They burned steel-blue in the dark. A.nd he said as he grasped my arm: Ballad of the Phantom Sage 91 ''Thy thoughts have bid me call For I am a modern sage And can quickly tell thee all." ''Ye are but a common soul With feeling and thought and fire, Thy mind must run with thy mass To that which is lower or higher: Go down to the iron blast Where the white-hot metal stands, Where it runs from the furnace mouth Out into the blistered sands." "Go down with balanced mind If thou art willing to learn. And pass thy hand thro' the stream — 'Tis true it will not burn. So that which is hot as hell Is far to hot to burn, And that which the fool hath solved Shall be left for another to learn." "And since it is true of the one. It will prove as a bi'eath in the breeze, That that which is cold as hell. Is far too cold to freeze." Where is the hell ve fear? 92 Ballad of the Phantom Sage Is it in thy mind or out As the plane of thy life is raised Or lowered or tossed about ^ ''For good is a curse to bad As bad is a curse to good, And the stronger the one may stand Shows the test the other hath stood. The one is essential to life, Its absence must be deplored, The other is builded in minds Where truths of the one are ignored. "What thoughts have ye of the skies? They are cold as an arctic drift. And dark as a dungeon at night— Now where is the good ye can sift? MHiat thoughts have ye of the sea Where barren waves are curled ? What thoughts have ye of the earth Where desert sands are whirled T' ''Thy measure is in thy mind Of all that the earth can give, But it shall never be full If ye dream thro' the life ye live. For some shall ever be rich. Ballad of the Phantom Sage 93 And some shall ever be poor. And all shall be schooled to the rule— That the best must the worst endure.'* ' ' Ye are born to a bitter fate, If ye idle good time away, For the mind must burn the soul. At thought of what 's lost in a day ; The earth is thy strength and growth, Thy life and happiness lies. In doing good to the good. And helping the wicked to rise." I thought between his breaths While the night breeze murmured low, That if I should suddenly die, O ! where would I suddenly go. I gazed on this guise of a man. Would ask his name and grog; But my tongue was still as a mill That hadn't a belt or a cog. And my mind stood at a loss, When I saw his bright eyes shine, At the top of the Southern Cross, Brighter than those of the sign. 94 Ballad of the Phantom Sage But the profile face and form Were still before my eyes, But moved away in the gloom And faded away in the skies. I heard the muffled tramp Like that of prowling thief, I challenged. These words came back: "Guard of the third relief!" *In throwing up trenches beyond Paco we uncovered the skeleton of a woman. 1 When the Troopship Sails to Japan 95 AYHEN THE TROOPSHIP SAILS TO JAPAN. When the Troopship sails to Japan, When the days of battle are done, When the hoys are recalling the frays Wlicre honor and valor have icon: When the land swdl heaves the ship high, And the typhoon rolls the ship low. There's a ivonder that hrightens the eye, There's a triumph that naught else can know. Down at Nagasaki, where the mountains dip In the deep blue channel close beside our ship ; . Watch the clouds a drifting 'gainst their scraggy tops, Listen to the rumble of the anchor as she drops. Give some Jap a nickle and take his broad sampan, Tell him where you Avant to go and ho will find your man : Steady iii the bow boys he'll scull us ?\[ ashore. He that runs a sampan with a crooked oar. 96 When the Troopship Sails to Japan When your safely landed on the stony quay, Fnd a man that understands what you Avant to say ; Don't go out without a guide a stray in' off alone, Remember you can't find a place like vou could at home. Watch the money changer or he will leave you short, Every soldier's ridin' in a ricksha like lie 'ort. Every soldier's ridin' but couldn't tell y^w where, Doesn't seem to understand and doesa t pear to care. Go up to Omori and climb for half a day See the ugly wooden gods to whom the na- tives pray : Get a view of all the town — grandest thing on earth— Wish that you'd been fostered there ever since your birth. Go out on the railroad, stop at Michineu. Get the hottest mineral bath a Yankee ever knew. Stop and see the gardens— 'tis a wonder treat 1 When the Troopship Sails to Japan 97 To see the Island Empire lying at your feet : Mighty small in ratio and mighty great in art; Begin to think the heathen is most all-lired smart. See the queerest grave-yards on a ridge of rock Reaching from the mountain top almost to the dock. Tomb-stones are all imdressed— just a crooked mark — Tells the number of a soul, dead and in th e dark. When they feast the spirit everything is grand, A thousand paper lanterns shine on every hand; And music like the night-hawk's is rife in every street, And every bloomin' idol's got a crowd about its feet. Praying in a temple or chanting o'er a grave, Brings to you a terror, an inspiration wave; But a thousand red and yellow lights from mountain top to sea, 98 When the Troopship Sails to Japan Is a far, far better eye feast than spirit feast to me. Japan is a wonder land full of wonder folk, That never knew the virtue that is in the Christian yoke. Her flowers have no fragrance, her women have no right, And yet we long have known her as the Oriental lig-ht. The beauties of her scenery can never part from me; I long to solve the wonders that fringe the inland sea. But see the law and order and the wonder work they do, Make up your mind the heathen is just as smart as you. Suppose they all are heathen; what differ- ence does it make? Don't half the Christian people make a worse mistake? Better be a heathen with all your soul and might, Than understand the Bil)h' and live behind its \\(r\{{. At Hong Kong 99 AT HONG KONG. The sun shone on a p:lad spring day, At Hong" Kong, where our squadron lay. And newsy yarns began to ring. And jolly tars began to sing, About the doeks and on the bay, In such a fiery sort of way. That street folk heard 'n' 'gan to say, "Them Yankees '11 start out some night "An' like as not there'll be a fight." One day Dewey thought he'd go Down to the English Club — you know — To have a quiet little time, And listen to the frosty chime The champagne glasses made:— It seemed his very soul to haunt- To carry hiiii back to old Vermont : A cuttin' wood on a winter's day, Er a Avaterin' hole down in the pond, And hear the sleigh-bells ring— way Out across the fields beyond. Said an Englishman : "I just want to say, "If you go down to Manila Bay, "Your goin' to 'ave a LofC. 100 At Hong Kong "Your ships '11 go like fire an' stubble, "An' if you don't maneuvre Avell, "You'll 'ave a job on the seas o' 'ell. ' ' I tell you George you '11 'ave to fight, ' ' For they 've got things fixed out o ' sight. ' ' "AYell," said Dewey, "if I do "They'll know they've been in a scrap or two. "I'll give 'em a meal of Yankee steel "Perhaps they'll honor us with a zeal. "But if I catch the bego-ars napping, "Like they've been these hundred years, "Results will set the nations laughing— "All but but one: she'll be in' tears. "I think a cruiser's screaming shot "Will change the id's that they've got!'' He said no more; he sailed away, No news came back for many a day. But while the world was waiting, A Spanish fleet lie grating, (AVhile waves roll o'er its decking— In a solenm sort of way : And hideous shark the waters sweep. Where many gallant sailors sleep. By their own guns in the unknown deep—) At the bottom of famed Manila Bay. The Se7itinel's Song 101 THE SENTINEL'S SONG. When the typhoon brings the breakers in AVith long and sullen roar, And the coco swings its basket top To winds along the shore. When the moon sinks low in the Western sky Across the China Sea, My thoughts fly back across the world To a Home-love calling me. In a home-love far across the world, Faces appear where the snows are whirled ! O still are hours at dead of night! And stiller yet the Guard, His eyes search in the stubborn dark. His hope is with the Lord. His hope to winnow out the night— For he hasn't a shadow of show, The foe could steal up unawares And stand at his bent elbow : The foe could stand at your bent elbow. 102 The Sentinel's Song Strike out your life with his keen bolo. AVe'll leave the ^uard in the jungle deep, The winds in the upper air, The nigger that steals upon your back, The spear thrust unaware: And hie away to a brighter place Tho' only in thought it be, Where joy is joy and death is death In the home-love of the free: Where joy and life are full and free, And safe from dangers that threaten me. Othe^r Ve^rse^ Madrigal 105 MADRIGAL. As sets the sun in cloudless space, So clear our minds should ever be, And in each thought allow to trace, Some axiom of a fair degree. Remote from copyed facts may rise, Some burst of luxury or fame. There by one step we might devise, A home of love ; a worthy name. How oft we falter on the edge Of thoughts sublime or moral gift, Tho' pure and free, remote from dredge, How oft' we set ourselves adrift. Trust not the margins' treacherous sands. Nor in the darkness need we stray; For there no business firmly stands; No light excludes the beams of day. How vile is he who prises much. But casts no anchor drifts along ; How vile is she who fancies such. And cheers him on with smile and song. In every corner there abides, Some moral thought for you and me ; There, too, beam forth unnumbered prides; Of these from false ones let us be. 106 /// Springtime IN SPRINGTIME. Sweet are sounds that fill the air, When the leaves aiiain appear; When the winds with martial sound AVake the armies of the ecround ; AVhen cold winter howls alone In his everlastino: home— Hark! 'Tis nature's reville Calling up her infantry. Gold must hide all he can buy When spring: 's matchless train goes by; A¥hen the lark's celestial song Cheers the hardy plowman on : When the daisies from beneath Blade of grass and sprig of heath, Peep, like one afraid to show Half his brightness here below; Lest the needy flock might gain Title to his squandered fame. AVhen the giant trees arouse From their sleep ; and chithe their boughs AVith unnumbered dots of green, AVhere beneath thp snnli"lit sheen, Falls in clusters on the ground: In Springtime 107 Baby sunbeams dance and bound, While the breezes gently play, Thro' the branches all the day. In the cool and courtly shade By the leaf -trim 'd forest made. Comes a murmur slow and low, From the brooklet far below. Spreading ore the grassy lawn, Each soft note directs the swan: Or the wild duck in his flight Rests upon the stream at night. When at morning and at night Every heart filled Avith delight, Every hand for ready work. Every brain for dutv broke, Every eye unweaves a net. Every ear for wisdom set : Nature's beauty wealth can spy; Nor need poverty pass by Without viewing: her sweet forms; What is life withouf her charms! O, when may erudition break, AYithin the walls and not mistake, A single thing in nature's row, Or why the God has made it so.' 108 Down on the Atnazon DOWN ON THE AMAZON. I love the sight of broad lagoon ; Where the winds are soft and low, Where ripples sing a merry rune, And the pale light from the distant moon Streams through the foliage in bloom With measured beat and slow : And shadows sway as they steal along — At East Branch, down on the Amazon. I sit and watch the rustling reeds, Where the tit-wren builds his nest ; AAHiere the lazy alligator feeds. And bright finch through the night-air leads A host that fortune never needs To earn mankind a rest : And my heart is thrill 'd with the midn\uht song— At East Branch, down on the Amazon. I hear a splash far down the shore Where the drowsy tapirs wade; And shadows pass where the night-birds soar, Down on the Amazon 109 And I hear the dip of the boatman's oar, And the jaguar glides along* the shore, On his midnight forage raid : "Where grasses are cropped by the spotted fawn— At East Branch, down on the Amazon. Each sonnd and motion has its place 'Mong sights so grand and gay; And if your thoughts for a moment chase About the poles, each ice-bound race Dream of their heaven in such a place Nor know which way the way. And I long to join the sights that throng— At East Branch, down on the Amazon. And I think of my home where chop-seas roll, My home by the Northern Lakes ; In the temperate zone so hot and cold. Of forest and field, of pasture and fold, AVhere the young are growing swiftly old From the qu^'ckening pulse time makes. And my thoughts fflide swiftly on and on — At East Branch, down on the Amazon. Yet who shall know of thincs to be 110 Down on the Amazon At foot of rolling- riin Who shall sing' one song of glee AVhen throbbing tropic zone they see Where sounds are wrapped in melody And life is wild and stilH Where grandeur passes all scenes beyond- At East Branch, down on the Amazon. 1 Four Great Gods 111 FOUR GREAT GODS. Three Great Gods came out of the East And one came out of the West ! They all sat down upon the earth And preached that the earth was bles't. And man with his little wind-blown wit Struggled from North to South, For the four Great Gods hung over all, The poor, the rich, the great, the small. And steeped the minds of the powerful, And taught thro' a tongueless mouth. And the greatest God of all the Four- Bright to the mind's eye— sunny ! And Him the tribes of all who knows— From the northern floes to the southern snows Worshipped, and nicknamed ''Money." The second God came out of the East From where the Pig-tails come. And Him all nations bow'd before, AA^hile He filled their minds with dreams galore, 112 Four Great Gods And they named Him "0-pi-iim." Then a third came out of the dark To fashion the minds of all ; » To Him the wise from all the earth Whistled and sanp: in drunken mirth, And christened Him "Al-co-hol." The fourth Great God ca^iie out of the West \ And He was strong and lean, And all the nations hurried forth, From all the South and all the North They called Him "Nico-tine." And here ye have the Four Great Gods That change the minds of men, As a lean cayote upon the plains Changes the fat sage-hen. There are many Gods upon the earth For Avhich men have a thirst, But none is loved Avith such a love As the one I taught you first. OCT