By Noeus-les-mines Lived old Adelphine, Withered and clean, She nodded and smiled, And used me like a child. How that old trot beguiled My leisure with her chatter, Gave me a china platter Painted with Cherubim And mottoes on the rim. But when instead of thanks I gave her francs How her pride was hurt! She counted francs as dirt, (God knows, she was not rich) She called the Kaiser bitch, She spat on the floor, Cursing this Prussian war, That she had known before Forty years past and more. There was also "Tomi," With looks sweet and free, Who called me cher ami. This orphan's age was nine, His folk were in their graves, Else they were slaves Behind the German line To terror and rapine-- O, little friends of mine How kind and brave you were, You smoothed away care When life was hard to bear. And you, old women and men, Who gave me billets then, How patient and great-hearted! Strangers though we started, Yet friends we ever parted. God bless you all: now ends This homage to my friends. A FIRST REVIEW. Love, Fear and Hate and Childish Toys Are here discreetly blent; Admire, you ladies, read, you boys, My Country Sentiment. But Kate says, "Cut that anger and fear, True love's the stuff we need! With laughing children and the running deer That makes a book indeed." Then Tom, a hard and bloody chap, Though much beloved by me, "Robert, have done with nursery pap, Write like a man," says he. Hate and Fear are not wanted here, Nor Toys nor Country Lovers, Everything they took from my new poem book But the flyleaf and the covers. End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Country Sentiment, by Robert Graves