Oh! Englishmen, come drop a tear or two, While I relate a thrilling tale of woe, Of one whose age demanded all the care That love which aged pilgrims ought to share. This poor old man, whose limbs refused to bear The weight of more than eighty years of care, Was brought before a beak, worse than a Turk, And sent to gaol because he could not work, Weep, sons of Britain, mourn your sires’ disgrace! Weep, English mothers! hug your rising race, And pray to Him, who gave your children breath, They may not live to die this old man’s death, In a dark dungeon he was close confined, No friend to comfort, or to soothe his mind; No child to cheer his loathsome dying bed, But soon he rested with the silent dead, Oh, ye who roll in chariots proud and gay, Ye legal murderers! there will be a day, When you shall leave all your riches behind, A dwelling with the ever lost to find, And your great Master, He whose name is good Will hold you guilty of your brother’s blood. THE SOLDIER’S CATECHISM. [Illustration] _Question._ What is your name? _Answer._ Soldier. _Q._ Who gave you that name? _A._ The recruiting-sergeant, when I received the enlisting shilling, whereby I was made a recruit of bayonets, bullets, and death. _Q._ What did the recruiting-sergeant promise then for you? _A._ He did promise and vow three things in my name. First, that I should renounce all idea of liberty, and all such nonsense. Secondly, that I should be well harassed with drill. And, thirdly, that I should stand up to be shot at whenever called upon so to do; and I heartily hope our Colonel will never call me into such a perilous position. _Q._ Rehearse the Articles of thy Belief. _A._ I believe in the Colonel most mighty, maker of Sergeants and Corporals; and in his deputy the Major, who is an officer by commission, and rose by turn of promotion, suffered the hardships of the field-service, marching and fighting; he descended into trials; after the wars he rose again; he ascended into ease, and sitteth on the right hand of the Colonel, from whence he will come to superintend the good from the bad. I believe in the Adjutant; the punishment of the guard-room; the stopping of grog; the flogging with cats; and the certainty of these things lasting. Amen. _Q._ How many Commandments may there be? _A._ Ten. _Q._ What are they? _A._ The same which the Colonel spake in the standing orders, saying, I am thy Colonel and commanding officer, who commands thee in the field and in quarters. I. Thou shalt have no other Colonel but me. II. Thou shalt not make to thyself any sergeant or corporal, that is in any European regiment above, or in any Sepoy regiment below, neither shalt thou salute them; for I thy Colonel am a jealous Colonel, and visit the iniquities of my men unto the third and fourth with stripes, and promote those who obey me and keep my standing orders.