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III. Thou shalt not take the name of thy Colonel in vain, for I will
not call him a good man who shall do so.
IV. Remember that thou attend church parade. Six days shalt thou have
for drill and field-days; but on the seventh day thou shalt have no
drill, thou, nor thy fire-lock, nor thy pouch, nor thy pouch-belt, nor
thy ammunition, or any of thy appointments: for six days are sufficient
for these things, and I like to rest on that day; wherefore I order
church parade--attend to it.
V. Honour thy Colonel and thy Major, that thy comfort may be long in
the regiment you are in.
VI. Thou shalt not get drunk on duty.
VII. Thou shalt not be absent from drill.
VIII. Thou shalt not sell thy kit.
IX. Thou shalt not come dirty to parade.
X. Thou shalt not covet thy pay-sergeants’s coat, nor his place, nor
his pay, nor his sword, nor his perquisites, nor his wife, nor his
authority, nor any thing that is his.
_Q._ What do you chiefly learn by these commandments?
_A._ I learn two things: my duty towards my Colonel, and my duty
towards my pay-sergeant.
_Q._ What is your duty towards your Colonel?
_A._ My duty towards my Colonel is to believe in him, to fear him,
to obey all his orders, and all that are put in authority under him,
with all my heart; to appear before him as a soldier all the days of
my life; to salute him, to submit to him in all respect whatever; to
put my whole trust in him, to give him thanks when he promotes me, to
honour him and his commission, and to serve him as a soldier. Amen.
_Q._ What is your duty towards your pay-sergeant?
_A._ My duty towards my pay-sergeant is to attend to his directions, to
look to him for pay and allowances, and all supplies of clothing; to
borrow four shillings and give him five in return, to sign all books
and papers he may require, and to never doubt his word in any thing.
_Q._ Let me hear you say your prayers.
_A._ Our Colonel, high in rank, honoured be thy name; may thy promotion
come; thy will be done by thy sergeants, corporals, and privates. Give
me my daily allowance of pay; and forgive me my crimes as I should
forgive my comrade soldier. And lead me not to the triangles; but
deliver me from them; and thine shall be the honour, thine the power,
for ever and ever. Amen.
_Q._ What desirest thou in this prayer?
_A._ I desire my Colonel, our commanding officer, to extend his
kindness to me and all my comrades; that we may honour him, serve him,
and obey all his orders as we ought to do. And I pray unto him that he
will be merciful unto us, and forgive us our crimes; and that he will
lead us on to the defence of our country and Queen. And this I trust he
will for his honour and renown; and therefore I say, Amen, and Amen.
THE DRUNKARD’S CATECHISM.
[Illustration]
_Question._--What is your name?
_Answer._--Drunken Sot.
_Q._--Who gave you that name?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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