But when your blood runs cold and old, and brain and bowels squirm, The only thing to ease you is some fresh blood in the firm. "When the war was young, and _we_ were young, we felt the same as you: A few short months of glory--and we didn't care how few! French, British and Dominions, it took us all the same-- Who knows but what the Hun himself enjoyed his dirty game! "We tumbled out of tradesmen's carts, we fell off office stools; Fathers forsook their families, boys ran away from schools; Mothers untied their apron-strings, lovers un- loosed their arms-- All Europe was a wedding and the bells were war's alarms! "The chime had changed--You took a pull--the old wild peal rings on With the clamour and the glamour of a Genera- tion gone. Their fun--their fire--their hearts' desire--are born again in You!" "_That_ the big thing we're doin'?" "It's as big as Man can do!" FORERUNNERS * (1900) When I lie dying in my bed, A grief to wife, and child, and friend,-- How I shall grudge you gallant dead Your sudden, swift, heroic end! Dear hands will minister to me, Dear eyes deplore each shallower breath: You had your battle-cries, you three, To cheer and charm you to your death. You did not wane from worse to worst, Under coarse drug or futile knife, But in one grand mad moment burst From glorious life to glorious Life.... These twenty years ago and more, 'Mid purple heather and brown crag, Our whole school numbered scarce a score, And three have fallen for the Flag. * H. P. P.--F. M. J. W. A. C. St. Ninian's, Moffat, 1879- 1880; South Africa, 1899-1900. You two have finished on one side, You who were friend and foe at play; Together you have done and died; But that was where you learnt the way. And the third face! I see it now, So delicate and pale and brave. The clear grey eye, the unruffled brow, Were ripening for a soldier's grave. Ah! gallant three, too young to die! The pity of it all endures.