"Shut up!" said the soul of Sergeant Todd; "you're still in my squad, McQuade, I say that I lacked what you did not lack--courage to die, unafraid. I was a coward, a trembling coward, deep in my craven heart; I fought with the fear of that fear at my soul, playing no hero's part! You can't understand it--but I Had none of the courage--_to die!_ "And now that I'm dead," said the troubled soul of the one-time Sergeant Todd, "It didn't seem right that those who live should think I have met our God As a brave man does: his honor clear, with his courage unscathed and whole. On this high plane there is no room for a fear-troubled human soul; So Sergeant Todd" (he bowed his head) "_Fears no more_--for his body's dead!" THE BUSY LADY We meet ev'ry week to make surgical dressings-- And one woman does it dead wrong; I watched her a day--then I just _had_ to say, "My dear! If I may--that's too long!" While I was explaining the teacher came by-- She's so cross that her mouth's just a _line_-- And found fault with me and my work.... After that I'll mind _no one's_ business _but mine!_ To-day I was filling my neighbor's slow mind With War-Garden ideas and lore, When a dog I don't _know_ just _ruined_ mine--so I'll not advise _her_ any more! Then a talk that I gave to the Home Service Group On "Waste" was _quite_ spoiled--though 'twas fine-- By my bread burning up while I talked.... After this I'll mind _no one's_ business but _mine!_ At a lecture on "Hospital Units at Work" A woman (who looked fifty-three) Ere the talk had _begun_ started _crying_.... Her son Has gone, she confided to me. "But you should be _brave_ and 'buck up'," I remarked. "And _yours_?" she asked.... How did she divine That _I_ am not married?... Oh, well, after this I'll mind _no one's_ business--b-but mine! OVERDOING IT This horrid old war is right _in_ our house Making itself _at home_, goodness sakes! The scraps from our table won't feed a _mouse_ We've cut out desserts, salads, and cakes. Monday is meatless and Tuesday is dry, Wednesday is _sugarless_, too, gee whiz! Our plates must be _cleaned_, they tell us. That's why We _eat_ the garbage before it _is_! So I bought a melon the other day When ma was 'tending a Red Cross tea. I wanted it _awful_ bad.... Anyway It wasn't so _big_--just right for me-- And then, just to keep from wasting a _drop_, I _ate it all up!_... Our colored Liz Says Pa told the doctor, "My fault, old top-- "'We eat the garbage before it is.'" The doctor was writing a 'scription note When I come to, turned over and grinned, And he frowned at Pa, as he wrote and wrote, Till Pa grew red like his cheeks was _skinned_. "Eating the garbage? Now, listen, man, If that's your game it's good for _my_ biz. But if _I_ was _you_, I surely would 'can' "'We eat the garbage before it is!'" THE GIVERS