Selling the "Cross."

Evening Star, Issue 8399, 27 December 1890, Page 2 (Supplement)

Selling the "Cross."

[Tho *£ut End News' states that the following intuiting epistle has boon received by Sergeant A. Ablatt, 83 Stafford stieet, MUlwall, who won the Victoria Cross for distinguished bravery i n the Crimes, and who naturally leels extremely indignant at b«liig the recipient of sueban insult:—"Dear Sir,—lam making; a collection of Victoria Crosses, of wbieh I have four. I have ventured to ask you if you feel disposed to part with yours."] I wint to ould Mulvaney wid the piper in my hand. Sez I, "The Saints protect us, but there's treason in the land 1 A bloomin', blaed-steel bower-bird, wid money in his purse. Buys up Victoria Crosses ! Terence, help a m»n to curse! "I've known the green Medjjdleh pawned—they sell the Bareback Star* Four ehillln' down on Portmouth Hard buys Kabul-Kandahar, t I've seen a Frontier Plaster J gu for liquor on the toss, But, Terence, is there any man that's Crossed wud sell his Cross?' Mulvaney tuk the paper an' hild it upsidedown, An* whin he read that tile lie smiled a most umbrageous from. "The Sergint wudn't sell," eez he. "Av coorse, that's only fair, But, faith, did that collector-thing get off widout his share '! "If I had what he wanted, an' he tried dogs' thricks on me, I'd paste him up wid Crosses av a sumpshuouß degree. They'd be in stickin-plaster on his nose, an' mouth, an' chin; Begad, I'd write Gazettes upon the ecutt's nefarious ekln ! '" Four men have sold their Crosses.' 'T«as in liquor, I suppote, Or else their wives pershuaded them— a woman niver knows ! But if they trafficked opin eyed, an' if the Army find thim, A belting, an' court-marl ial, an' Rogues' March 'll march behind thim. " There's not a ricked recruity that 'ud sell his socks for dhrink; There's not a cook room sergint'd man that deans the kitchen sink; There's not a crime in colli § to-day, from Curragli Camp to Cutcb, Wud use thim as a doormat, sorr, if they was skinned for such ! " If that collector creature knew the black contimpt I feel. He'd melt hi* Crosses into sauce an' oat them at wan meal; An' while he was digeatin' you might learn him, for hia good, Wan piece av stamped gun-metal means promiscuous pints av blood, " It's all a man can run or risk for wan, and he's bought four J " Mulvaney tore the paper up an' threw it on the floor. "Go back," sez he; "you tell thim this— They'll laugh, but ut is true— Ould Judas wai a red-haired saint forninst that pawnshop crew." Rudyard Kipling. * The brorize Egyptian Star. t The Afghan Star. i Frontier Service Medal. § Soldier in the guard room for drunkenness, etc.