THE GRAND TOUR

Evening Star, Issue 16092, 18 April 1916, Page 8

THE GRAND TOUR

I always wished to See the world—l 'ad no chanst before, Xor I don't suppose I should 'are it there ad n't been iio war; I used to read the tourist books, tho shippin' news elso, An' I V 3 tha chance o* goin\ bo I couldn't 'elp but go. We *acl a epell in Egvpb first, before we moved along Acrosfe tho way to Suvk, where wo got it - 'ob an' strong; "Wo 'ad no drink when we. wa.3 dry, 110 rest when we was tired, But I've seen the Perramids and Spink which I 'ud oft desired. ' I've what'U last me all my life to talk about an' think; I've sampled various things to eat an' various more to drink; 1 Xve strolled among them dark bazaars, which makes the pay to fly (An* I've 'act my fortune told as well, hu.l that was all my eye), I've seen them little islands, too—l couldn't say theii' names— An' towns as white as washin' day ( (i,nd mountains Epoetin' flames; I've seen the sun come lonely Up <on miles an' miles of sea. "Why, folks 'arc paid a 'undred pound an' seen no more than me. The sky is some w bluer ihere—in fact I never knew , ' As any tnaa could be so 'ot or any sky so blue; There's figs an' dates an' suchlike things all 'angin' on the trees, An* black folks walkin' up on' down os natural as you please. I -always wished to sea the world, I'm fond o' life- an' change, But Abdul got mo in tho leg; an' this is pasam strange That wheirrpu eeo Old England's afiore all wrapped in mist an' rain, Why, it's worth the bloomia* bundle fo be oomin' home again I -VPuttoh.'