A SOLDIER'S PRAYER.

King Country Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 998, 11 August 1917, Page 7

A SOLDIER'S PRAYER.

PROM THE FRONT. Ob, great and noble Being, Commander of this vtssel Pakeha, we, Thy servants of the 24th's, moat humbly beg Thy pardon for bringing oar unclean presence before Thee in this manner. Yet, oh noble One, our need of Thee is great, for within us is naught but emptiness. Thy servants have partaken often of the fare Thou has provided for them, but this vessel ie great in fickleness, and rolletb overmuch, thus causing Thy servants to part hurriedly with that which they have consumed, and so, great One, their frontages cleave to their backbones. The ocean, too, oh mighty One, hast a grievance against üb. It riseth in wrath, and spitteth at us, through the circular windows, and it leapeth over the vessel's fences and hurleth the unwary to the deck. We dare not shave the hair from our faces, lest we inflict an injury to those wonders, and we implore Thee, oh noble One, give unto us pure fresh water, and so enable your humble servants at all times to keep our faces clean, as that from the angry ocean sticketh to our bodies, and the taste thereof does not please the palate. The stew, oh great and mighty One, hath but small acquaintance with the onions, and Thou spoileth good water by mixing it with that which is called tea. Thy secants are now but shadows of the brave fighters, who so lately departed from their beloved Islands, and on bended knee, we implore Thee, oh Thou of great heart, uplift uo and give us strength, pour upon us tha barley broth and bovril; give unto us Thy afflicted people, the fried ;soles which the ocean providwth for as, heap upon us the grilled choplet, the tender steaklet, the sirloin of Ye Britone, the Colonial gosling, and above all tha Maori porker, with the produce of the hen attached. Dispense, mighty One, with the leaden duff. Hurl this into the mighty depths, for it is a menace, and taxetta the ship greatly. Cast Thou, also, the soup, for the oil thereof hath a calming effect on the angry waters. The apple pie Thy grovelling menials crave, but aßk not for the flagon of ale, or glass o'f pure water, these being luxuries, and against our principles, but shouldst Thou press it, Thy servants would sup a little, at Thy gracious bidding. And for all this we, Thy faithful servants, will ever humbly pray, that Thy days may be long in the land.

There «vas a fellow named Ruff Who swallowed some Pakeha duff In his hammock they tied Him up, when he died,— ! And without ballast—he had quite enough. Lost —All meals since leaving Wellington. Apply Driver McCorquindale, N.Z. A.S.C., care Ship's Hospital. Lost—a piece of toffee somewhere between-: and —-; valuable on account lof false teeth attached. X.Y.Z.