RUDYARD KIPLING'S NEW POEM.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXVI, Issue 8698, 18 December 1899, Page 3

RUDYARD KIPLING'S NEW POEM.

THE ABSENT-MINDED BEGGAR. When you've shouted "Rale Britannia "-when jon've sang " God Baye the Quean " - When you've finished killing Kruger with yoar month— Will you kindly drop a shilling in my li'tle tambourine For a gentleman in ktmrki ordered South 1 ' He's an absent-minded beggar, and his weaknesses are great, '■ Bat we and Paul must take him as we find him ; He is out on active service, wiping something ofi a slate, And he's left a lot o' little things behind him I Duko'B son— oook'fl son— son ot a hundred klngß— (fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bayl) Eaoh of 'em doing bis country's work (and who'd to look after their things 7) Pass the hat lot tout credit's sake, and paylpav! pay I There are girls he married secret, asking no permission to, Cor he knew he wouldn't get it if he did ; There is gas and coals and Tittles, And the house rent falling dne, ' And It's mote than rather likely there's a kid. There are girls he walked with oasnal, i bey 'll be sorry now he's gone, For an absent-minded beggar they will find him ; Bnt it ain't the time lor sermons, with the winter oomine on— We moßt help the girl that Tommy's left behind him. Cook's son— Duke's son— son of a belted EarlBon of a Lambeth publioan— it's all tbe same ■ to-day I ' ' Eaoh ot 'em doing hla country's work (and who's to look after the girl ?) Pass the hat for your oredit's sake— and pay I pay I pay I There are families by thouaands, Jar too prond to - beg or speak — And they'll put thoirstioks and bedding up the spout. And they'll live on half o' nothing paid 'em punctual onoo a week, •Gams the man that earned the wage is ordered out He's an absent-minded beggar, but he heard his country call, And his regiment didn't need to send to find him; He chucked his Job, and joined it— bo the job before ub all Ia to hep the tome that Tommy's left behind hlnt'l Doke'6 Job— cook's Job— gardener, baronet, groomMew or palacD or paper-shop— there's someone gona away 1 Eaoh of 'em doing his country's work (and who's to look after the room ?) Pass tho hat for your credit sake, and- pay 1 pay! pay! Let ns manage so as later we can look him in the ■ faoe, Andtei! him— what he'd very much preferThat, while he saved the Empire, his employer saved his plaoe, And his mates— that's yon and me— looked out for htr. He's an atsent-mlnded beggar, and he may forget it all, Bnt we do not want his kiddies to remind him That we sent 'em to the workhouse while their daddy hammered Paul, So we'll help the homes our Tommy's left v behind! Cook's son— Duke's son— son of a millionaire (Fifty thousand horse and foot going to Table Bay) Eaoh of 'em doing his country's work— and what hare you gat to spare ? - Pass the hat for your credit's sake,* and— pay 1 pay 1 pay 1 [Thiß is the poem which Saturday's cables told us had, through tbe Daily Mail, realised £37,000 in aid of the War Relief Fund. Facsimiles of it, in the author's handwriting, were printed by the Daily Mail, ana sold at Is each on behalf of the Fund. The Illustrated London News, in publishing this poem, adorns it with portraits of "Tommy," "the absent-minded beggar;" "Jack," the " cook's son ; " Prince Christian of Sohleswig, "Son of a Hundred Kings;" Lord Edward Cecil, "Son of a Belted Earl ;" Lord Charles Caveudish-Bentinck, a "Duke'B Son," and Kipling.]