THE OLD MAN'S SHARE.

Colonist, Volume LVI, Issue 13635, 25 November 1914, Page 2

THE OLD MAN'S SHARE.

Go with my blessing, lad most sweet; No thought of me shall hold you. back: Be last in eivery fierce retreat, Be first in every swift attack; Your blood is up to meet the foe: Braver am I —l let you go; Old men, as well, must pay War's price: Well, here's your father's sacrifice. I watched you on your mother's breast, 1 stood on guard to see you walk. 1 never gave the neighbours rest The day you first began to talk! I've seen you bath'cl, I've heard your prayers, Sung you to sleep—! But battle glares, ' And old men, too, must pay War.? ; price; , Well, here's your father's sacrifice. 9 ■ For you I made myself a slave, I For you I put the takings by; " I said, "My bonnie boy shall have This little business when I die." T used to dream of days to be, You working here beside of me! L But old men, too, must pay War's ) price; So here's ycfcir father's sacrifice. 1■ " ' 2 There's awful silence in tho shop; 2 At night I sit and watch your chair; q How often in the day 1 stop Q To catch your footfall on the stair! 4 Ah, boy, if I could hear your voice, 2 Your whistle! But you've made your 0 choice; 1 Then old men, too, must pay War's

price;

Well, here's your father's f-acrifice.

Lad, from my knees I rise, I rise! The thought has coir.o. If he had stayed ? I. might have feared to. meet your eyes, I might have thought, Is he afraid? Go, then, my brave, my precious hoy; Go, all my comfort, all my joy, Go forth on duty's glorious track! God in His mercy bring you hack