POETRY.

KINGS 0' MEN.

I mita thought as I could wish

To be King Gorge upon his throne : " Nay, not for me," I allus said, " I'd liefer bide here on me own, Free on the hillside 'long me sheep, I couldn't larn to live by book " ; I reckoned I'd be main put out To get his sceptre for me crook.

But Sunday night I read the news What these here V.C. chaps has done; Lor', but there never was the like,

Not since the days o' man begun 1

" Heroes," they calls 'em, " heroes "I Well, That don't seem name enough by far; Lor' love yer, by the things they do

A hundred heroes each they are

But what I mean to say be this: I envies young King Gorge the days He pins the V.C.'s on their coats An', mebbe, says a word o' praise.

For he can look straight in the eyes

As seed the gashly things they seen,

Their eyes what never blinked nor blenched In all the hells where they have been.

And he can hold the very hand What done some great tremenjous deed With bomb or baynit; or what saved

A pal as lay in desprit need.

To know such kings o' men as they Be proud to lay down life and limb For his sake!—well, I never thought

To say it, but I envies him 1 I should main like to meet they lade,

An' shake 'em by the hands, I should; There, I'd put up wi' being King- Almost—for luck like that, I would.

litaasarow Unarm