“Jamwillow.”
[According to the Times correspondent at Suakin, the frequent “jamming” of the Martini-Henry rifles was due to the defective cartridge in use. The cartridge is regarded, as “a theoretical one;” and a theoretical cartridge might as well be a blank one at once.]
On a battlefield gory a soldier was seen,
Who sang “Willow, jamwillow, jamwillow;”
And I said to him “Warrior, what do you mean
By your ‘Willow, jamwillow, jam willow’?
Act at once, since the foe is approaching,” I cried,
“You had better take aim, or they’ll humble our pride.”
With a shake of his helmet, the fighter replied,