Page [196]. Wee Willie Winkie: the name is taken from the Scotch poem of William Miller (1810-1872). Below is given Whittier's familiar version of the poem:

Wee Willie Winkie
Runs through the town,
Upstairs and downstairs,
In his nightgown!
Tapping at the window,
Crying at the lock,
"Are the weans in their bed,
For it's now ten o'clock?" 		Anything but sleep, you rogue!
Glowering like the moon;
Rattling in an iron jug
With an iron spoon;
Rumbling, tumbling all about,
Crowing like a cock,
Screaming like I don't know what,
Waking sleeping folk.
"Hey, Willie Winkie,
Are you coming then?
The cat's singing purrie
To the sleeping hen;
The dog is lying on the floor
And doesn't even peep;
But here's a wakeful laddie
That will not fall asleep."
 "Hey, Willie Winkie,
Can't you keep him still?
Wriggling off a body's knee
Like a very eel;
Pulling at the cat's ear,
As she drowsy hums;
Heigh, Willie Winkie!
See! there he comes!"

Wearied is the mother

That has a restless wean,
A wee stumpy bairnie,
Heard whene'er he's seen—
That has a battle aye with sleep
Before he'll close his e'e;
But a kiss from off his rosy lips
Gives strength anew to me.

"An officer, etc.": this quotation refers to the time when the holders of military rank also held social position. ayah: Anglo-Indian for "nurse." Baba: Oriental title of respect. subaltern: a commissioned officer of lower rank than captain, i.e. lieutenant. compound: an enclosure, in the East, for a residence.

[197]. Commissioner: a civilian official having charge of a department. Station: a military post. mess: a group of officers who eat together, hence the officers. rank and file: the non-commissioned officers and privates.

[198]. Afghan and Egyptian medals: it is customary for medals to be struck off in commemoration of campaigns and for them to be called after the places in which the campaigns occurred.

[199]. Hut jao: native expression equivalent to "go away at once."

[200]. Bell, Butcha: dogs' names. Butcha = butcher.

[201]. Old Adam: it is a religious belief that Adam, supposedly the first man, committed sin, the tendency to which he handed down to all men as his descendants. Hence when one does wrong it is said that the Old Adam comes out. quarters: house or rooms of an officer.

[202]. Bad Men: childish name for hostile natives. broke his arrest: an officer under arrest is his own keeper. Sahib: a term of respect, equivalent to Mister, used by East Indians toward Europeans.