Till they sound almost too splendid to be absolutely true.

Here and there, indeed, a sceptic

Mutters language rather rude;

Here and there a wan dyspeptic,

Yielding to a peevish mood,

Wonders why a winning nation finds itself so short of food.

When carillons rock the steeple

And the bunting's ordered out,

I have noticed several people

Ask themselves in honest doubt