There are times when the righteous are doubtful,
There are times when no man doubts.
When you once get the scent of the cocoa
There's a man and his conscience at outs;
Reckless of moral destruction,
Fearless of anguish and pain,
When you once get the scent of the cocoa
'Tis that scent that you long for again.
One may part from the Orient gladly,
From its garlic and dhobie and goats;
But if he's once got the scent of the cocoa
As he sits and in reverie dotes,—
His thoughts will revert to the eastward,
To the land of yellow and brown
And he sighs for the scent of the cocoa,
And the sight of a pina gown.
MEN OF THE HOSPITAL CORPS
They, too, have heard the drum-beat,
They follow the bugle's call,
Those who are swift with pity
On the field where brave men fall.
When the battle boom is silent
And the echoing thunder dies,
They haste to the plain, red sodden
With the blood of sacrifice.
The flag that floats above them
Is marked with a crimson sign,
Pledge of a great compassion
And the rifted heart divine.
And so they follow the bugle
And heed the drumbeat's call,
But their errand is one of pity:—
They succor the men who fall.
GARRISON LIFE
I want to go home, wailed the private,
The sergeant and corporal the same,
For I'm tired of the camp and the hikin',
The grub and the rest of the game.
I'm willing to do all the fightin',
For that is a game two can play;
But I want to go home, for me goil's all alone,
An' I want to go home to-day.
For I've marched 'til me throat was a-crackin',
'Til crazed for the want of a drink,
I've drilled 'til me back was a-breakin',
An' I haven't had time to think.
And I've had me share of policin',
And guard and I'm tired of me lay;
For me goil's all alone, an' I want to go home,
An' I want to go home to-day.