Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold By "F. Harald Williams"[i.e. F. W. O. Ward]. First Edition |
 |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
|
| IV. |
| V. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
BRAVE LITTLE DICK. |
 | Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold |  |
BRAVE LITTLE DICK.
Over the crossings and under the arch,
Waif of the weather,
Ragged and dirty and still on the march,
Blown like a feather,
Here round a corner and there down a court,
Racing one moment, then pulling up short,
Brave little Dick
Yet behaves like a brick;
Though he lives needingly,
He bears unheedingly
Frost and the rain with sharp hunger and thirst
Always, to help his lone mother the first.
Waif of the weather,
Ragged and dirty and still on the march,
Blown like a feather,
Here round a corner and there down a court,
Racing one moment, then pulling up short,
Brave little Dick
Yet behaves like a brick;
Though he lives needingly,
He bears unheedingly
Frost and the rain with sharp hunger and thirst
Always, to help his lone mother the first.
Give him a penny you never will miss
Out of your plenty,
Darling, who grudge not the colly a kiss—
You, tall and twenty;
You, dear old lady, all muffled in furs,
Kindness itself when your kitten but purrs;
Brave little Dick
Has too much of the stick,
While he fares drearily
Taking things cheerily,
Singing and laughing and jesting his way
Nobly, if built of a commoner clay.
Out of your plenty,
Darling, who grudge not the colly a kiss—
You, tall and twenty;
You, dear old lady, all muffled in furs,
Kindness itself when your kitten but purrs;
Brave little Dick
Has too much of the stick,
While he fares drearily
Taking things cheerily,
Singing and laughing and jesting his way
Nobly, if built of a commoner clay.
470
Burly policeman, just turn a blind eye
On his mad capers,
Hustling and begging a bit on the sly—
Think of the Papers!
Don't be so hard on him, you are in weal,
He is not sure of a single half meal;
Brave little Dick
Far too often is sick,
Starving on strainingly
But uncomplainingly;
Law must not rob of repute and of pence
Weakness, and wink at rich sinners' offence.
On his mad capers,
Hustling and begging a bit on the sly—
Think of the Papers!
Don't be so hard on him, you are in weal,
He is not sure of a single half meal;
Brave little Dick
Far too often is sick,
Starving on strainingly
But uncomplainingly;
Law must not rob of repute and of pence
Weakness, and wink at rich sinners' offence.
Here is a shilling! The devil take pride,
When it is cruel!
Yours is a soil that is mainly outside,
Over a jewel;
Iron the grit and most faithful the heart,
Ready the wit and the hand with its part;
Brave like Dick,
Though your troubles come thick
All life is vanity,
And old humanity
Cleaves to us last, and when earth's glitter goes
Slippers of satin walk after brown toes.
When it is cruel!
Yours is a soil that is mainly outside,
Over a jewel;
Iron the grit and most faithful the heart,
Ready the wit and the hand with its part;
Brave like Dick,
Though your troubles come thick
All life is vanity,
And old humanity
Cleaves to us last, and when earth's glitter goes
Slippers of satin walk after brown toes.
| Matin Bells and Scarlet and Gold | |