< Page:The Seven Seas (Kipling, 1896).djvu
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THE 'EATHEN

The 'eathen in 'is blindness bows down to wood an' stone;
'E don't obey no orders unless they is 'is own;
'E keeps 'is side-arms awful: 'e leaves 'em all about,
An' then comes up the regiment an' pokes the 'eathen out.


⁠All along o dirtiness, all along o' mess,
⁠All along o' doin' things rather-more-or-less,
⁠All along of abby-nay,[1] kul,[2] an hazar-ho,[3]
 ⁠Mind you keep your rifle an yourself jus' so!


The young recruit is 'aughty—'e draf's from Gawd knows where;

They bid 'im show 'is stockin's an' lay 'is mattress square;
  1. ↑ Not now.
  2. ↑ To-morrow.
  3. ↑ Wait a bit.
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