"I'd sent four of 'em back with the R. I. P.
sign, which means to return if you can,
But none of 'em got through the curtain of fire;
my hurry call died with the man.
Then Runner McGee said he'd try to get through.
I hated to order the kid
On his mission of death; thought he'd never get
by, but somehow or other he did.
"Yes, he's dead. Died an hour after bringing
us word that the chief was aware of our
plight,
An' for us to hang on to the ditch that we held;
the reserves would relieve us at night.
Then we stuck to our trench an' we stuck to our
guns; you know how you'll fight when
you know
That new strength is coming to fill up the gaps.
There's heart in the force of your blow.
"It wasn't till later I got all the facts. They
wanted McGee to remain.
They begged him to stay. He had cheated death
once an' was foolish to try it again.
'R. I. P. are my orders,' he answered them all,
'an' back to the boys I must go;
Four of us died comin' out with the news. It
will help them to know that you know.'"
The Girl He Left Behind
We used to think her frivolous--you know how
parents are,
A little quick to see the faults and petty flaws
that mar
The girl their son is fond of and may choose
to make his wife,
A little overjealous of the one who'd share his
life;
But the girl he left behind him when he bravely
marched away
Has blossomed into beauty that we see and need
to-day.
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