My wife, dry eyed when I went away, met me with tears. Then I learned
that my little vessel and her brave crew had won the plaudit of the
Kaiser, who conferred upon each of my co-workers the Iron Cross of the
second class and upon me the Iron Cross of the first and second classes.
[Weddigen is the hero of the hour in Germany. He also wears a medal
for life-saving. Counting himself, Weddigen had twenty-six men. The
limit of time that his ship is capable of staying below the surface
is about six hours.]
THE SOLILOQUY OF AN OLD SOLDIER.
By O.C.A. CHILD.
You need not watch for silver in your hair,
Or try to smooth the wrinkles from your eyes,
Or wonder if you're getting quite too spare,
Or if your mount can bear a man your size.
You'll never come to shirk the fastest flight,
To query if she really cares to dance,
To find your eye less keen upon the sight,
Or lose your tennis wrist or golfing stance.
For you the music ceased on highest note--
Your charge had won, you'd scattered them like sand,
And then a little whisper in your throat,
And you asleep, your cheek upon your hand.
Thrice happy fate, you met it in full cry,
Young, eager, loved, your glitt'ring world all joy--
You ebbed not out, you died when tide was high,
An old campaigner envies you, my boy!
*The War at Home*
*How It Affects the Countries Whose Men Are At the Front.
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