* ARTHUR *

‘ Oo's the Gen'ral‘ ere? sez I; ‘ Oo's the Gen'ral‘ ere? ‘ O,‘ e's a Prince o’ the Royal Blood, so you‘ ave n't got nothin’ to fear.’ But‘ e marched me‘ ere, an’‘ e marched me there,

To burn blank cartridges everywhere; An’‘ e made me sweat, an’‘ e made me swear — Did Arthur! Wot can the Gen'ral do? sez I;

Wot can the Gen'ral do? ‘ O,‘ e‘ s a Prince o’ the Royal Blood, an’‘ e do n't know much about you!’ But‘ e doubled me round on a big field day: An’‘ e checked me for loafin’ — a mile away!

An’ I found there's a time for work an’ play With Arthur! Wot‘ as the Gen'ral done, sez I? Wot‘ as the Gen'ral done?

‘ O,‘ e's a Prince o’ the Royal Blood, an’ they chucked‘ im‘ is rank for fun!’ But that was a lie, for I found out since ‘ E's ninepence a soldier an’ thruppence a prince! ‘ E stood fire in Egypt, an’‘ e did n't wince!

Not Arthur! Wot does the Gen'ral know? sez I; Wot does the Gen'ral know? ‘ O,‘ e's a Prince o’ the Royal Blood, an’‘ e‘ s on'y got up for show!’

But I‘ chanced’ kit inspection, an’ thought it a‘ cert.’; But‘ e put me down, smart, for a tunic an’ shirt! An’, insult to injury — checked me for dirt! Did Arthur!

I'm willin’ to risk, as I've done before, A Fox‘ Ills fight, or a native war, Or front rank man in an Army Corps, With Arthur!

Wot is‘ e, after all? sez I; Wot is‘ e, after all? ‘ O,‘ e's a swaddle, the same as you, an’‘ e goes to the “orficers’ call”!’

‘ E's a gentleman, Tommy, when all's said an’ done! ‘ Is ma is the lady‘ oo‘ s second to none, An’ we love‘ er the better because of‘ er son — That's Arthur!