Songs Of The Road

Arthur Conan Doyle

Songs Of The Road

FOREWORD

     If it were not for the hillocks            You'd think little of the hills;     The rivers would seem tiny            If it were not for the rills.     If you never saw the brushwood            You would under-rate the trees;     And so you see the purpose            Of such little rhymes as these.Crowborough1911

I. – NARRATIVE VERSES AND SONGS

A HYMN OF EMPIRE

(Coronation Year, 1911)     God save England, blessed by Fate,          So old, yet ever young:     The acorn isle from which the great          Imperial oak has sprung!     And God guard Scotland's kindly soil,          The land of stream and glen,     The granite mother that has bred          A breed of granite men!     God save Wales, from Snowdon's vales          To Severn's silver strand!     For all the grace of that old race          Still haunts the Celtic land.     And, dear old Ireland, God  save you,          And heal the wounds of old,     For every grief you ever knew          May  joy   come  fifty-fold!              Set Thy guard over us,              May Thy shield cover us,              Enfold and uphold us                On land and on sea!              From the palm to the pine,              From the snow to the line,                Brothers together                And children of Thee.     Thy blessing, Lord, on Canada,          Young giant of the West,     Still upward lay her broadening way,          And may her feet be blessed!     And Africa, whose hero breeds          Are blending into one,     Grant that she tread the path which leads          To holy unison.     May God protect Australia,          Set in her Southern Sea!     Though far thou art, it cannot part          Thy brother folks from thee.     And you, the Land of Maori,          The island-sisters fair,     Ocean hemmed and lake be-gemmed,          God hold you in His care!              Set Thy guard over us,              May Thy shield cover us,              Enfold and uphold us                 On land and on sea!              From the palm to the pine,              From the snow to the line,                 Brothers together                 And children of Thee.     God guard our Indian brothers,          The Children of the Sun,     Guide us and walk beside us,          Until Thy will be done.     To all be equal measure,          Whate'er his blood or birth,     Till we shall build as Thou hast willed          O'er all Thy fruitful Earth.     May we maintain the story          Of honest, fearless right!     Not ours, not ours the Glory!          What are we in Thy sight?     Thy servants, and no other,          Thy servants may we be,     To help our weaker brother,          As we crave for help from Thee!              Set Thy guard over us,              May Thy shield cover us,              Enfold and uphold us                 On land and on sea!              From the palm to the pine,              From the snow to the line,                 Brothers together                 And children of Thee.

SIR NIGEL'S SONG

     A sword! A sword! Ah, give me a sword!          For the world is all to win.     Though the way be hard and the door be barred,          The strong man enters in.     If Chance or Fate still hold the gate,          Give me the iron key,     And turret high, my plume shall fly,          Or you may weep for me!     A horse! A horse! Ah, give me a horse,          To bear me out afar,     Where blackest need and grimmest deed,          And sweetest perils are.     Hold thou my ways from glutted days,          Where poisoned leisure lies,     And point the path of tears and wrath          Which mounts to high emprise.     A heart! A heart! Ah, give me a heart,          To rise to circumstance!     Serene and high, and bold to try          The hazard of a chance.     With strength to wait, but fixed as fate,          To plan and dare and do;     The peer of all – and only thrall,          Sweet lady mine, to you!

THE ARAB STEED

     I gave the 'orse 'is evenin' feed,          And bedded of 'im down,     And went to 'ear the sing-song          In the bar-room of the Crown,     And one young feller spoke a piece          As told a kind of tale,     About an Arab man wot 'ad          A certain 'orse for sale.     I 'ave no grudge against the man —          I never 'eard 'is name,     But if he was my closest pal          I'd say the very same,     For wot you do in other things          Is neither 'ere nor there,     But w'en it comes to 'orses          You must keep upon the square.     Now I'm tellin' you the story          Just as it was told last night,     And if I wrong this Arab man          Then 'e can set me right;     But s'posin' all these fac's are fac's,          Then I make bold to say     That I think it was not sportsmanlike          To act in sich a way.     For, as I understand the thing,          'E went to sell this steed —     Which is a name they give a 'orse          Of some outlandish breed – ,     And soon 'e found a customer,          A proper sportin' gent,     Who planked 'is money down at once          Without no argument.     Now when the deal was finished          And the money paid, you'd think     This Arab would 'ave asked the gent          At once to name 'is drink,     Or at least 'ave thanked 'im kindly,          An' wished 'im a good day,     And own as 'e'd been treated          In a very 'andsome way.     But instead o' this 'e started          A-talkin' to the steed,     And speakin' of its "braided mane"          An' of its "winged speed,"     And other sich expressions          With which I can't agree,     For a 'orse with wings an' braids an' things          Is not the 'orse for me.     The moment that 'e 'ad the cash —          Or wot 'e called the gold,     'E turned as nasty as could be:          Says 'e, "You're sold!   You're sold!"     Them was 'is words; it's not for me          To settle wot he meant;     It may 'ave been the 'orse was sold,          It may 'ave been the gent.     I've not a word to say agin          His fondness for 'is 'orse,     But why should 'e insinivate          The gent would treat 'im worse?     An' why should 'e go talkin'          In that aggravatin' way,     As if the gent would gallop 'im          And wallop 'im all day?     It may 'ave been an' 'arness 'orse,          It may 'ave been an 'ack,     But a bargain is a bargain,          An' there ain't no goin' back;     For when you've picked the money up,          That finishes the deal,     And after that your mouth is shut,          Wotever you may feel.     Supposin' this 'ere Arab man          'Ad wanted to be free,     'E could 'ave done it businesslike,          The same as you or me;     A fiver might 'ave squared the gent,          An' then 'e could 'ave claimed     As 'e'd cleared 'imself quite 'andsome,          And no call to be ashamed.     But instead 'o that this Arab man          Went on from bad to worse,     An' took an' chucked the money          At the cove wot bought the 'orse;     'E'd 'ave learned 'im better manners,          If 'e'd waited there a bit,     But 'e scooted on 'is bloomin' steed          As 'ard as 'e could split.     Per'aps 'e sold 'im after,          Or per'aps 'e 'ires 'im out,     But I'd like to warm that Arab man          Wen next 'e comes about;     For wot 'e does in other things          Is neither 'ere nor there,     But w'en it comes to 'orses          We must keep 'im on the square.

A POST-IMPRESSIONIST

     Peter Wilson, A.R.A.,     In his small atelier,     Studied Continental Schools,     Drew by Academic rules.     So he made his bid for fame,     But no golden answer came,     For the fashion of his day     Chanced to set the other way,     And decadent forms of Art     Drew the patrons of the mart.     Now this poor reward of merit     Rankled so in Peter's spirit,     It was more than he could bear;     So one night in mad despair     He took his canvas for the year     ("Isle of Wight from Southsea Pier"),     And he hurled it from his sight,     Hurled it blindly to the night,     Saw it fall diminuendo     From the open lattice window,     Till it landed with a flop     On the dust-bin's ashen top,     Where, 'mid damp and rain and grime,     It remained till morning time.     Then when morning brought reflection,     He was shamed at his dejection,     And he thought with consternation     Of his poor, ill-used creation;     Down he rushed, and found it there     Lying all exposed and bare,     Mud-bespattered, spoiled, and botched,     Water sodden, fungus-blotched,     All the outlines blurred and wavy,     All the colours turned to gravy,     Fluids of a dappled hue,     Blues on red and reds on blue,     A pea-green mother with her daughter,     Crazy boats on crazy water     Steering out to who knows what,     An island or a lobster-pot?     Oh, the wretched man's despair!     Was it lost beyond repair?     Swift he bore it from below,     Hastened to the studio,     Where with anxious eyes he studied     If the ruin, blotched and muddied,     Could by any human skill     Be made a normal picture still.     Thus in most repentant mood     Unhappy Peter Wilson stood,     When, with pompous face, self-centred,     Willoughby the critic entered —     He of whom it has been said     He lives a century ahead —     And sees with his prophetic eye     The forms which Time will justify,     A fact which surely must abate     All longing to reincarnate.     "Ah, Wilson," said the famous man,     Turning himself the walls to scan,     "The same old style of thing I trace,     Workmanlike but commonplace.     Believe me, sir, the work that lives     Must furnish more than Nature gives.     'The light that never was,' you know,     That is your mark – but here,   hullo!     What's this? What's this? Magnificent!     I've wronged you, Wilson! I repent!     A masterpiece! A perfect thing!     What atmosphere! What colouring!     Spanish Armada, is it not?     A view of Ryde, no matter what,     I pledge my critical renown     That this will be the talk of Town.     Where did you get those daring hues,     Those blues on reds, those reds on        blues?     That pea-green face, that gamboge sky?     You've far outcried the latest cry —     Out Monet-ed Monet.   I have said     Our Art was sleeping, but not dead.     Long have we waited for the Star,     I watched the skies for it afar,     The hour has come – and here you are."     And that is how our artist friend     Found his struggles at an end,     And from his little Chelsea flat     Became the Park Lane plutocrat.     'Neath his sheltered garden wall     When the rain begins to fall,     And the stormy winds do blow,     You may see them in a row,     Red effects and lake and yellow     Getting nicely blurred and mellow.     With the subtle gauzy mist     Of the great Impressionist.     Ask him how he chanced to find     How to leave the French behind,     And he answers quick and smart,     "English climate's best for Art."

EMPIRE BUILDERS

     Captain Temple, D.S.O.,          With his banjo and retriever.     "Rough, I know, on poor old Flo,          But, by Jove! I couldn't leave her."     Niger ribbon on his breast,          In his blood the Niger fever,     Captain Temple, D.S.O.,          With his banjo and retriever.     Cox of the Politicals,          With his cigarette and glasses,     Skilled in Pushtoo gutturals,          Odd-job man among the Passes,     Keeper of the Zakka Khels,          Tutor of the Khaiber Ghazis,     Cox of the Politicals,          With his cigarette and glasses.     Mr. Hawkins, Junior Sub.,          Late of Woolwich and Thames Ditton,     Thinks his battery the hub          Of the whole wide orb of Britain.     Half a hero, half a cub,          Lithe and playful as a kitten,     Mr. Hawkins, Junior Sub.,          Late of Woolwich and Thames Ditton.     Eighty Tommies, big and small,          Grumbling hard as is their habit.     "Say, mate, what's a Bunerwal?"          "Sometime like a bloomin' rabbit."     "Got to hoof it to Chitral!"          "Blarst ye, did ye think to cab it!"     Eighty Tommies, big and small,          Grumbling hard as is their habit.     Swarthy Goorkhas, short and stout,          Merry children, laughing, crowing,     Don't know what it's all about,          Don't know any use in knowing;     Only know they mean to go          Where the Sirdar thinks of going.     Little Goorkhas, brown and stout,          Merry children, laughing, crowing.     Funjaub Rifles, fit and trim,          Curly whiskered sons of battle,     Very dignified and prim          Till they hear the Jezails rattle;     Cattle thieves of yesterday,          Now the wardens of the cattle,     Fighting Brahmins of Lahore,          Curly whiskered sons of battle.     Up the winding mountain path          See the long-drawn column go;     Himalayan aftermath          Lying rosy on the snow.     Motley ministers of wrath          Building better than they know,     In the rosy aftermath          Trailing upward to the snow.

THE GROOM'S ENCORE

(Being a Sequel to "The Groom's Story" in "Songs of Action")     Not tired of 'earin' stories! You're a nailer,             so you are!     I thought I should 'ave choked you off with             that 'ere motor-car.     Well, mister, 'ere's another; and, mind you,             it's a fact,     Though you'll think perhaps I copped it             out o' some blue ribbon tract.     It was in the days when farmer men were             jolly-faced and stout,     For all the cash was comin' in and little             goin' out,     But now, you see, the farmer men are             'ungry-faced and thin,     For all the cash is goin' out and little             comin' in.     But in the days I'm speakin' of, before             the drop in wheat,     The life them farmers led was such as             couldn't well be beat;     They went the pace amazin', they 'unted             and they shot,     And this 'ere Jeremiah Brown the liveliest             of the lot.     'E was a fine young fellar; the best roun'             'ere by far,     But just a bit full-blooded, as fine young             fellars are;     Which I know they didn't ought to, an' it's             very wrong of course,     But the colt wot never capers makes a             mighty useless 'orse.     The lad was never vicious, but 'e made the             money go,     For 'e was ready with 'is "yes," and back-             ward with 'is "no."     And so 'e turned to drink which is the             avenoo to 'ell,     An' 'ow 'e came to stop 'imself is wot' I             'ave to tell.     Four days on end 'e never knew 'ow 'e 'ad             got to bed,     Until one mornin' fifty clocks was tickin'             in 'is 'ead,     And on the same the doctor came, "You're             very near D.T.,     If you don't stop yourself, young chap,             you'll pay the price," said 'e.     "It takes the form of visions, as I fear             you'll quickly know;     Perhaps a string o' monkeys, all a-sittin' in             a row,     Perhaps it's frogs or beetles, perhaps it's             rats or mice,     There  are  many  sorts   of visions and             there's none of 'em is nice."     But Brown 'e started laughin': "No             doctor's muck," says 'e,     "A take-'em-break-'em gallop is the only             cure for me!     They 'unt to-day down 'Orsham way.             Bring round the sorrel mare,     If them monkeys come inquirin' you can             send 'em on down there."     Well, Jeremiah rode to 'ounds, exactly as             'e said.     But all the time the doctor's words were             ringin' in 'is 'ead —     "If you don't stop yourself, young chap,             you've got to pay the price,     There are many sorts of visions, but none             of 'em is nice."     They found that day at Leonards Lee and             ran to Shipley Wood,     'Ell-for-leather all  the way, with scent             and weather good.     Never a check to 'Orton Beck and on             across the Weald,     And all the way the Sussex clay was weed-             in' out the field.     There's not a man among them could             remember such a run,     Straight as a rule to Bramber Pool and on             by Annington,     They followed   still  past  Breeding   'ill             and on by Steyning Town,     Until they'd cleared the 'edges and were             out upon the Down.     Full thirty mile from Plimmers Style,             without a check or fault,     Full thirty mile the 'ounds 'ad run and             never called a 'alt.     One by one the Field was done until at             Finden Down,     There was no one with the 'untsman save             young Jeremiah Brown.     And then the 'untsman 'e was beat. 'Is             'orse 'ad tripped and fell.     "By George," said Brown, "I'll go alone,             and follow it to – well,     The place that it belongs to."   And as 'e             made the vow,     There broke from right in front of 'im             the queerest kind of row.     There lay a copse of 'azels on the border             of the track,     And into this two 'ounds 'ad run – them             two was all the pack —     And now from these 'ere 'azels there came             a fearsome 'owl,     With a yappin' and a snappin' and a             wicked  snarlin' growl.     Jeremiah's blood ran cold – a frightened             man was 'e,     But he butted through the bushes just             to see what 'e could see,     And there beneath their shadow, blood             drippin' from his jaws,     Was an awful creature standin' with  a             'ound beneath its paws.     A fox?   Five  foxes  rolled  in  one – a             pony's weight and size,     A rampin', ragin' devil, all  fangs and             'air and eyes;     Too scared to speak, with shriek on shriek,             Brown galloped from the sight     With just one thought within 'is mind —             "The doctor told me right."     That evenin' late the minister was seated             in his study,     When in there rushed a 'untin' man, all             travel-stained and muddy,     "Give me the Testament!" he cried, "And             'ear my sacred vow,     That not one drop of drink shall ever pass             my lips from now."     'E swore it and 'e kept it and 'e keeps it to             this day,     'E 'as turned from gin to ginger and says 'e             finds it pay,     You can search the whole o' Sussex from             'ere to Brighton Town,     And you wouldn't find a better man than             Jeremiah Brown.     And the vision – it was just a wolf, a big             Siberian,     A great, fierce, 'ungry devil from a show-             man's caravan,     But it saved 'im from perdition – and I             don't mind if I do,     I 'aven't seen no wolf myself – so 'ere's             my best to you!

THE BAY HORSE

     Squire wants the bay horse,          For it is the best.     Squire holds the mortgage;          Where's the interest?     Haven't got the interest,          Can't raise a sou;     Shan't sell the bay horse,          Whatever he may do.     Did you see the bay horse?          Such a one to go!     He took a bit of ridin',          When I showed him at the Show.     First prize the broad jump,          First prize the high;     Gold medal, Class A,          You'll see it by-and-by.     I bred the bay horse          On the Withy Farm.     I broke the bay horse,          He broke my arm.     Don't blame the bay horse,          Blame the brittle bone,     I bred him and I've fed him,          And he's all my very own.     Just watch the bay horse          Chock full of sense!     Ain't he just beautiful,          Risin' to a fence!     Just hear the bay horse          Whinin' in his stall,     Purrin' like a pussy cat          When he hears me call.     But if Squire's lawyer          Serves me with his writ,     I'll take the bay horse          To Marley gravel pit.     Over the quarry edge,          I'll sit him tight,     If he wants the brown hide,          He's welcome to the white!

THE OUTCASTS

     Three women stood by the river's flood          In the gas-lamp's murky light,     A devil watched them on the left,          And an angel on the right.     The clouds of lead flowed overhead;          The leaden stream below;     They marvelled much, that outcast three,          Why Fate should use them so.     Said one: "I have a mother dear,          Who lieth ill abed,     And by my sin the wage I win          From which she hath her bread."     Said one: "I am an outcast's child,          And such I came on earth.     If me ye blame, for this my shame,          Whom blame ye for my birth?"     The third she sank a sin-blotched face,          And prayed that she might rest,     In the weary flow of the stream below,          As on her mother's breast.     Now past there came a godly man,          Of goodly stock and blood,     And as he passed one frown he cast          At that sad sisterhood.     Sorely it grieved that godly man,          To see so foul a sight,     He turned his face, and strode apace,          And left them to the night.     But the angel drew her sisters three,          Within her pinions' span,     And the crouching devil slunk away          To join the godly man.

THE END

     "Tell me what to get and I will get             it."          "Then get that picture – that – the             girl in white."     "Now tell me where you wish that I should             set it."          "Lean it where I can see it – in the             light."     "If there is more, sir, you have but to say             it."          "Then bring   those  letters – those             which lie apart."     "Here is the packet! Tell me where to            lay it."          "Stoop over, nurse, and lay it on            my heart."     "Thanks for  your  silence,  nurse! You            understand me!          And now  I'll   try  to  manage  for            myself.     But, as you go, I'll trouble you to hand            me          The small blue bottle there upon the            shelf.     "And so farewell! I feel that I am            keeping          The sunlight from you; may your            walk be bright!     When you return I may perchance be            sleeping,          So, ere you go, one hand-clasp            and good night!"

1902-1909

     They recruited William Evans          From the ploughtail and the spade;     Ten years' service in the Devons          Left him smart as they are made.     Thirty or a trifle older,          Rather over six foot high,     Trim of waist and broad of shoulder,          Yellow-haired and blue of eye;     Short of speech and very solid,          Fixed in purpose as a rock,     Slow, deliberate, and stolid,          Of the real West-country stock.     He had never been to college,          Got his teaching in the corps,     You can pick up useful knowledge          'Twixt  Saltash and  Singapore.     Old Field-Cornet Piet van Celling          Lived just northward of the Vaal,     And he called his white-washed dwelling,          Blesbock Farm, Rhenoster Kraal.     In his politics unbending,          Stern of speech and grim of face,     He pursued the never-ending          Quarrel with the English race.     Grizzled hair and face of copper,          Hard as nails from work and sport,     Just the model of a Dopper          Of the fierce old fighting sort.     With a shaggy bearded quota          On commando at his order,     He went off with Louis Botha          Trekking for the British border.     When Natal was first invaded          He was fighting night and day,     Then he scouted and he raided,          With De Wet and Delaney.     Till he had a brush with Plumer,          Got a bullet in his arm,     And returned in sullen humour          To the shelter of his farm.     Now it happened that the Devons,          Moving up in that direction,     Sent their Colour-Sergeant Evans          Foraging with half a section.     By a friendly Dutchman guided,          A Van Eloff or De Vilier,     They were promptly trapped and hided,          In a manner too familiar.     When the sudden scrap was ended,          And they sorted out the bag,     Sergeant Evans lay extended          Mauseritis in his leg.     So the Kaffirs bore him, cursing,          From the scene of his disaster,     And they left him to the nursing          Of the daughters of their master.     Now the second daughter, Sadie —          But the subject why pursue?     Wounded youth and tender lady,          Ancient tale but ever new.     On the stoep they spent the gloaming,          Watched the shadows on the veldt,     Or she led her cripple roaming          To the eucalyptus belt.     He would lie and play with Jacko,          The baboon from Bushman's Kraal,     Smoked Magaliesberg tobacco          While she lisped to him in Taal.     Till he felt that he had rather          He had died amid the slaughter,     If the harshness of the father          Were not softened in the daughter.     So he asked an English question,          And she answered him in Dutch,     But her smile was a suggestion,          And he treated it as such.     Now among Rhenoster kopjes          Somewhat northward of the Vaal,     You may see four little chappies,          Three can walk and one can crawl.     And the blue of Transvaal heavens          Is reflected in their eyes,     Each a little William Evans,          Smaller model – pocket size.     Each a little Burgher Piet          Of the hardy Boer race,     Two great peoples seem to meet          In the tiny sunburned face.     And they often greatly wonder          Why old granddad and Papa,     Should have been so far asunder,          Till united by mamma.     And when asked, "Are you a Boer.          Or a little Englishman?"     Each will answer, short and sure,          "I am a South African."     But the father answers, chaffing,          "Africans but British too."     And the children echo, laughing,          "Half of mother – half of you."     It may seem a crude example,          In an isolated case,     But the story is a sample          Of the welding of the race.     So from bloodshed and from sorrow,          From the pains of yesterday,     Comes the nation of to-morrow          Broadly based and built to stay.     Loyal spirits strong in union,          Joined by kindred faith and blood;     Brothers in the wide communion          Of our sea-girt brotherhood.