dcor
04-30-2007, 11:45 AM
Need help to find the origin of this poem. As you can see it is concerns the American Civil War but I have also found a reference to a similar Australian version on line.
The Soldier-- Tramp.
Your Honor, I plead guilty, I'm a bummer, I don't deny the cop here found me drunk. I don't deny that thru the whole long summer the sun warmed earth has been my only bunk. I ain't been able for to earn a living, a man with one leg planted in the tomb, can't get a job, and I've a strong misgivin, gainst being cooped up in a Soldier's Home. Where did I lose my leg? At Spotsylvania, no doubt you've heard about that bloody fight but then I guess the story won't restrain you from doin what the law sets down as right. I served as private in the 10th New Jersey and all the boys will say I done what's right. There ain't a man can say that Abram Bursey was never found a shirkin in a fight. We had a brave old fellow a colonel, we called him Sweetie, but his name was Sweet. Why Judge, I swear it by the great Eternal that brave old fellow'd rather fight than eat. Well, just afore this Spotsylvania battle, old Sweetie comes to me, and says, says he, I tell you Abe, tain't much'lI rattle a tough old weather-beaten chap like me, but in my heart I've got a sort of feeling that I'm agoin to get a dose today and tain"t no use for me to be concealin the skittish thoughts that in my bosom play. For many years you've been my nabor, Bursey, and I've always found you square and true, back in our little town in old New Jersey no man has got a better name than you, and so I want your promise, squarely given that if the cause today demands my life, if you yourself are left among the Iivin, you'll take me back and lay me by my wife. Well Judge, that day amidst the most infernal and desperate, bloody fight I ever see'd way up in front, I see the darin Colonel throw up his hands and tumble off his steed. In half a minute I was bendin oe'r him and seein that he wasn't killed outright, I loaded him onto my back and bore him some little distance back out of the fight. The blood from out a ghastly wound was flowin and so I snatched the shirt from off my back, for I could see that brave old man was goin to die, unless I held that red tide back and purty soon I see he was revivin and heard his whisper, Abe, you saved my life. Your old red shirt along with your connivin has kept me from that grave beside my wife. Well, whilst I stood there schemin on how to get him in a Doctor's care, a tarnal shell toward us came a screamin just like a ragin demon thru air--and when it passed, I found myself a Iyin across old Sweetie's body, and I see, that tarnal shell that came a screamin had took my leg along for companee. Well Judge, that's all, cept when the war was over I found myself a cripple and since then I've been a worthless shiftless rover but just as honest as the most of men. I never stole a dime from livin mortal and never harmed a woman, child or man. I've simply been a bum and hope the court'll be just as easy on me as it can.
Then spoke the Judge--such shiftless, worthless creatures should never be allowed to bum or beg. Your case tis true, has some redeemin features, for in your country's cause, you lost a leg and yet, I feel the world needs an example, to check the tendency of men to roam. Your sentence is, that all your life your camp'lI be, the best room in my humble home. The Soldier stared, dumb, silent as a statue, then in a voice of trembling pathos said, Judge, turn your face and give me one look at you--that voice is like an echo from the dead. Then forward limped, his grimy hand extended, while tears adown his sunburnt cheeks did roll--and cried with slang and pathos strangely blended,--why Colonel Sweetie, bless your brave old soul.
The Soldier-- Tramp.
Your Honor, I plead guilty, I'm a bummer, I don't deny the cop here found me drunk. I don't deny that thru the whole long summer the sun warmed earth has been my only bunk. I ain't been able for to earn a living, a man with one leg planted in the tomb, can't get a job, and I've a strong misgivin, gainst being cooped up in a Soldier's Home. Where did I lose my leg? At Spotsylvania, no doubt you've heard about that bloody fight but then I guess the story won't restrain you from doin what the law sets down as right. I served as private in the 10th New Jersey and all the boys will say I done what's right. There ain't a man can say that Abram Bursey was never found a shirkin in a fight. We had a brave old fellow a colonel, we called him Sweetie, but his name was Sweet. Why Judge, I swear it by the great Eternal that brave old fellow'd rather fight than eat. Well, just afore this Spotsylvania battle, old Sweetie comes to me, and says, says he, I tell you Abe, tain't much'lI rattle a tough old weather-beaten chap like me, but in my heart I've got a sort of feeling that I'm agoin to get a dose today and tain"t no use for me to be concealin the skittish thoughts that in my bosom play. For many years you've been my nabor, Bursey, and I've always found you square and true, back in our little town in old New Jersey no man has got a better name than you, and so I want your promise, squarely given that if the cause today demands my life, if you yourself are left among the Iivin, you'll take me back and lay me by my wife. Well Judge, that day amidst the most infernal and desperate, bloody fight I ever see'd way up in front, I see the darin Colonel throw up his hands and tumble off his steed. In half a minute I was bendin oe'r him and seein that he wasn't killed outright, I loaded him onto my back and bore him some little distance back out of the fight. The blood from out a ghastly wound was flowin and so I snatched the shirt from off my back, for I could see that brave old man was goin to die, unless I held that red tide back and purty soon I see he was revivin and heard his whisper, Abe, you saved my life. Your old red shirt along with your connivin has kept me from that grave beside my wife. Well, whilst I stood there schemin on how to get him in a Doctor's care, a tarnal shell toward us came a screamin just like a ragin demon thru air--and when it passed, I found myself a Iyin across old Sweetie's body, and I see, that tarnal shell that came a screamin had took my leg along for companee. Well Judge, that's all, cept when the war was over I found myself a cripple and since then I've been a worthless shiftless rover but just as honest as the most of men. I never stole a dime from livin mortal and never harmed a woman, child or man. I've simply been a bum and hope the court'll be just as easy on me as it can.
Then spoke the Judge--such shiftless, worthless creatures should never be allowed to bum or beg. Your case tis true, has some redeemin features, for in your country's cause, you lost a leg and yet, I feel the world needs an example, to check the tendency of men to roam. Your sentence is, that all your life your camp'lI be, the best room in my humble home. The Soldier stared, dumb, silent as a statue, then in a voice of trembling pathos said, Judge, turn your face and give me one look at you--that voice is like an echo from the dead. Then forward limped, his grimy hand extended, while tears adown his sunburnt cheeks did roll--and cried with slang and pathos strangely blended,--why Colonel Sweetie, bless your brave old soul.