Page:Ballads·of·Bung•E·Iveagh·Lord•1921.pdf/9

Claiming the longest acquaintance with our guest, our friend, McKay.
I knew him when he couldn’t walk—you saw him like that—maybe?
That’s an apprenticeship, that all men serve in this village by the sea.
I saw him playing football, ’against Anglo-Wales, I ween,
Every man a chamipon, and only he between
Our line and certain disaster, he stopped them as fast as they came;
Always taking his man, sirs, playing a wonderful game.
I knew him as the years rolled on, all things we did not see
From the self-same viewpoint—and those things we let be.
We’ve been good cobbers all our lives—we’ve had our ups and downs;
We’ve had our smiles and laughter, our sorrows and our frowns;
And now, old pal, please accept, this token from your friends.
Be sure we’ll all be with you, until the journey ends.
Make good? We know you surely will for you are built that way.
Gentlemen, the toast I give—a white man, George McKay.”
McGrath, Doogan, Parfitt, Barry; Milne, and others all convey
Hopes of health and wealth and plenty to our guest, to George McKay.
Then Locker sang a little ditty, “I am a Bachelor Gay,”
Story of a dark-eyed maiden, a buster clip and hay.
And now McKay replying: “I thank you one and all
For the kind things sopken, ’tis pleasant to recall
The happy days together we’ve sepnt both you and I.
Distance lends enchantment—au revoir—but not good-bye.”
(Here a man put in a fiver, and said in a quiet way—
“Chairman, it would give me pleasure to help old George McKay.
Just put it in his wallet, with all good wishes and
Don’t tell him where it came from. Keep quiet, You Understand!”)
Now “Chalkie” “stopped and looked and listened,” but didn’t tell all he knew