22
BENNIE’S DEPARTURE
Said de final word o’ farewell,
An’ returned back to my place:
At my desk I sat me dry-eyed,
Sometimes gave a low-do’n moan,
An’ at moments came a sigh sighed
For my Bennie dat was gone.
Gone he, de little sunshine o’ my life,
Leavin’ me ’lone to de Depôt’s black strife,
Dear little comrade o’ lecture an’ drill,
Loved comrade, like me of true stubborn will:
Oft, in de light o’ de fast sinkin’ sun,
We’d frolic togeder aroun’ de big gun;
Oft would he laughingly run after me,
Chasin’ me over de wide Depôt lea;
Oft would he teach me de folly o’ pride
When, me half-vexed, he would sit by my side;—
Now all is blackness t’rough night an’ t’rough day,
For my heart’s weary now Bennie’s away.
