’Ter all de formalities,
Dis an’ dat an’ warra not,
Salute,—’tion,—right about turn,—
Den de precious pay is got:
Lee gone to de réward fund
T’rough a blot’ defaulter-sheet,
Run do’n by sub-officers,
Or caught sleepin’ on dem beat;
Den dere’s somet’ing gone fe kit;
Uniform mus’ smart an’ nice,
Else de officer won’ t’ink
Dat a bobby’s wutten price.
All dem way de money go;
So de payin’-out fe some,
When de fortnight dem come roun’,
Bégin-a ord’ly room.
Now comes payin’ up de debts
To de miscellaneous crowd
Waitin’ by de barrack-gate,
Chattin’, chattin’ very loud:
Payin’, payin’ all de time,
From a poun’ do’n to a gill,
Whole fortnight-pay partly done,
Yet rum-money lef’ back still.
Strollin’ t’rough de gate at night,
Drinkin’ Finzi tell dead drunk,
Barely standin’ at tattoo,—
- ↑ Afterwards.
