* GINGER JAMES *

A spell I‘ ad to wait

Outside the barrick gate,

For Ginger James was passin’ out as I was passin’ in;

‘ E was only a recruit,

But I give‘ im the salute,

For I'll never git another chance of givin’ it agin!

‘ E'd little brains, I'll swear,

Beneath‘ is ginger‘ air,

‘ Is personal attractions, well, they was n't very large;

‘ E was fust in ev'ry mill,

An’ a foul-mouthed brute, but still

We'll forgive‘ im all‘ is drawbacks —‘ e‘ as taken‘ is discharge.

‘ E once got fourteen days,

For drunken, idle ways,

An’ the Colonel said the nasty things that colonels sometimes say;

‘ E called him to‘ is face

The regiment's disgrace —

But the Colonel took‘ is‘ at off when‘ e passed‘ im by to-day.

For days‘ e used to dwell

Inside a guard-room cell,

Where they put the darbies on‘ im for a‘ owlin’ savage brute;

But as by the guard‘ e went

They gave‘ im the present,

The little bugler sounded off the‘ General Salute.’

The band turned out to play

Poor Ginger James away;

‘ Is Captain an’‘ is Company came down to see‘ im off;

An’ thirteen file an’ rank,

With three rounds each of blank;

An’‘ e rode down on a carriage, like a bloomin’ city toff!

‘ E does n't want no pass,

‘ E's journeying first-class;

‘ Is trav'lling rug's a Union Jack, which is n't bad at all;

The tune the drummers play

It ai n't so very gay,

But a rather slow selection, from a piece that's known as

‘ Saul.’