Digger Smith Part 3

The tale don't sound too good to me at all.

"If 'e's a crook," I sez, "'e wants a fall.

Maybe 'e's dilly. I'll go down an' see.

'E'll grin at me When I 'ave done, if 'e needs dealin' with."

So I goes down to interview this Smith.

'E 'ad a fork out in the tater patch.

Sez 'e, "Why 'ello, Digger. Got a match?"

"Digger?" I sez. "Well, you ain't digger 'ere.

You better clear.

You ought to know that you can't dig them spuds.

They don't belong to you; they're ole Dad Flood's."

"Can't I?" 'e grins. "I'll do the best I can, Considerin' I'm only 'arf a man.

Give us a light. I can't get none from Flood, An' mine is dud."

I parts; an' 'e stands grinnin' at me still; An' then 'e sez, "'Ave yeh fergot me, Bill?"

I looks, an' seen a tough bloke, short an' thin.

Then, Lord! I recomembers that ole grin.

"It's little Smith!" I 'owls, "uv Collin'wood.

Lad, this is good!

Last time I seen yeh, you an' Ginger Mick Was 'owling rags, out on yer final kick."

"Yer on to it," 'e sez. "Nex' day we sailed.

Now 'arf uv me's back 'ome, an' 'arf they nailed.

An' Mick... . Ar, well, Fritz took me down a peg."

'E waves 'is leg.

"It ain't too bad," 'e sez, with 'is ole smile; "But when I starts to dig it cramps me style.

"But I ain't grouchin'. It was worth the fun.

We 'ad some picnic stous.h.i.+n' Brother 'Un-- The only fight I've 'ad that some John 'Op Don't come an' stop.

They pulled me leg a treat, but, all the same, There's nothin' over 'ere to beat the game.

"An' now," 'e sez, "I'm 'ere to do a job I promised, if it was me luck to lob Back 'ome before me mate," 'e sez, an' then, 'E grins again.

"As clear as mud," I sez. "But I can't work Me brains to 'old yer pace. Say, wot's the lurk?"

So then 'e puts me wise. It seems that 'im An' this 'ere Flood--I tips it must be Jim-- Was cobbers up in France, an' things occurred.

(I got 'is word Things did occur up there). But, anyway, Seems Flood done somethin' good for 'im one day.

Then Smith 'e promised if 'e came back 'ome Before 'is cobber o'er the flamin' foam, 'E'd see the ole folks 'ere, an' 'e agreed, If there was need, 'E'd stay an' do a bit around the farm So long as 'e 'ad one sound, d.i.n.k.u.m arm.

"So, 'ere I am," 'e sez, an' grins again.

"A promise is a promise 'mong us men."

Sez I, "You come along up to the 'ouse.

Ole Dad won't rouse When once 'e's got yer strength, an' as for Mar, She'll kiss yeh when she finds out 'oo yeh are."

So we goes up, an' finds 'em both fair dazed About this little Smith; they think 'e's crazed.

I tells the tale in words they understand; Then it was grand To see Dad grab Smith's 'and an' pump it good, An' Mar, she kissed 'im, like I said she would.

Mar sez 'e must be starved, an' right away The kettle's on, she's busy with a tray.

An', when I left, this Digger Smith 'e looked Like 'e was booked For keeps, with tea an' bread an' beef inside.

"Our little Willie's 'ome," 'e grins, "an' dried."

V. WEST

West

"I'VE seen so much uv dirt an' grime I'm mad to 'ave things clean.

I've seen so much uv death," 'e said-- "So many cobbers lyin' dead-- You won't know wot I mean; But, lad, I've 'ad so much uv strife I want things straightened in my life.

"I've seen so much uv 'ate," 'e said-- "Mad 'ate an' silly rage-- I'm yearnin' for clear thoughts," said 'e.

"Kindness an' love seem good to me.

I want a new, white page To start all over, clean an' good, An' live me life as reel men should."

We're sittin' talkin' by the fence, The sun's jist goin' down, Paintin' the sky all gold an' pink.

Said 'e, "When it's like that, I think--"

An' then 'e stops to frown.

Said 'e, "I think, when it's jist so, Uv ... . G.o.d or somethin': I dunno.

"I ain't seen much uv G.o.d," said 'e; "Not 'ere nor Over There; But, partly wot I've seen an' read, An' partly wot the padre said, It gits me when I stare Out West when it's like that is now.

There must be somethin' else--some'ow.

"I've thought a lot," said Digger Smith-- "Out There I thought a lot.

I thought uv death, an' all the rest, An' uv me mates, good mates gone West; An' it ain't much I've got; But things get movin' in me 'ead When I look over there," 'e said.

'E's got me beat, 'as little Smith.

I knoo 'im years ago I knoo 'im as a reel tough boy 'Oo roughed it up with 'oly joy; But now, well, I dunno.

An' when I ask Mar Flood she sighs-- An' sez 'e's got the Anzac eyes.

She sez 'e's got them soldier's eyes That makes 'er own eyes wet.

An' we must give 'im wholesome food An' lead 'is thoughts to somethin' good An' never let 'im fret.

But 'e ain't frettin', seems to me; More--puzzled, fur as I can see.

The clouds above the hills was tore Apart, until, some'ow, It seemed like some big, s.h.i.+nin' gate.

Said 'e, "Why, lad, I tell yeh straight, I feel like startin' now, An' walkin' on, an' on, an' thro', Dead game an'--Ain't it so to you?

"I've seen enough uv pain," 'e said, "An' cursin', killin' 'ordes.

I ain't the man to smooge with G.o.d To get to 'Eaven on the nod, Or 'owl 'ymns for rewards.

But this believin'? Why--Oh, 'Struth This never 'it me in me youth.

"They talk uv love 'twixt men," said 'e.

"That sounds dead crook to you.

But lately I 'ave come to see." ...

"'Old on," I said; "it seems to me There's love uv women too.

An you?" 'E turns away 'is 'ead.