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A Letter From the Front

I was out early to-day, spying aboutFrom the top of a haystack—such a lovely morning—And when I mounted again to canter backI saw across a field in the broad sunlightA young gunner subaltern, stalking alongWith a rook-rifle held at the ready and—would you believe it?—A domestic cat, soberly marching behind him.
So I laughed, and felt quite well-disposed to the youngster,And shouted out "The top of the morning" to him,And wished him "Good sport!"—and then I rememberedMy rank, and his, and what I ought to be doing;And I rode nearer, and added, "I can only supposeYou have not seen the Commander-in-Chief's ordersForbidding English officers to annoy their AlliesBy hunting and shooting."But he stood and salutedAnd said earnestly, "I beg your pardon, sir,I was only going out to shoot a sparrowTo feed my cat with."

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