The cruel tyrant Sergeants, they watch 'im 'arf 3 s'ear; They watch 'im with 'is comrades, they watch 'im with 'is beer ; They watcn 'im with the women at the regi mental dance, And the cruel tyrant Sergeants send 'is name aloDg for " Lance." An' now 'e's 'arf o' nothin', an' all a private yet; 'ls room they up an' rags 'im to sec what they will get; They rags 'im low and cunnin', each dirty trick they can; But 'e learns to sweat 'is temper, an' 'e learns to know 'is man. An', last, a Color Sergeant, as such to be obeyed, 'E leads 'is men at cricket, 'e leads 'em on parade; They sees 'im quick an' 'andy, uncommon set an' smart, Au' so 'e talks to Orricers which 'ave the Core at 'eart. 'E learns to uo 'is watchiu' without it showin' plain; E learns to save a dummy, an' shove 'im straight again; 'E learns to check a ranker that's buyin' leave to _ shirk ; An' he learns to make men like 'im so they'll learn to like their work. An' when it comes to marchia', he'll see their socks are right; An' when it comes to action, 'e shows 'em 'ow to sight; 'E knows their ways of thinkin' an' just what's) in their mind ; 'E feels when they are comia' on an' when they've fell be'ind. 'E knows each talkin' corpral that leads a squad astray ; 'E feels 'is innards 'eavin', 'is bowels givin' way ; '£ sees the blue-white faces all tryin' 'ard to grin, At 'e stands an' waits an' suffers till it's time to cap 'em in. An' now the hugly bullets come peckin' through the dust; An' no or.e wants to face 'em, but every beggar i'liust; So like a man in irons which isn't glad to go, They moves 'em off by companies uncommonly stiff and slow. Of all 'is five years' schoolin' they don't remember much Kxccp' the not retreatin', the step, an' keepin' touch. It looks like teachin' wasted when they duck an' spread an' 'op; Eut if'e 'adn't learned 'em they'd be all about the shop. 