TOMMY ATKIN’S ALPHABET
A stands for Africa, away in the east;
B for the British at the Ladysmith feast;
C for the coward who fired ’neath the white flag;
D for the dauntless who gave him the jag;
E for the excitement Long Tom has made;
F for the firing of the Naval Brigade;
G for the guns that silenced Long Tom;
H for the Hurras of the civilians at home;
I for the invasion on the borders of Natal;
J for Joubert, the Boer commander in battle;
K for the kilties who brought him to grief;
L for the laager of the commando and thief;
M for the mother who prays for her son;
N for the nurse whose work is well done;
O for the Orange State engaged in the fight;
P for Plumer who gave them a fright;
Q for the Queen, the Empress of the waves;
R for the Rooineks, who ne’er shall be slaves;
S for the shackles they could no longer endure;
T for the treachery of the cowardly Boer;
U for the Uitlander who demanded his right
V for the volunteer, who joined in the fight;
W for the wounded, the weeping widow and wean;
X for xylography, which I cannot explain;
Y for the Yankee, whom none can excel;
Z for the zeal that does everything well.
