Punch (82.1882)

BROKEN TIES.”

“ ONLY A MARINE ! "

{A sliort Story told by the Corps and not to them.)

Chapteb. I.—He would be a soldier. So he 'went to Sandhnrst and
was not yery lucky, and he went to Woolwich and was rather un-
fortunate. With a plucking here, and a ploughing there, and
everywhere a mishap. But they got him a commission somehow at
last, and said he could do no harm—he was only a Marine !

Chapteel II.— And he was very devoted to his profession. With
a term of service here, and a term of service there, and everywhere
a term. Now he was on land at Portsmouth, now he was at sea in
the Pacific Ocean. For years and years and years he knocked about
the world. But he did not get promotion—he was only a Marine !

Chapter III.—Thenhe thought he would go in for study. So he
put his name down for the Staff College. So ne wore out his eyes in
reading, and wearied his brain in learning. With an extra subject
here, and a foreign language there, and everywhere a grind. And
he worked, and worked, and worked until he passed. But passing
did him no good— he was only a Marine!

i Chapter IV. Then a war came. And he leadaforlorn hope here,
and took a fortress there, and everywhere showed heroism. And a

shower of rewards and honours fell upon everybody. But not upon
him—he was only a Marine !

Chapter V.—Then he grew grey-headed in the Service. His con-
temporaries were given good things here, and good things there, and
everywhere good things. One commanded a district in the north,
and another went to Head Qnarters at Pall Mall, and a third was
quite snug in a nice little office in Ceylon. But he had to keep in
his barracks or to sail in his ships—he was only a Marine !

Chapter VI. and Last.—And so he grew older and older. And
now he began to worry them at Whitehall. So he got an official
snubbing here, and an official snubbing there, and everywhere lots
of snubs. And he bowed down his silvered old head, and broke his
heavy old heart, and laid down his tired old bones, and grieved, and
grieved, and grieved until be died. So they cut his epitaph upon his
tombstone and wrote—“ Only a Marine ! ”

Bernal Osborne.

{Died Jan. 4, 1882.)

The Gods figbt in vain against Dulness, ’tis said :
Mors fights on its side—Bernal Osborne is dead!