Carter for Mister Manley, He worked at Willum's Mill And up by barton and down by mead He sang to the maidens upon his reed. "Apples be ripe" he sang to them; "And nuts be brown" they answered him. From England banished far In the madness of the war, With a bullet thro' his throat He gasped the ancient note; His comrades laughed at the words he sang; But the dying men died without a pang. "Apples be ripe" he sang to them; "And nuts be brown" they answered him. In the hospital the nuns As his own end drew near Asked him what message he wished to send To those he held most dear. Sweetly they spoke to him of Christ Whose blood for all the world sufficed. But his thoughts were at Willum's Mill Along with Mister Manley. Up by barton and down by mead Someone was playing upon his reed. "Apples be ripe" sang the holy nuns; "And nuts be brown" answered the guns. |