The Battle Of Boots

It was a Summer's evening, Brookey's work had just begun,
And he before his study door was watching everyone.
Nearby looking almost merrier gambolled Barney's Scottish terrier.
He saw the playful poodle rolling something large and round
Which he beside the notice-board in playing there had found.
He came to show what he had found that was so large and smooth and round.
Old Brookey took it from the dog who stood expectant by,
And then the old man shook his head and with a natural sigh—
"'Tis but a football—once," said he, "they used up here at V.U.C."
Once treasured by the Football Club and paid for by the Stud. Ass. Sub.
I find them round the garden, there are many hereabout;
In fact I find so many that I have to throw them out.
"For many balls were used," said he, "up here in days of Victory."
"Now tell me what 'twas all about." The dog looked very wise.
"Oh, if you like," said Brookey, mopping out his streaming eyes.
"I'll tell you all about this War and what they fought each other for.
It was the College First Fifteen who put the rest to rout—
Tho' what they fought each other for I could not well make out.
But everybody knows," quoth he, "They tasted twice sweet Victory.
We were in the same home then—the Gym. is just hard by—
They used to train there half the night—I often wondered why.
Sometimes I wished that they were dead they gave me such an aching head.
Clad in clothes of green and gold they sprinted round outside
And all proclaimed them marvellous and knew them far and wide—
Until they fought with Petone who took our lease of Victory.
Tho' we'd won the Champ. we lost that match and there we seemed to stay.
I don't believe we've won a match since that ill-omen'd day.
But things like that you know must be after a famous Victory"
"But what a terrible disgrace!" The dog barked up in Brookey's face.
"Oh, don't think that my pup" said he, "We had a famous Victory.
And everybody praised the men who this great Victory had won."
"But what good did they after that?" He rolled the football off the mat.
"Why that I cannot tell" said he, "but once we tasted Victory"

—I.M.L.