The Promotion of Private Rickett

Jim Rickett was on sentry an’ his post was number Nine;

     The night was dark an’ stormy an’ the job was pretty tough;

Jim was a village dandy, clothes an’ language always fine,

     An’ while he wasn’t timid, yet he wasn’t very rough.

The branches was a-moanin’ an’ a hoot-owl’s dismal cry

     Made Jim feel sort o’ creepy, an’ he thought that he could hear

The enemy a-creepin’ in the hedges handy by,

     An’ while he wasn’t timid yet he had a sense o’ fear.

The boys around the quarters they was itchin’ for some fun,

     They said, “Let’s capture Jimmy an’ we’ll tie him hand an’ foot”;

So we passed around the message to the sentries ev’ry one,

     While Jim he marched an’ listened to the hoot-owl’s dismal hoot.

We crept in front o’ Jimmy, on his flank an’ in the rear,

     Then rushed an’ yelled like devils till his blood was runnin’ cold;

He dropped his gun an’ started in a rush of sudden fear –

     He wasn’t very timid, yet he wasn’t very bold.

We seized an’ bound an’ gagged him an’ we lugged him off to camp,

     Court-martialed him an’ sentenced him to death at break o’ day;

An’ Jim he groaned for mercy, while his flesh grew cold an’ damp –

     He wasn’t very mournful yet he wasn’t very gay.

Just then the door flew open an’ the sergeant drove in sight;

     “What’s this, you bloomin’ rookies?” yells the sergeant fightin’ mad;

We had to untie Jimmy, an’ to ask his pardon right, –

     He wasn’t very joyous, yet he wasn’t very sad.

The sergeant then he faced us an’ he handed us a beaut:

     “The guard house for you smarties, bread an’ water for a day;

Private Rickett, guard the pris’ners, if they disobey you, shoot!”

     We wasn’t very sorry, yet we wasn’t very gay.

By light of early mornin’ we was handed a surprise –

     Jim Rickett was promoted, was the corp’ral of our squad;

“Had captured eight deserters,” said the sergeant, lookin’ wise,

     “While doin’ sentry duty an’ deserves a rich reward!”

July 10, 1917