<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The Old Top Sergeant</h1><p class="byline"> BERTON BRALEY </p><p>From Mr. Braley's book. 'In Camp and Trench; published and copyright, 1918, by George H. Doran Company, New York. Special permission to reproduce in this book.</p><p class="inline-note" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40">"Shavetail" is a name applied by enlisted men in the regular army to lieutenants fresh from West Point.</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">TWENTY years of the army, of drawing a sergeant's pay</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And helping the West Point shavetails, fresh from the training school</p><p class="line">To handle a bunch of soldiers and drill 'em the proper way</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">(Which isn't always exactly according to book and rule).</p><p class="line">I've seen 'em rise to Captains and Majors and Colonels, too,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And me still only a sergeant, the same as I used to be,</p><p class="line">And I knew that some of them didn't know as much as a sergeant knew,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">But I stuck to my daily duty--there wasn't a growl from me</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Twenty years of the army, </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">Serving in peace and war,</p><p class="line">Standing the drill of the army mill,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">For that's what they paid me for</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Twenty years with the army, which wasn't so much for size,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">But man for man I'd back it to lick any troops on earth.</p><p class="line">'Twas a proud little classy army, as good as the flag it flies,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And it takes an old top sergeant to know what the flag is worth.</p><p class="line">Then--a shot at Sarejevo, and hell burst over there</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And the kaiser dragged us in it, and the bill for the draf was passed</p><p class="line">And --they handed me my commission, and some shoulder straps to wear,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And the crazy dream of my rooky days had changed to a fact at last.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Twenty years with the army, </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And it's great to know they call </p><p class="line">On the guys like me for what will be</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">The mightiest job of all.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Twenty years of the army, of doing what shavetails bid,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And I know I haven't the polish that fellows like that will show,</p><p class="line">And I hold a high opinion of the brains of a West Point kid,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">But I think I can make him hustle when it comes to the work I know.</p><p class="line">But who cares where we come from, Plattsburg, ranks, or the Guard,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">This isn't a pink tea-party, but a War to be fought and won;</p><p class="line">There's a serious job before us, a job that is huge and hard,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And the social register don't count until we've got it done!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Twenty years in the army,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">And now I've got my chance.</p><p class="line">Have I earned my straps? Well, you watch the chaps</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:2%">That I've trained for the game in France!</p></div></body></html> · Great War