<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">Soldiers of the Soil</h1><p class="byline"> EVERARD JACK APPLETON <br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/>By permission of Stewart & Kidd Company, Cincinnati, Publishers of "With the Colors," by Everard Jack Appleton. Copyright. 1917.</p><div class="stanza"><p class="line">IT'S a high-falutin' title they have handed us;</p><p class="line">It's very complimentary and grand; </p><p class="line">But a year or so ago they called us "hicks," you know--</p><p class="line">An' joshed the farmer and his hired hand!</p></div><div class="stanza"><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Now it's, "Save the country, Farmer!</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Be a soldier of the soil!</p><p class="line">Show your patriotism, pardner,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">By your never ending toil." </p><p class="line">So we're croppin' more than ever,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">An' we're speedin' up the farm.</p><p class="line">Oh, it's great to be a soldier,-- </p><p class="line">sweatin' sun-burnt soldier,--</p><p class="line">A soldier in the furrows--</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Away from "war's alarm!"</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">While fightin' blight and blister,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">We hardly get a chance</p><p class="line">To read about our "comrades"</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">A-doin' things in France.</p><p class="line">To raise the grub to feed 'em</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Is some job, believe me--plus!</p><p class="line">And I ain't so sure a soldier--</p><p class="line">A shootin', scrappin' soldier, </p><p class="line">That's livin' close to dyin'--</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">Ain't got the best of us!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">But we'll harrer and we'll harvest,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">An' we'll meet this new demand</p><p class="line">Like the farmers always meet it--</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">The farmers--and the land. </p><p class="line">An' we hope, when it is over </p><p class="line" style="text-indent:5%">An' this war has gone to seed, </p><p class="line">You will know us soldiers better--</p><p class="line">Th' sweatin', reapin' soldiers, </p><p class="line">Th' soldiers that have hustled</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:3%">To raise th' grub you need!</p></div></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">It's a mighty fine title you have given us,</p><p class="line">A name that sounds too fine to really stick;</p><p class="line">But maybe you'll forget (when you figure out your debt)</p><p class="line">To call th' man who works a farm a "hick." </p></div></body></html> · Great War