<html xmlns:tei="http://www.tei-c.org/ns/1.0"><body><h1 align="center" class="head">The People's Gift.</h1><div class="stanza"><p class="line"><span class="smallcaps">In</span> days of old a tale was told of a people noted for thrift,</p><p class="line">Who on an occasion of jubilation would give their King a gift:</p><p class="line">Said they, "For his share let each prepare to contribute a flask of wine</p><p class="line">Which he will pour in a common store -- a barrel of vast design."</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Great staves they cut for a mighty butt, and fashioned it high and wide,</p><p class="line">And laid it along on gantrees strong, and set a ladder beside:</p><p class="line">Then, one by one, they came to the tun; each, poised on the topmost rung</p><p class="line">By the flank of the cask, uncorked his flask, and turned it over the bung.</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">When the day approached for the cask to be broached, the people, small and great,</p><p class="line">Made a roaring crowd, gay, loyal and proud, as the King drove by in state;</p><p class="line">They cheered and clapped as the Chamberlain tapped... but guilt fell on all, and fear;</p><p class="line">When the King would have quaffed his earliest draught -- 'twas <em>water</em> thin and clear!</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line">Each man of thrift had planned his gift, and said to his niggard's heart,</p><p class="line">Is there any to know what I bestow, if my neighbours play their part?</p><p class="line">Is there any to guess my -- thriftiness, when I bear my flask to the tun?</p><p class="line">If ninety and nine be full of wine, what matters water in one?"</p></div><div class="stanza"><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Take the lesson, then, young Englishmen, when the war cloud lowers black</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Let no man shift his burden of gift on to the next man's back,</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">Answer to-day what part you will play, when your country gives the sign --</p><p class="line" style="text-indent:%">What gift you will bring to your country and King -- is your blood water or wine?</p></div><p class="byline">FRANK SIDGWICK.<br xmlns:exist="http://exist.sourceforge.net/NS/exist" xmlns:html="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40"/></p></body></html> · Great War