ut I
Had none of the courage--_to die!_

"And now that I'm dead," said the troubled soul of the one-time
Sergeant Todd,
"It didn't seem right that those who live should think I have met our God
As a brave man does: his honor clear, with his courage unscathed
and whole.
On this high plane there is no room for a fear-troubled human soul;
So Sergeant Todd" (he bowed his head)
"_Fears no more_--for his body's dead!"

THE BUSY LADY

We meet ev'ry week to make surgical dressings--
And one woman does it dead wrong;
I watched her a day--then I just _had_ to say,
"My dear! If I may--that's too long!"
While I was explaining the teacher came by--
She's so cross that her mouth's just a _line_--
And found fault with me and my work....
After that
I'll mind _no one's_ business _but mine!_

To-day I was filling my neighbor's slow mind
With War-Garden ideas and lore,
When a dog I don't _know_ just _ruined_ mine--so
I'll not advise _her_ any more!
Then a talk that I gave to the Home Service Group
On "Waste" was _quite_ spoiled--though 'twas fine--
By my bread burning up while I talked....
After this
I'll mind _no one's_ business but _mine!_

At a lecture on "Hospital Units at Work"
A woman (who looked fifty-three)
Ere the talk had _begun_ started _crying_....
Her son
Has gone, she confided to me.
"But you should be _brave_ and 'buck up'," I remarked.
"And _yours_?" she asked.... How did she divine
That _I_ am not married?... Oh, well, after this
I'll mind _no one's_ business--b-but mine!

OVERDOING IT

This horrid old war is right _in_ our house
Making itself _at home_, goodness sakes!
The scraps from our table won't feed a _mouse_
We've cut out desserts, salads, and cakes.
Monday is meatless and Tuesday is dry,
Wednesday is _sugarless_, too, gee whiz!
Our plates must be _cleaned_, they tell us. That's why
We _eat_ the garbage before it _is_!

So I bought a melon the other day
When ma was 'tending a Red Cross tea.
I wanted it _awful_ bad.... Anyway
It wasn't so _big_--just right for me--
And then, just to keep from wasting a _drop_,
I _ate it all up!_... Our colored Liz
Says Pa told the doctor, "My fault, old top--
"'We eat the garbage before it is.'"

The doctor was writing a 'scription note
When I come to, turned over and grinned,
And he frowned at Pa, as he wrote and wrote,
Till Pa grew red like his cheeks was _skinned_.
"E