ATTHEWAROFFICE，LONDON
　　（AffixingtheListsofKilledandWounded:December，1899）
　　I
　　LastyearIcalledthisworldofgain—givingsThedarkestthinkable，andquestionedsadlyIfmyownlandcouldheaveitspulselessgladly，SochargeditseemedwithcircumstancewhencespringsThetragedyofthings。
　　II
　　YetatthatcensuredtimenoheartwasrentOrfeatureblanchedofparent，wife，ordaughterByhourlyblazonedsheetsoflistedslaughter;
　　DeathwaitedNature'swont;PeacesmiledunshentFromIndtoOccident。
　　ACHRISTMASGHOST—STORY
　　SouthoftheLine，inlandfromfarDurban，Amoulderingsoldierlies—yourcountryman。
　　Awryanddoubleduparehisgraybones，AndonthebreezehispuzzledphantommoansNightlytoclearCanopus:"IwouldknowBywhomandwhentheAll—Earth—gladdeningLawOfPeace，broughtinbythatManCrucified，Wasruledtobeinept，andsetaside？
　　AndwhatoflogicoroftruthappearsIntacking'AnnoDomini'totheyears？
　　Neartwenty—hundredlivenedthushavehied，ButtarriesyettheCauseforwhichHedied。"
　　Christmas—eve，1899。
　　THEDEADDRUMMER
　　I
　　TheythrowinDrummerHodge，torestUncoffined—justasfound:
　　Hislandmarkisakopje—crestThatbreakstheveldtaround;
　　AndforeignconstellationswestEachnightabovehismound。
　　II
　　YoungHodgetheDrummerneverknew
　　FreshfromhisWessexhome
　　ThemeaningofthebroadKaroo，TheBush，thedustyloam，AndwhyuprosetonightlyviewStrangestarsamidthegloam。
　　III
　　YetportionofthatunknownplainWillHodgeforeverbe;
　　HishomelyNorthernbreastandbrainGrowupaSoutherntree。
　　Andstrange—eyedconstellationsreignHisstarseternally。
　　AWIFEINLONDON
　　（December，1899）
　　I—THETRAGEDY
　　ShesitsinthetawnyvapourThattheCitylaneshaveuprolled，BehindwhosewebbyfoldonfoldLikeawaningtaperThestreet—lampglimmerscold。
　　Amessenger'sknockcrackssmartly，FlashednewsisinherhandOfmeaningitdazestounderstandThoughshapedsoshortly:
　　He—hasfallen—inthefarSouthLand
　　II—THEIRONY
　　'Tisthemorrow;thefoghangsthicker，Thepostmannearsandgoes:
　　AletterisbroughtwhoselinesdiscloseBythefirelightflickerHishand，whomthewormnowknows:
　　Fresh—firm—pennedinhighestfeather
　　Page—fullofhishopedreturn，Andofhome—plannedjauntsbybrakeandburnInthesummerweather，Andofnewlovethattheywouldlearn。
　　THESOULSOFTHESLAIN
　　I
　　ThethicklidsofNightcloseduponmeAloneattheBillOftheIslebytheRace{1}
　　Many—caverned，bald，wrinkledofface
　　AndwithdarknessandsilencethespiritwasonmeTobroodandbestill。
　　II
　　Nowindfannedtheflatsoftheocean，Orpromontorysides，Ortheoozebythestrand，Orthebent—beardedslopeoftheland，WhosebasetookitsrestamideverlongmotionOfcriss—crossingtides。
　　III
　　SoonfromoutoftheSouthwardseemednearingAwhirr，asofwingsWavedbymighty—vannedflies，Orbynight—mothsofmeasurelesssize，Andinsoftnessandsmoothnesswell—nighbeyondhearingOfcorporalthings。
　　IV
　　Andtheyboretothebluff，andalighted
　　Adim—discernedtrainOfspriteswithoutmould，Framelesssoulsnonemighttouchormighthold
　　Ontheledgebytheturretedlantern，farsightedBymenofthemain。
　　V
　　AndIheardthemsay"Home！"andIknewthemForsoulsofthefelledOntheearth'snetherbordUnderCapricorn，whitherthey'dwarred，AndInearedinmyawe，andgaveheedfulnesstothemWithbreathingsinheld。
　　VI
　　Then，itseemed，thereapproachedfromthenorthwardAseniorsoul—flameOfthelikefilmyhue:
　　Andhemetthemandspake:"Isityou，Omymen？"Saidthey，"Aye！WebearhomewardandhearthwardTolisttoourfame！"
　　VII
　　"I'veflowntherebeforeyou，"hesaidthen:
　　"Yourhouseholdsarewell;
　　But—yourkinlingerlessOnyourgloryaridwar—mightinessThanondearerthings。"—"Dearer？"criedthesefromthedeadthen，"Ofwhatdotheytell？"
　　VIII
　　"Somemothersmusesadly，andmurmurYourdoingsasboys
　　RecallthequaintwaysOfyourbabyhood'sinnocentdays。
　　Somepraythat，eredying，yourfaithhadgrownfirmer，Andhigheryourjoys。
　　IX
　　"Afatherbroods:'WouldIhadsethimTosomehumbletrade，Andsoslackedhishighfire，Andhispassionatemartialdesire;
　　HadtoldhimnostoriestowoohimandwhethimTothisduecrusade！"
　　X
　　"And，General，howholdoutoursweethearts，Swornloyalasdoves？"
　　—"Manymourn;manythinkItisnotunattractivetoprinkTheminsablesforheroes。SomefickleandfleetheartsHavefoundthemnewloves。"
　　XI
　　"Andourwives？"quothanotherresignedly，"Dwelltheyonourdeeds？"
　　—"Deedsofhome;thatliveyetFreshasnew—deedsoffondnessorfret;
　　Ancientwordsthatwerekindlyexpressedorunkindly，These，thesehavetheirheeds。"
　　XII
　　—"Alas！thenitseemsthatourgloryWeighslessintheirthoughtThanouroldhomelyacts，Andthelong—agocommonplacefactsOfourlives—heldbyusasscarcepartofourstory，Andratedasnought！"
　　XIII
　　Thenbitterlysome:"WasitwisenowToraisethetomb—doorForsuchknowledge？Away！"
　　Buttherest:"Fameweprizedtillto—day;
　　YetthatheartskeepusgreenforoldkindnessweprizenowAthousandtimesmore！"
　　XIV
　　Thusspeaking，thetroopedapparitionsBegantodisbandAndresolvethemintwo:
　　ThosewhoserecordwaslovelyandtrueBoretonorthwardforhome:thoseofbittertraditionsAgainlefttheland，XV
　　And，toweringtoseawardinlegions，TheypausedataspotOverbendingtheRace
　　Thatengulphing，ghast，sinisterplace
　　Whitherheadlongtheyplunged，tothefathomlessregionsOfmyriadsforgot。
　　XVI
　　AndthespiritsofthosewhowerehomingPassedon，rushingly，LikethePentecostWind;
　　AndthewhirroftheirwayfaringthinnedAndsurceasedonthesky，andbutleftinthegloamingSea—mutteringsandme。
　　December1899。