146
RUDYARD KIPLING'S VERSE
I seed my chance was certain of bein' horned or trod,
For the lower deck was packed with steers thicker'n peas in a pod,
An' more pens broke at every roll—so I made a Contract with God.
For the lower deck was packed with steers thicker'n peas in a pod,
An' more pens broke at every roll—so I made a Contract with God.
An' by the terms of the Contract, as I have read the same,
If He got me to port alive I would exalt His Name,
An' praise His Holy Majesty till further orders came.
If He got me to port alive I would exalt His Name,
An' praise His Holy Majesty till further orders came.
He saved me from the cattle an' He saved me from the sea,
For they found me 'tween two drownded ones where the roll had landed me—
An' a four-inch crack on top of my head, as crazy as could be.
For they found me 'tween two drownded ones where the roll had landed me—
An' a four-inch crack on top of my head, as crazy as could be.
But that were done by a stanchion, an' not by a bullock at all,
An' I lay still for seven weeks convalescing of the fall,
An' readin' the shiny Scripture texts in the Seaman's Hospital.
An' I lay still for seven weeks convalescing of the fall,
An' readin' the shiny Scripture texts in the Seaman's Hospital.
An' I spoke to God of our Contract, an' He says to my prayer:
"I never puts on My ministers no more than they can bear.
"So back you go to the cattle-boats an' preach My Gospel there.
"I never puts on My ministers no more than they can bear.
"So back you go to the cattle-boats an' preach My Gospel there.
"For human life is chancy at any kind of trade,
"But most of all, as well you know, when the steers are mad-afraid;
"So you go back to the cattle-boats an' preach 'em as I've said.
"But most of all, as well you know, when the steers are mad-afraid;
"So you go back to the cattle-boats an' preach 'em as I've said.
"They must quit drinkin' an' swearin', they mustn't knife on a blow,
"They must quit gamblin' their wages, and you must preach it so;
"For now those boats are more like Hell than anything else I know."
"They must quit gamblin' their wages, and you must preach it so;
"For now those boats are more like Hell than anything else I know."
