Twas a sick young man with a face ungay br And an eye that was all alone; br And he shook his head in a hopeless way br As he sat on a roadside stone. br br br 'O, ailing youth, what untoward fate br Has made the sun to set br On your mirth and eye?' 'I'm constrained to state br I'm an ex-West Point cadet. br br br ''Twas at cannon-practice I got my hurt br And my present frame of mind; br For the gun went off with a double spurt- br Before it, and also behind!' br br br 'How sad, how sad, that a fine young chap, br When studying how to kill, br Should meet with so terrible a mishap br Precluding eventual skill. br br br 'Ah, woful to think that a weapon made br For mowing down the foe br Should commit so dreadful an escapade br As to turn about to mow!' br br br No more he heeded while I condoled: br He was wandering in his mind; br His lonely eye unconsidered rolled, br And his views he thus defined: br br br ''Twas O for a breach of the peace-'twas O br For an international brawl! br But a piece of the breech-ah no, ah no, br I didn't want that at all.