At the evening roll call at the "Charterhouse" School, where
Baden-Powell was educated, it is customary for the boys to respond to
the call of their names by saying "Adsum--I'm here!"
Oft as the shades of evening fell,
In the school-boy days of old,--
The form work done, or the game played well,--
Clanging aloft the old school bell
Uttered its summons bold;
And a bright lad answered the roll call clear,
"Adsum,--I'm here!"
A foe-girt town and a captain true
Out on the Afric plain;--
High overhead his Queen's flag flew,
But foes were many and friends but few;
Who shall guard that flag from stain?
And calm 'mid confusion a voice rang clear,
"Adsum,--I'm here!"
The slow weeks passed, and no succour came,
Famine and death were rife;
Yet still that banner of deathless fame,
Floated, unsullied by fear or shame,
Over the scene of strife;
And the voice,--though weaker--was full of cheer,
"Adsum,--I'm here!"
Heaven send, that when many a heart's dismayed,
In dark days yet in store,--
Should foemen gather; or, faith betrayed,
The country call for a strong man's aid
As she never called before,--
A voice like his may make answer clear,
Banishing panic, and calming fear,
"Adsum,--I'm here!"