Read "The Story of Uriah" by Rudyard Kipling online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
"Now there were two men in one city; / the one rich and the other poor."
Jack Barrett went to Quetta / Because they told him to. / He left his wife at Simla / On three-fourths his monthly screw: / Jack Barrett died at Quetta / Ere the next month's pay he drew.
Jack Barrett went to Quetta. / He didn't understand / The reason of his transfer / From the pleasant mountain-land: / The season was September, / And it killed him out of hand.
Jack Barrett went to Quetta, / And there gave up the ghost, / Attempting two men's duty / In that very healthy post; / And Mrs. Barrett mourned for him / Five lively months at most.
Jack Barrett's bones at Quetta / Enjoy profound repose; / But I shouldn't be astonished / If now his spirit knows / The reason of his transfer / From the Himalayan snows.
And, when the Last Great Bugle Call / Adown the Hurnal throbs, / When the last grim joke is entered / In the big black Book of Jobs, / And Quetta graveyards give again / Their victims to the air, / I shouldn't like to be the man / Who sent Jack Barrett there.