1916 School Magazine
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( [RIS' GRAMMAR S('ltOOL MAA'ZINE.
In a slightly quavering voice he continued, 'It is slightly nine months since I last saw him, and it seems as long ago as the time when he used to climb my knee, or run to pick daisies for his mother. And I remember once that he fought for half an hour because one of his play-fellows claimed to have a prettier sister than he had. But now he fights for France against enemies who would have little respect for his sister's beauty ;were they to conquer us." And the voice from within swelled louder as if (cheering on her youthful champion. Looking up suddenly the old man said, "Is that niot our good cure, who is coming down the road?" I followed his gaze, but saw what had escaped his short-sighted eyes, for the cure's face was pale, and his hand shook nervously as he nervously pulled at the end of his sleeve. My thoughts instantly flew to the 'petit gar- con,' fighting for his native land. What had happened ! A lump rose in my throat as I turned round to the old man. But he said with a smile, "Good-day, m'sieu cure, you come in happy time to meet my new English friend." Never shall I forget the scene that followed, nor the eloquent French sympathy with which the cure. begging me to stay, broke the sad news to my new friend, for 'le petit garcon' had returned to his fathers. Then the cure went into the house to com- fort the girl. and I thinking of my own daughter at home. went my way with a heavy heart. 'sed to c'hop wood. To plait. Whisperings. A large division of land. A dreaded test. The act of waking. ('apable of being woven. To stay. I'sed In fishing. A consonant. A nian had a bottle contailing 8 pints oi wine. How could he give his friend exactly half when they had only two bottles, one cap- able of costlibg 5 pints ana the other :I pints, to measure with. J. P.. Va. Answers on application to Miss Mackay. F-. F.. Va. 4. Diamond-- A vowel.
put out his hand and murmured "Father." The nurse quietly withdrew, and sitting down on the bed I gazed at my son, while we talked of -but what did we not talk of. The reappearance of the nurse reminded me that even fathers and sons cannot sit and talk for ever. I left the big white hospital as though in a dream, and wancered along the road scarce knowing whither I went. At last I reached the outskirts of the town, and noticed that one cottage was standing some- what detached from the rest. An old, old man was sitting at the door, and from inside I could hear the volce of a young girl singing at her work. There were only a few children playing in the street, so I ventured to ask the old man how far I was from the hospital, for I had not noticed the distance I had come. He told me that it was about a mile and a half, inviting me to rest for a while on his doorstep. I thanked him, and in my best French re- marked that France was singularly free from tourists now. "Ah, yes," he replied, "but pardon me, m'sieu, if I ask what you yourself find in France to visit her now?" I explained my business, and was rewarded with a smile of infinite sympatny. "You have a son who has fought with us," he replied. "I also," his old eyes lit up and his hand trembled. "I also have a son-my only petit garcon," he Is now in the trenches." I looked up at the old man and murmured. "I understand. My son. too. In the only one."
Puzzles.
1. Word Squares-- An animal.
A member of liliaceae. A register of students.
Kinds of fish. An Inspector. To possess.
Finis. 2.- I am a word of 10 letters. My 89 2 10 are beams of sunlight. My 4 2 is drltedl grass. My 3 8 7 2 Is a kind of weight. My 8 7 93 is an animal. My whole is the name of an ancient Greek. .- I am a word of 4 letters. Behead me and wear at the present time. Then curtail me and I.am a word of denial.
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