"THE HAPPIEST LAD ON EARTH."
[To THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR."'
Sra,—I send the appended letters, thinking they may interest your readers. They are the precious possession of my charwoman, written to her before going to France by her only son, a boy of nineteen, who was killed a few weeks ago and buried " behind his gun as he would have wished to be." The letters speak for themselves ; they are only one expression of the deathless spirit which is uplifting our race.—I am, Sir,
"Dawn Mair,—I am sorry I did not write before, but I have been too troubled to write. The Battery is going out and they are sending me back to the second line and I am absolutely broken-hearted. I have been in the Battery nearly to'h months and now they are sending a man who hasn't been in the Brigade six weeks in my place. I have been before the General, and ho says it is no use saying anything. But if there's the slightest chance of going I'll take it. I can't write any more now so will close with the best of love.—Your broken-hearted son
Jim."
"Dean MArs,—Just a few lines to say I am in the best of health and spirits. I have been taken back in the Battery as a trumpeter and am the happiest lad on earth. I hope you got my last letter. I could not give you my address because I was moving about so. We are getting all foreign service tackle. Will you send me a knife, fork and spoon and a brush and comb as I have lost mine ? Any old thing will do. Don't be down-hearted ; be all right. I can't say any more now only (hoping) that you are in the best of health and spirits.--Your ever-loving and
Previous page
