Tonunics Two. By Blanche Wills Chandler. (Sampson Low, Mauston, and
Co.)—Marry people will not like the stories in 7'citunice Two to less for their sent'unentality. Individually, they are funny, but are a little too much alike in tone to bear collection into a single volume. Those about Billeting in the early part of the war are the best :—
" ' Nobody,' said Mrs. Sweeille, who in Roil.) of all this was willing and eager to take us in, ' nobody knows better than I do what soldiers are in an 'ouse. Always merry and bright and ready to put their 'ands to anything when a poor woman's work's never done and she's delicate end liable to tho sick 'eadaelte in the mornings. There's the week's clothes to go through the wringer, but I know what soldiers is for a wringer ; they can't leave it alone. And if I 'appons to overlay meson I know there's no cause to worry about grandfer's cup o' tea, nor yot Bobby and Tom and Alfred gottin' off to school tidy. Like as not they'll do me more credit than if I washed 'em mosolf ; there's nobody like a soldier for putting a polish on children.' Mrs. Swoodlo overlaid herself the very first inornin' and sent word by Alfred if we would ho so kind as to make her a cup o' tea when wo was making grandfor's it might save her a doctor ; and the wood for the fire was out in the yard, and she know, being soldiers, wo should chop her a horror-load while we was about it ; and when she crawled downstairs presently the breakfast things would be washed and put away, as was the 'abit of soldiers and very likely the pertators pooled for dinner. It beM' a strange 'ouse and wo not knowin where to put our 'ands on anything . . . Jim and mo was roglor drove. We was as near hem' late for parade as we 'awe ever been in our lives. Mrs. Swoodlo was very upset. ` I know what soldiers is for punctuality,' she said, ` a minute late and they're court-martialled. How would it ho if you was to lay the fire overnight and scrub over the floor It 'ud save ye a lot in the mornid, if so be I'm forced to keep me bed.' "
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