Patriotism

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 August 1916, Page 3

Patriotism

there is a line 11 • y or sketch. ni "I'lUicli," of .May 'Vl.st ; true it may bi' in detail ; certainly true to contemporary type. It i.s entitleil '"The .Birthliny Present,'' and the .scene is tne breakfast room in one of "the stately homes in lingland.'' It is the eighteenth birthday of the third and youngest (son ; his two brothers went to the front some time before. The mother is the first to enter the room and .she notes two official envelopes anions the e irrespon ienee awaiting her husband. She is in anxious suspense for nonie minutes, but lie comes at length and the letters are opened. She watches his t'ace. and roads confirmation of her Fours. "Dead! . . . which!' Oh. Harr.v, not both?' »Some moments of silent agony, and they hear steps on the stairs and a voice singing. The boy in arrested by the sight of Ihn strained faces; he notices the official papers. "Bad news, dad?" There was no answer, tie had not expected one, for he rend the truth on the face that never iied. He stood very still for a. brief moment his head up—characteristically— his face ;i' lit l ' pale. Both brothers! Then he breathed deeply and turned to hip father in expectation. "You are eighteen to-day. boy; you may apply f° r your commission." There was a crv. quickly, stifled trom the mother, and the boy sain . >-ry quietly: "Thank you dad; of course 1 must go now." Then he went to liimother and kissed her nmd was not ashamed to cry. Tt was his father who broke i ; silence. •'May God grant you ninny returns, many happy returns of the day!'' We (Otago Daily Times) know of at least one exactly parallel ease in XVnv Zealand the third and only remaining son going to the front after bis two brothers had been killed. The story is poignantly illustrative of the (•tern, almost unnatural, restraint which private affliction habitually imposes upon itself in these days of trial.