WHAT SAMMY SAYS.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1918, Page 3

WHAT SAMMY SAYS.

Sammy is in my ward, and I hk<_ him. His face be describes as one of the sort that only a mother could love but somehow, lantern-jawed and highcheeked as it is it appeals to me Even more than Ins face I bke ns conversation. His experiences during the war are, I suppose, much the same as those of other men ; his mode of Relating them is peculiarly his own. He picturesque imagery with which le adorns his speech may be an old story in “God’s country”—to me it is thincr of wonder and a joy for ewer. He came over “the big drink” some months ago. He had a pleasant voyage, saw no “tin fish,” and had plenty to" eat—“six meals a day, three up and three down.” On arrival at the port thev got into “the dinkiest little tiain ever.” Before it started, the captain asked for a key to wind it up _ with. Sammy says that personally lie intends to take one home as a charm to hang on his watch chain. . They went into camp, where they spent their time “hiking’ aboUt t . countryside. The “eats’’- here were not over good. They wore given tea which tasted like the last water Noah kept afloat in” and fish “that was never caught, but must have given itself up. However, they made their motto « ° like Helen B. Happy ” and stuck ton bravely. The one think that ieall> “got their goat” was having to sleep on terra firnia. That. Sammy says, is Batin for “terribly hard.” Ultimately he and his compnnio . crossed to the front. The country pleased Sammv, but he found the language difficult and the French people slow ot comprehension. On one occasion he wauled a pair of duck shoes, so he wont into a bootmakers’ and quacked—but be couldn’t got the old dame wise to For the fight tbr‘ ;.him out of action Sammy says his lieutenant responsible. “He was sure tired of his position and crazy on becoming a caplain or an angel.” Sammy was ready enough to help, but a Boche shell into - veiled and insisted on sending in bis name with an application for mine diate transfer to the Flying Corps. | Hence his presence in hospital. I Tt is rav duty to give Sammy his letI tors, and'to-day as he read a voluminous ! epistle his face brightened to such an j extent that I was forced to inquire j what good tidings had arrived. He hei sitated, then grinned. “T don t > mmd ; telling von, nurse.” he said. It snu i wife writing, and from what she says 1 ! calculate when I get home there 11 he something besides a fence running around by little place in Seattle. Sammv goes to-morrow, and 1■ sla miss him h»dl - He himself is all anxiety for an early return to a front where he anticipates a real good time lor the Yanks and a correspondingly had one for Jerry. The latter is assuredly up against the “straight goods” at last. Anywav. whatever happens to the Eng- | lisli, for the U.S.A. Forces it is going [ to be “heaven, hell, or Hoboken by Christmas.” ’ Sammy says so. ■