ON FURLOUGH FROM THE FRONT.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1510, 15 February 1916, Page 4

ON FURLOUGH FROM THE FRONT.

Says Professor Murray : “As the train drew out of the station and gathered speed I looked out upon the countryside as if raced past us. England ! Past weald and down, past field and hedgerow, croft and orchard, cottage and mansion, now over the chalk with its spinneys of beech and fir, now over the clay with its forests of oak and elm. The friends of one’s childhood, purple scabious and yellow toad-flax, seemed to nod their heads in welcome; and the hedgerows were festive with garlands of bryony and Old Man’s Beard. The blanching willows rippled in the breeze, and the tall poplars whispered with every wind. I looked down the length of the saloon, and everywhere I saw the blithe and eager faces of England’s gallant sons who had fought, and would fight again, to preserve their heritage from the fire and sword of bloody sacrilege. Fairer than the cedars of Lebanon were these russet beeches, nobler than the rivers of Damascus these amber streams; and the France of our new affections was not more dear. As I alighted on the platform, I saw a crowd of waiting women. ‘Hullo, Mother !’ ‘Oh. darling !’ I turned away. I was thinking of that platlorm next week when these brief days, snatched from the very jaws of death, would have run their all too brief career and the greetings of joy would be exchanged for heartsearching farewells.”