A "YANK" IN THE HIGHLANDS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 7, Issue 414, 1 October 1918, Page 1

A "YANK" IN THE HIGHLANDS

(Reprinted from the Daily Mail Overseas Edition) It was in the centre of that famed beauty district, the Trossachs. that I found him. To be precise, he was lounging contentedly on the shore of Loch Katrine, his very blue eyes caught by the witchery of Ellen's Isle; a little sprig of still green heather held lightly between his white teeth. " The opening of the conversation was, I found, easy enough. " Dou you know," I said yours is the first American uniform I have seen in the Trossachs ?" "That so ?" he returned pleasantly as he rose. " Well, I reckon you'll see plenty of the boys before they go back home." " I hope so," I said quite sincerely. " And what do you think of it all ?" " Fine !' he exclaimed, with an enthusiasm good to hear. "Do you know this part well ?" « Very," I was glad to answer. " I was born and bred hereabouts,' He was silent for some moments Then: " Some birthplace," he remarked. " Say now, I've always wanted to see Scotland—this part most of all They say that the boys from around here were all in the army in about a week after the war started. Is that true ?" "I believe so," I said. " Well'' —he nodded once or twice and smiled slowly—" I can understand it. Yes, sir, I certainly can. I was glad enough to have the chance to 1 have a whack at Jbnnny Hun myself, but to fight for a place like this ! ipil.perhags I shouldn't say it, for T'Si a the U.S.A. | and proud t n bp, *t—thank God, my name'?, " My eyes 1 <*ve shown surbuuch of Macs coEc'' oviflr, on. " My. father ★as naver here bat Ms father wasiborn and bredi right close to o' Turk. Back home we've got a picture of him Ranging on the parlour .wall -a proud-looking, hanasome old fellow, who died long before I was born. Dad said to me, ' Jim,' he said, ' when you get to the other side have a shot at visiting my father's place It'll give you a thrill if all the old man used to tell me was true." " And h*?e you had the thrill ?" I asked He grimed. " Bet your life," he said. " I've be«n mailing picturecards back there at the hotel. On one of them 1 put a thing that'll please the dad. I wrote : ' Before I left Indiana my whole heart was in this job and now my whole soul's in it too." There was a sudden whirring of wings overhead, and the American soldier glanced up. " What are those ?" he asked interestedly. " Grouse," I told him. The boyish light in his eyes grew brighter. " I'll have to mail another card," he said. "They'll go dippy at home when they know I've seen grouse flying over Loch Katrine towards Ben Ard. There's one thing I hope, mister. I hope that there will never again be a German who'll be allowed to stand where you and I are standing. He'd pollute the place. I know that now, for, y'see, I'm a Mcßae." W. Harold Thomson".