PATRIOTISM IN THE HIGHEST.

Taihape Daily Times, Issue 160, 19 August 1916, Page 5

PATRIOTISM IN THE HIGHEST.

i FINE BRITISH TRAITS. There is a lin e astory, or sketch, in “Punch” of May 31st; true, it may be, in detail; certainly true to contemporary type. It is entitled “The Birthday Present, "and the -scene is the ‘ ‘ breakfast room in one of the stately homes of England.”’ It is the eight-’ eenth 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 among the correspondence awaiting her husband. She is in anxious suspense for some minutes, but he comes at length, and the letters are opened. She watches his face, and reads confirmation*, of her fears. “Dead! . . • which? Oh, Harry, not both.” Some moments of silent agony, and they hear steps on the stairs and a voice singing. The Th e boy is arrested by the sght of the strained faces; he notices the official papers. “Bad news, dad?" There was no answer. He had not expected one, for h e read the truth on the face that had never lied. Ho stood very still for a brief moment, his head U p characteristically- —his face a little pale. Both brothers! Then ho. breathed deeply and turned to his fath er in expectation. “Yon are eighteen to-day, boy. You may apply for your commission.-” t There was a cry, quickly stifled, from the mother, and the boy said very quietly: “Thank you, dad, of course I must go now.” Then ho went to his mother aud kissed her. and was not. ashamed to cry. It was his father who broke the silence. “May God grant you many, many happy returns of the day.” IVo (“Otago Daily Times”) know of at least one exactly parallel ease in New Zealand —the third and only remaining son going to the front after his two brothers had been killed. The story is poignantly illustrative of the stern, almost unnatural restraint which private- affliction- habitually imposes upon itself in thc%'days-of! -trial.