A HAPPY RECRUIT.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15561, 10 April 1916, Page 2

A HAPPY RECRUIT.

AND AN EMBARRASSED MAYOR.

There was nobody, down to the station to say good-bve to one of yesterday's departing recruits (says Wednesday's "Hawke's Bay Hcfakl"'), yet he did not seem to care in tho slightest, arrd, in fact, as he beamed at all and sundry on the platform he appeared to befriends with everybody. One person he evidently knew, however, for when Napier's Mayor mounted on the carriage platform lie put both his arms round his nock. "Good old Vigor Brown," he shouted, and looked affectionately at the embarrassed speaker. "Ladies and gentlemen,'' commenced the Mayor preparatory to making a speech. "Don't argue, dear old* Vigor," chimed i« the recruit, and hugged the Mayor closer. "Ladies and gentlemen," repeated the Mayor to a crowd that was enjoying tho scene immensely. "Dear old Vigor Brown, the best man in Napier," continued the recruit, not to bo outdone in his buret of admiration. Then by a huge effort tho Mayor broke away from tho embrance and called for three cheers for the troops. This moinentaily distracted the attention of the affectionate one, and he waved his hat and cheered. Then ho remembered and was just in time to again clasp tho Mayor round the ncck as he wasste'wing on to the platform. "Three chcers for Mr Brown." ho cried again. AYhile the cheers were being given Mr Brown again managed to disentangle himself. Then tho loving one stretched out his hand. ■'•'There's my hand, old man, and it's my heart!" The Mayor took the hand gond-n atu redly. With the object of his attention go:;o the recruit once asain beamed on the crowd. "Does any girl present want to kiss me?" he asked after a while. "I'll take them in rotation. ' No one came forward. Ho appeared to be disappointed, hat in a moment he was again smiling. "Will anyone hern lend me a shilling?" There was a roar of laughter from the crowd. "No one offers," he remarked after surveying the crowd once more. "Well, does anyone want a shilling?" he oneried, and the crowd laughed more heartily. Ho glanced iin the platform and sighted an officer. "There's the regimental sergeant-major: he's telling them not to take any notice of me," he said. Then he went off at a tangent again. "Any bid for the Kaiser's whiskers?" he enquired from the crowd. There being no bids lie turned his attention to the band. "Come on Edison s baud," ho cried. "Edison's military bind. Columbia record. Give us some music." Shortly after the band struck up, and a few moments later, as the train moved slowly out of the station, the voice of the happy recruit could be heard above the noise of the shrieking siren-. a