HOW HE KNEW

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 121, 18 November 1939, Page 17

HOW HE KNEW

Recruits were out with an officer who was putting through observation tests. Coming to the top of a hill the officer pointed to a distant party of soldiers.

"Private Smith," he said to one of his squad,' "how many men are digging in that field?" The party1 was so far away that they looked like" dots, but Smith replied unhesitatingly. "Sixteen men and a sergeant, sir." The officer put his field-glasses 'to his eyes and counted them. "That's quite right. But how did you know there was a sergeant there?" "Because he wasn't digging} sir," replied Smith., SIR WALTER SCOTT. ': Sir' Walter VScptt;""a "poet, you' know, Ofte'&V' wrote . poems "about his friend and foe. Now, I'll tell you a story, I know it's not true, . . • And ;if you're- good -mannered you won't boo.; One day Wally was'sittlng high on a hill Thinking how he'd pay next week's lodging bill. When there came a .sudden thought to his head, "I'll compose voetw and prose," he said. So he took out a pencil. and paper, And .he had'written this-a moment later. "Oh, young Lochinvar has come out of the

''. ...west, : ■ ■•' • .--■■ ..■•.•..•■•-■■' . Through all the wide border his steed was the

. ■ best, - v ■■ ■ •■-.- -.■'■': ■■-■.- Etc., etc., well, that's how It goes, The rest I won't write, for it you should know, And that's how Wally came to be known In all our literature books at home. JEAN GRIGG.

Jtongotai.