A HAPPY RECRUIT

Grey River Argus, 13 April 1916, Page 8

A HAPPY RECRUIT

AND AN EMBARRASSED MAYOR There was nobody down to the station to say good-bye to one of yesday's departing- recruits, says last Wednesday's "Hawke's Bay Herald," | yet he did not seem to care in the slightest, and, in fact, as he beamed at all and sundry on the platform he appeared to be friends 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 reck. "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 eld Vigor," 1 chimed in th erccruit, and hugged the Mayor closer. "Ladies and gentlemen," rercated the Mayor to a crowd that vns enjoying the scene immensely. "Dear old Vigor Brown, the best man in Napier/ continued th^ recruit, not to be outdone in his burst of admiration. Then by a huge effort the Mayor broke away from the embrace and called for three cheers for the troops. This momentarily distracted the at- 1 tention of the affectionate one, and he j waved his hat and cheered. Then he remembered and was just in time to again clasp the Mayor round the neck form ."Three cheers for Mr. Vigor Brown," he cried again. While the cheers were being given Mr. Brown again managed to disentangle himself. Then the loving one stretched out his hand. "There's my hand, old man, and it's my 'heart!" The Mayor took .the hand good-naturedly. With the object of his attention cone the recruit once again beamed 1 th eßritish navy, and fear had added 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. He appeared to be disappointed, but , in a moment he was again smiling. "Will anyone here lend me a shilling?" Ther ewas a roar of laughter from the ci'owd. "No one offei - s," he remarked after surveying the crowd once more. "Well, * does v an j'onc want a shilling " he queried, and the crowd laughed more heartily. He glanced up the platform and sighted an officer. "There's the regi-. mental sergeant-major; he's telling them not to take any notice of r j he said. Then he went off at a tangent again. .Am* bid for the Kaiser's whiskers?" he enquired from the crowd. , There being no bids he turned his attention to the band. "Come on Edison's band," he cried. "Edison's military band, Columbia record. Give, us some music." Shortly after the band struck up, ■ and a few moments later, as ihe train moved v slowly out of thn station., the voice of .the happy recruit rouldbc heard above the noise of the shrieking sirens.