A CHEERING LETTER.

Inangahua Times, 2 October 1915, Page 4

A CHEERING LETTER.

BALLARATL \DY'S TRIBUTE

" THANK GOD I AM AN AUSTPALI N."

A cable message recently cona reference to a letter published in Bhgli*&&tid> other newspapers, addressed by Miss T. JoJfton, M.A.,of the teaching staff itf. the Agricultural High School, I|allflrat|i«*jUiecAusW lian troops at the front. A copy of the letter was read by Captain Mabifofat a concert given at the Pembroke 1 Convalescent Home, 1 Maltayiat whichMLord Methuen and oiler l distinguished s persons were present. Miss' JobsW has been prominently associated with the He'd' Cross > movements in Ballard The full text of the letter* a copy of which was not kept toy Miss Jobsion, has just been received from Malta. It ; » as follows:—•

Verona, 120 Lyons street, „ Ballarat, I2th Mav, 1915Dear Australian Boys,—l don't knowhwhich of you all will read this letter; I don't care, for you are all alike r dear and, TPrecious ; to every* Australian at home. Every Australian woman's heart this weeli is thrilling with s&&?>] with exultation, an&sfwhite msrl eyes fill With tears, she springs up asfifdid when the storr finished,-* and says : «rhahk God, £ am an Australian £;Bpys,f youhavehonored our land, the novices, the untrained.ihe un* taught in war's grim school, have done the deeds of veterans 1 0, how we honor.you; how we glory in your matchless bravery, in vour yet more wonderful fortitude, which the war correspondent says was evinced so marvellously asyourboat loads of wounded, cheered and waved amid their pain as they were rowed back to the vessels. What gave you the courage for that heroic dash to the?ridge,boys? British grit, Australians 1 nerve and determinationfto do or die; a bit of the primeval!man's love of a big fight against heavy odds. God's help, tool surely. Who accom* pained *ypu through a veritable valley ofX.the shadow of death, Dear ladi, I think your deed was one of thfe mostheroic fiver sung in romance or told in epic, from Homer's s■ time downward} no deed in history/ excels- it, You have indeed made history, and written yjpur names indelibly on the globus roll of fame. Just after thenar broke out last year Host two brothers from illness withinkfortnightW each*others and I just said, " Oh, it they had only died fighting for their country 1" May you be spared however, to live and tight again for your country* I teach in the Bfallarajt You boyST-fof i#oit are i air ooys (ah, so young to do such deeds of valor) f may know some>siof our sludenfs, for many are at the front wtbo. rjave passed through our nait .tjsrlijile oFthe|st£ as yet we know too little, has already cost us* the loss of two of our boys, ancifi^ at least two beino mounded. It has been our 'sad duty'to fly our school <flag half mast forLieutenabt S.;R. Qoseancr Lieutenant Arthur* Curwen-Watker,v j Whe!n 1 bad "goodbye" to the latter I said :—•" Arthur, have you no fear of what you may be called ion to; face at the' frontno thought: of death?" "NoMi he said quietly. (Arthur -.never, talkeds much, and, never about himself). "I just think of going -straight ahead, and don't thinks at all! of what might happen. That's! the way, boys, is it not? As your school motto says, " ! iJuty: always/'-and I think you have all lived up to that* s what-, ey er school t was honored by your attendance.! When I asked Lieutena«i Curwen-Walker 1 if his mother felt—his -; going—awaymifccbjfhc replied :—" Well,, if she does?, she does not let me see it." the Nay tysj mother ris beariflg up to-day, and'many another mother Ihroughout Ausr ; traliauf : # j peijr boys, I'm isurervou will,be jojir deeds * of prowess if you, known how the whole. Common-wealth,; navy the* whole Empire, is stirred by every Sunday now we are.sincing the following lines, after j God save the King, in j church and Surtday school:-- ' .r, God save our splendid men, «.'-.. g en( j t jj em Ba f e b©me-*igain, 11 Keep them, victorious,,< »;«f • Patient and chivalrous, .. *,*,.' They are so dear to u», mi ': q save our men#

What can T say further ? With God the ultimate issue rests. .We! a can only leave you in His'hands. "Ask Him to sooihe your pain, heal your bodies, recoup your lost •strength, and if you get into the fir in ii line again, shun all that is and treacherous and devilish. I Leave those tricks to Turks and Germans. If the Briton is to be defeated, let one thing-never be .lost by him—his stainless "name, his absolute hcmori * Butt we will never\<can? bless insfamy.- -Rijrht- will- prevail, and !We>shall live to see it Goodnight feoysi; God!, haVe' y ou;livingvor d\in&Jr.,His; peeping, Xf wy„ ky\e ot you would like to send me a pencilled note or * card, I'll flnsv er it to time by return..* Your~ I c untrymeawomenv* > JEANIE >JOBSON. • -