WILLIE BLUEGUM: HERO

Northern Advocate, 24 April 1915, Page 2

WILLIE BLUEGUM: HERO

iipm-HEiSA^Ei) mm country.

No one in the' Office thought much of Willie Bluegum, ior expected him to rus any risk for t the..sake.of try. (Willie Bluegum was hot.his real name; but this is a true story).

Though there -was .a card over his desk bearing the Words, "Do it Now," his feliow-cJerks*vknew that he -was a° rather .'good bahri at dodging work. Y§t, when the war came in August, and volunteers were required."for .service in "the Pacific," the staff was surprised to hear that Willie had volunteered. Perhaps' he had been misjudged, and. was, 1 not a bad sort after aIY At any rate, they presented him with a wristlet watch as a token of

their esteem. The boss promised .to keep his billet open and pay.his salary to his mother while he was away. So Willie went off lookinsr like a hero, and many of the other clerks envied him. '

Six months passed by, and then one .day the Sydney newspaper announced the return of portion of tho-iAus-tralian troops from Rabaul. Shortly aYerwards Willife called at the office, sun-burned, and With his arm in a sling.■, He was, ; warmly by tho staff, They, plied him with .questions, and he told, them.'his adventures. ,

As time went'on some hasty spirits among., the stay-at-homes scoffed at Willies adventures, and even went so far as to openlyjdeny thathe had ever been to New Guinea. . Willie, was; hurt at this, and went to the head of the firm about, it. The head, was * sur> prised, and; said he would look into, the, matter." lie'■ made inquiries.,' He, was surprised again. He discovered ; that he> had, .under-estimatedYßlue-giim's ability. The lad was a champion, a toptnotbher, a perfeqt marvel., Of|course>; he Jio been.; to ißabaul f ■ When ( the pppojrtunity came with-;the, war.for a loaf, Willie seized j it. All that hej-had to do was to tell;. the office that hb had enlisted., The firm p^id ; his,, salary,, to '^his-^ to whbm 'Willie explained- thatYthe; firm had sent him'i into the country on business. He arranged, with . her to' send on the, mg^orportion ofhis salary, and then went, offhand had-a real good time.