and all have now cheerfully accepted the disconcerting changes involved
in the new orientation, and window-boxes have been generally shifted to
the sunny side.

* * * * *

"On Monday, near Durgerdam, in Holland, a fresh dyke burst occurred
on a length of 50 metres. Over 200 handbags were at once thrown
into the opening without any visible result."--_Provincial Paper._

Still, the sacrifice was well meant.

* * * * *

THE GOLDEN VALLEY.

(Herefordshire.)

Abbeydore, Abbeydore,
Land of apples and of gold,
Where the lavish field-gods pour
Song and cider manifold;
Gilded land of wheat and rye,
Land where laden branches cry,
"Apples for the young and old
Ripe at Abbeydore!"

Abbeydore, Abbeydore,
Where the shallow river spins
Elfin spells for evermore,
Where the mellow kilderkins
Hoard the winking apple-juice
For the laughing reapers' use;
All the joy of life begins
There at Abbeydore.

Abbeydore, Abbeydore,
In whose lap of wonder teems
Largess from a wizard store,
World of idle, crooning streams--
From a stricken land of pain
May I win to you again,
Garden of the God of Dreams,
Golden Abbeydore.

[Illustration: A GERMAN HOLIDAY.

Child. "PLEASE, SIR, WHAT IS THIS HOLIDAY FOR?"

Official. "BECAUSE OUR ZEPPELINS HAVE CONQUERED ENGLAND."

Child. "HAVE THEY BROUGHT US BACK ANY BREAD?"

Official. "DON'T ASK SILLY QUESTIONS. WAVE YOUR FLAG."]

* * * * *

AT THE FRONT.

There is one matter I have hitherto not touched on, because it has not
hitherto touched on me, and that is Courses.

The ideal course works like this. You are sitting up to the ears in mud
under a brisk howitzer, trench mortar and rifle grenade fire, when a
respectful signaller crawls round a traverse, remarking, "Message, Sir."

You take the chit from him languidly, wondering whether you have earned
a court-martial by omitting to report on the trench sleeping-suits which
someone in the Rearward Services has omitted to forward, and you read,
still languidly at first; then you get up and whoop, throw your primus
stove into the air and proceed to dance on the parapet, if your trench
has one. Then you settle down and read your message again to see if it
still runs, "You are detailed to attend three months' Staff wo