asked by Mr. G. Witty if he would extend the
payment of gratuities on behalf of deceased soldiers to sisters and
cousins when the soldier had made a will to that effect."--_Same
paper, later._

The reason why Mr. WITTY'S solicitude was limited to the sisters and
cousins evidently was that the ants had been already provided for.

* * * * *

"Sir Oliver's personality is like that of one of the prophets of old.
Venerable, white of beard and what scanty locks of hair remain, a
dome-like head, over six feet in height."

_Boston Herald._

This must be the result of the American atmosphere, as we are quite certain
that the last time we saw Sir OLIVER his head was not an inch over three
feet in height.

* * * * *

DEMOBBED.

INDIA, 1920.

"I'm goin' home," said Hennessey, "for I've been East too long;
I want the English hedges an' fields an' the English thrush's song,
An' the honest English faces an' never nobody black;
It's home for mine," said Hennessey, "so it's down your tents and pack.
It'll pass out here
For a month or a year,
But not for a lifetime--no dam fear.
I want my folks," said Hennessey, "an' I'm jolly well goin' back."
But _I_ said, "Home's gone different an' I've somehow lost the touch,
An' nobody's written for fifty years, so _they_'re not worryin' much;
An' I like it here; I love it." Says Hennessey, "Well, I'm shot!
Would ye die an' be buried in India?" "Well, Natty," says I, "why not?"

"East Africa, then," said Hennessey; "it's a promisin' place is that--
Money to make an' jobs galore, easy an' rich an' fat;
An' think of the ridin' an' shootin' an' the camp an' the trekkin' too;
_You_'ve no ties," said Hennessey; "it's the place for a chap like you.
There's a grand career
For a pioneer,
Which is more than ever you'll see out here.
East Africa's it," said Hennessey, "if the half they say is true."
But _I_ said, "Blow East Africa an' slavin' yourself all day;
I'm an idle man--bone idle--with a little bit saved away,
An' I like them palm-tree beaches an' the warm blue sunlit sea;
East India, yes, an' welcome, but East Africa--no, not me."

"Well, Palestine," said Hennessey; but I cut him short and sweet,
An' "Natty," I said, "I've heard it all an' I don't want to repeat--
Jerusalem or Mombasa, Tahiti or Timbuctoo