按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
It is all but talk。 There is one ward door that he tries whenever we pass。
He turns his head around； looks into the door； and waits。
The Sisters in the ward have changed frequently； but all alike 〃fall for it〃；
as they say； and produce a biscuit or some such dainty which Bonfire takes
with much gravity and gentleness。 Should I chide him for being too eager
and give him my hand saying； 〃Gentle now；〃 he mumbles with his lips；
and licks with his tongue like a dog to show how gentle he can be
when he tries。 Truly a great boy is that same。 On this subject
I am like a doting grandmother； but forgive it。
I have a very deep affection for Bonfire； for we have been through
so much together； and some of it bad enough。 All the hard spots
to which one's memory turns the old fellow has shared；
though he says so little about it。
This love of animals was no vagrant mood。 Fifteen years before
in South Africa he wrote in his diary under date of September 11th； 1900：
I wish I could introduce you to the dogs of the force。 The genus dog here
is essentially sociable； and it is a great pleasure to have them about。
I think I have a personal acquaintance with them all。 There are our pups
Dolly； whom I always know by her one black and one white eyebrow；
Grit and Tory； two smaller gentlemen； about the size of a pound of butter
and fighters； one small white gentleman who rides on a horse； on the blanket；
Kitty； the monkey； also rides the off lead of the forge wagon。
There is a black almond…eyed person belonging to the Royal Scots；
who begins to twist as far as I can see her； and comes up in long curves；
extremely genially。 A small shaggy chap who belongs to the Royal Irish
stands upon his hind legs and spars with his front feet
and lots of others every one of them 〃a soldier and a man〃。
The Royal Scots have a monkey； Jenny； who goes around always trailing a sack
in her hand； into which she creeps if necessary to obtain shelter。
The other day old Jack； my horse； was bitten by his next neighbor；
he turned SLOWLY； eyed his opponent； shifted his rope so that he had
a little more room； turned very deliberately； and planted both heels
in the offender's stomach。 He will not be run upon。
From a time still further back comes a note in a like strain。
In 1898 he was house physician in a children's hospital at Mt。 Airy；
Maryland； when he wrote：
A kitten has taken up with a poor cripple dying of muscular atrophy
who cannot move。 It stays with him all the time； and sleeps most of the day
in his straw hat。 To…night I saw the kitten curled up under the bed…clothes。
It seems as if it were a gift of Providence that the little creature
should attach itself to the child who needs it most。
Of another child：
The day she died she called for me all day； deposed the nurse
who was sitting by her； and asked me to remain with her。
She had to be held up on account of lack of breath；
and I had a tiring hour of it before she died； but it seemed
to make her happier and was no great sacrifice。 Her friends arrived
twenty minutes too late。 It seems hard that Death will not wait
the poor fraction of an hour； but so it is。
And here are some letters to his nephews and nieces which reveal his attitude
both to children and to animals。
From Bonfire to Sergt。…Major Jack Kilgour
August 6th； 1916。
Did you ever have a sore hock？ I have one now； and Cruickshank puts bandages
on my leg。 He also washed my white socks for me。 I am glad you got
my picture。 My master is well； and the girls tell me I am looking well； too。
The ones I like best give me biscuits and sugar； and sometimes flowers。
One of them did not want to give me some mignonette the other day
because she said it would make me sick。 It did not make me sick。
Another one sends me bags of carrots。 If you don't know how to eat carrots；
tops and all； you had better learn； but I suppose you are just a boy；
and do not know how good oats are。
BONFIRE His * Mark。
* Here and later； this mark is that of a horse…shoe。 A。 L。； 1995。
From Bonfire to Sergt。…Major Jack Kilgour
October 1st； 1916。
Dear Jack；
Did you ever eat blackberries？ My master and I pick them every day
on the hedges。 I like twenty at a time。 My leg is better
but I have a lump on my tummy。 I went to see my doctor to…day；
and he says it is nothing at all。 I have another horse
staying in my stable now； he is black； and about half my size。
He does not keep me awake at night。 Yours truly；
BONFIRE His * Mark。
From Bonfire to Margaret Kilgour； Civilian
November 5th； 1916。
Dear Margaret：
This is Guy Fox Day！ I spell it that way because fox…hunting
was my occupation a long time ago before the war。 How are Sergt。…Major Jack
and Corporal David？ Ask Jack if he ever bites through his rope at night；
and gets into the oat…box。 And as for the Corporal； 〃I bet you〃 I can jump
as far as he can。 I hear David has lost his red coat。 I still have
my grey one； but it is pretty dirty now； for I have not had a new one
for a long time。 I got my hair cut a few weeks ago and am to have new boots
next week。 Bonneau and Follette send their love。 Yours truly；
BONFIRE His * Mark。
In Flanders； April 3rd； 1915。
My dear Margaret：
There is a little girl in this house whose name is Clothilde。
She is ten years old； and calls me 〃Monsieur le Major〃。
How would you like it if twenty or thirty soldiers came along
and lived in your house and put their horses in the shed or the stable？
There are not many little boys and girls left in this part of the country；
but occasionally one meets them on the roads with baskets of eggs
or loaves of bread。 Most of them have no homes； for their houses
have been burnt by the Germans； but they do not cry over it。
It is dangerous for them； for a shell might hit them at any time
and it would not be an eggshell； either。
Bonfire is very well。 Mother sent him some packets of sugar；
and if ever you saw a big horse excited about a little parcel；
it was Bonfire。 He can have only two lumps in any one day；
for there is not much of it。 Twice he has had gingerbread
and he is very fond of that。 It is rather funny for a soldier…horse；
is it not？ But soldier horses have a pretty hard time of it； sometimes；
so we do not grudge them a little luxury。 Bonfire's friends are King；
and Prince； and Saxonia； all nice big boys。 If they go away and leave him；
he whinnies till he catches sight of them again； and then he is quite happy。
How is the 15th Street Brigade getting on？ Tell Mother I recommend Jack
for promotion to corporal if he has been good。 David will have to be a gunner
for awhile yet； for everybody cannot be promoted。 Give my love to Katharine；
and Jack； and David。
Your affectionate uncle Jack。
Bonfire； and Bonneau； and l