Читать книгу To Fight Alongside Friends: The First World War Diaries of Charlie May - David Crane - Страница 35

It is always a source of wonder to me to watch the power practical experience gives a man when imparting knowledge to others. In my little time I daresay I have been lectured as much as any and more than most by johnnies who have been entrusted with the thankless task of improving my mind. Many of these oases of boredom have endeavoured safely to pass by resort to the strengthening arm of Morpheus,^xi others I have endured with a dull eye and rebellious heart, but I do not remember ever having the faintest desire to sink so low when the man who spoke did so from knowledge born of what he had actually done himself. And Captain Woodgate was like that today when he spoke to us. Much he told us we already knew and there was much which we did not but whether he spoke of familiar or unfamiliar things, he held us just the same because we felt he had done and seen those things of which he spoke. He is a good fellow and a fine man and once again I must record our feeling for the E. Lancs. They have done all they can for us, no trouble has been too much for them and I trust we will all benefit from their example and experiences.

We have finished our paths today. They are broad brick fairways through a sea of mud and are very clean and dry and comforting. Did we stay here a week or two I feel sure the château would become something of home from home. Certainly we have an affection for our stable and as for the old rat who sports about my carcase of a night I feel that he and I would become firm friends in time were it not for his bad habit of pinching our scanty cheese. That one little failing will, however, yet prove his undoing do we but remain here long enough. There is almost an element of sadness in the thought. Sadness, that is, for the rat.