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Sir Henry Newbolt - A Letter From the FrontSir Henry Newbolt - A Letter From the Front
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I was out early to-day, spying about From the top of a haystack — such a lovely morning — And when I mounted again to canter back I saw across a field in the broad sunlight A young Gunner Subaltern, stalking along With a rook-rifle held at the read, and — would you believe it? — A domestic cat, soberly marching beside him. So I laughed, and felt quite well disposed to the youngster, And shouted out "the top of the morning" to him, And wished him "Good sport!" — and then I remembered My rank, and his, and what I ought to be doing: And I rode nearer, and added, "I can only suppose You have not seen the Commander-in-Chief`s order Forbidding English officers to annoy their Allies By hunting and shooting."                But he stood and saluted And said earnestly, "I beg your pardon, Sir, I was only going out to shoot a sparrow To feed my cat with."           So there was the whole picture, The lovely early morning, the occasional shell Screeching and scattering past us, the empty landscape, — Empty, except for the young Gunner saluting, And the cat, anxiously watching his every movement. I may be wrong, or I may have told it badly, But it struck me as being extremely ludicrous.
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