SCHOOL AND EARLY DAYS 



The Vicar was of rather a musical turn of mind 

 and gave much attention to training the choir, and 

 on occasion when they got into a tangle he would 

 pull them up and close the service. 



I should not like to think that a few of my readers 

 may have gathered the opinion that I am quoting 

 fairy tales, but what I have related is perfectly 

 true, although for the credit of the Church perhaps 

 they should not have been recorded. 



But let me proceed with the story of farming at 

 Idstone. The summer of 1893 ^^^ a real scorcher. 

 It began very early in the spring and sheep-keep 

 was at a premium. When the swedes and hay 

 were reaching the end John Lawrence said, " Well, 

 we must get round and try and find some feed for 

 the sheep couples." I seem to recollect that he 

 drove off in one direction whilst I was instructed 

 to ride in another. Finally, we were able to find 

 some useful water meadows in the neighbourhood 

 of Chilton. I forget the cost, but that did not 

 particularly matter. Keep we must have at any cost. 

 When we got home that night John Lawrence's 

 brother, William, had turned up to have a friendly 

 chat and talk over the difficulties of the times. 

 I seem to hear him greeting him something like 

 this : " Of course, John, you know the Biblical 

 story of old when there was famine in Judea and 

 how Ahab and Obadiah parted the country between 

 them, Ahab going one way and Obadiah another, 

 so that they may save at least half of the flocks." 

 We are told that history repeats itself : it certainly 

 had in this case. 



II 



