A Lucky Magpie 149 



and ran home to my grandfather's for a week 

 before joining my ship, I slipped off to the 

 farm the very first evening after dinner. 



Farmer Reynardson rose, shook hands warmly, 

 and slapped me on the back. Then he turned 

 me round and inspected my jacket and Her 

 Majesty's buttons carefully. 



" Now for the story," I cried. " It's all right, 

 you needn't look at my boots too, you know," 

 as his eye travelled down my uniform trousers. 

 41 Now for the yarn of the lucky magpie." 



"George," said the farmer gravely, putting 

 his hand on my shoulder, "you shall have it, 

 my lad, this very evening. But I must show 

 you something first." He walked me through 

 the orchard to a shady corner by the hedge, 

 and showed me a little stone set upright in the 

 ground, on which I read this inscription 



Here lies the body of 



a lucky Magpie 



and an 



attached 



Friend. (J. R.) 



It's a new one, he in the cage," he said, 



