178 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



others I think are Enghsh. A pretty good variety for a small 

 number. 



" I saw the Matron to-day and asked her what was wanted ; 

 she said bed-socks. The hospital is very draughty, so you 

 might set to work on these. 



" I am living in a very comfortable farmhouse ; there is a 

 Gloire de Dijon just opposite my room and a covey of partridges 

 in a field between us and the hospital. I have put it up twice." 



It is quite astonishing how little birds and some of the 

 smaller animals are upset by the appalling hurly-burly of 

 battlefields. A relation of mine, writing from the front, says : 

 " Even my dug-out is being utilised in the great scheme of 

 things, for there are families of mice working out their destinies 

 in the confusion of straw and pack forming the roof. As I lie 

 on my back at night I can see papa and mamma move, hurrying 

 to and fro across the beams, twiddling their tails to maintain 

 their equipoise after fearless excursions among my rations in the 

 corner. I can hear the angry squeaks of combat among the 

 gallants, and domestic twitterings from a very young family of 

 mice in the innermost sanctuaries of the straw. I am much 

 impressed by my family of mice amid all this banging and 

 counter-banging ; they make me wonder why people want 

 gilded domes and pealing organs to make them realise the 

 majesty of things in general, when they are to be found so close 

 under one's own nose." 



The same relation told me he had seen a chaffinch singing 

 on the wounded branch of a wrecked tree, and a shot coming in 

 that direction carried the branch away ; nothing daunted, the 

 little songster mounted on to a twig higher up and continued its 

 love-song. It evidently had no intention of being put out by 

 trifles. 



Late in September, 1915, Mr. Inglis saw for the first time 

 three large ambulance barges drawn by a small steam -tug ; he 

 thought they looked very comfortable. 



They are on all the rivers in France now. 



It was at this time Mr. Inglis was asked by his Bishop if he 

 would like to return to 23 General Hospital as permanent 

 Chaplain until the end of the war. He declined this offer, for 

 although he had been very happy there, he felt he would rather 



