The boys had "rescued" a few hens from a deserted farm. The morning was
windy and feathers were scattered in the mud.
Picquet officer (appearing from a corner of the trench): "What's the
meaning of all these feathers, Brown?"
Brown: "Why, sir, Smiff wrote 'ome sayin' 'e missed 'is 'ome comforts,
an' 'is ma sent 'im a fevver piller; an' 'e's so mad at our kiddin'
that 'e's in that dug-out tearin' it to bits."--_John W. Martin, 16
Eccles Road, Lavender Hill, S.W.11._