"Ay, wumin," answered Tamson senior, turning from his task of blowing up his old balloons.
"Spud's comin' hame on week-end pass, an', d'ye ken——"
"Whut?"
"He's been made an officer."
"Ye're haverin'."
"I'm no'! Listen," said she, digging a letter out of her old leather purse and reading aloud—
————
"Dear Mither,—I'm weel. I hop' you fayther an' the dug's weel. I've been made a heid yin here. The Kurnel made me a Lance-Korperal for distingwishet kondukt. I expect to get made a genral in aboot a [pg 79] month. I'm kumin' hame on pass for a week-end. Love tae a'—an' the dug.
"Spud.
"P.S.—Hoo's ma lass. Tell her I'll staun her a slider an' fish supper when I kum."