A very welcome little visitor came hopping into our garden one morning. He was a tame jackdaw who seemed to want to stay with the Boys. We called him " Jackie," and he followed us all over the place, even hopping right along the corridor to the Refectory at meal times. He roosted in trees in our garden at night, and flew down as soon as we called him in the morning.

We are sorry to say that he rather disgraced us by hopping half-way up the middle of the Chapel during Benediction, giving a loud " squawk " before he was carried out. He flew off one morning and we never saw him again.

By June the news of the War was getting worse and worse; so we decided we would have to do something to cheer everyone up, including ourselves. We had thought that Reverend Mother General would be coming to Boscombe during the Summer Term, and we were already preparing a Play, especially written for us; so when we heard that, owing to the difficulties of travelling from France, she could not come, we decided to give our Play straight away in aid of the Red Cross.

It seemed that we could not have chosen anything better than our Patriotic Fantasy, "The Spirit of England." It did us good too, for when the fear of invasion was heavy upon us we were loudly practising "There'll always be an England."

The Story of the Play was about two brothers who wished to see the " Spirit of England." They find a Wishing Well, and Britannia promises them their wish if they will follow her directions. They have to pass through the Bad Wizard's Wood and face many temptations. Jack resists all these, but John is lured away by the slaves of the wicked Wizard, the Bad Sprites, while Jack sleeps.

He is taken to the Palace, and there the " Pleasures " he has longed for, prettily represented by tiny boys of four and five years' of age, dance around John, luring him on to partake in their pleasures. They dance and gradually bind him hand and foot, while a curly red-headed imp of five, cleverly binds his eyes, thus blinding him to duty.

Jack, asleep in the wood, now awakes and realises what has happened. He tries to get help from the animals in the wood. Birds, cleverly acted by tiny boys, come hopping at his call and try to explain by their twitters where his friend has gone; but he cannot understand them. Then rabbits and squirrels come jumping along and do their best to explain matters; but Jack does not understand their language.

Fortunately he meets the Spirit of Obedience (Michael Sibeth), a striking figure in semi-military costume, who promises to help him find John.

They go together to the Wizard's Palace where, in spite of a Song cleverly sung by the Wizard, Richard Pointer, offering John the pleasure of " doing just as he likes," Obedience is able to set him free.

The band of Bad Sprites are quelled, and the Wizard, in his baffled rage, calls out, " There is some Spirit stronger than my own that aids the children of this land of England." Britannia, represented by Hubert Bond, enters saying, " Yes! and it is this Spirit that these children seek. So strong it is that it sways the whole nation by its power and leads men on to perform Knightly deeds and to keep their homes bright and unstained."

To the strains of " Land of Hope and Glory," a curtain high up at the back of the stage opens to reveal Saint George (Ian Vokes) with sword and shield, holding aloft the Union Jack, and amid the cheer of the children on the stage, he proclaims with striking enthusiasm:-

" Children of England, you hold the Spirit of this Mighty Empire in your hearts. The flame that stirred the Knights of old to go forth to battle, regardless of the cost, lives in you now, and it can move you in the course of right, of truth and justice at this time.

See that you always stand firm, with manly courage, before the foe. Defend the weak, honour the King, and into life's great battle take these aids:? The Shield of Faith, the Helmet of Hope and the Sword of the Spirit.

Do all these things and England's greatness will be yours also. This land you love will flourish and be ever great. While the Spirit of England lives there will always be an England."

Then follows the March Past of H.M. Forces:- Army, Navy, Air Arm, Colonial and Indian Army, each small boy serious and grim in his uniform, as if he were already fully trained, including a tiny three year-old sailor, who marched and saluted as correctly as any A.B.

A Tableau is formed, during which a diminutive Red Cross Nurse (Roger Tickle) supporting a tall " wounded " Colonial soldier (Gerald Barlow) limped bravely through the audience collecting for the Red Cross Fund, to which we were able to send £10.

THE DAY.

Roar of guns, scream of shell,
Siren grim, silent bell.
Yet a peace in the world war-torn.
Christmas time. "Christ is Born."

Life of rush, pleasures few,
Duty hard, nothing new.
Yet a hope for all forlorn.
Christmas time. "Christ is Born."

Bitter fight, struggle grim,
Loss of life, loss of limb.
To the weary-happy morn,
Christmas Day. "Christ is Born."