"Is it usual, Colonel," I asked, "for the commander of the gun team to act as the band?" Jim scratched his head. "The band was all killed at Mons," he said, "and the privates aren't musical." Then he struck up _Sister Susie's Sewing Shirts for Soldiers_. I know that I have brought out all the innate goodness of these bairns. When Jim Jackson came to the school he had a bad look; if a girl happened to push him he turned on her with a murderous scowl. Now that I think of it I realise that Jim is always a bright cheery boy now. When I knew him first I could see that he looked upon me as a natural enemy, and if I had thrashed him I might have made him fear me, but the bad look would never have left his face. If I told anyone that I had made these bairns better I should be met with the contemptuous glance that usually greets the man who blows his own horn. Stupid people can never understand the man who indulges in introspection; they cannot realise that a man can be honest with himself. If I make a pretty sketch I never hesitate to praise it. On the other hand I am readier than anyone else to declare one of my inferior sketches bad. Humility is nine-tenths hypocrisy. I do have a certain amount of honesty, and I close my log with a solemn declaration of my belief that I have done my work well. As for the work that the Scotch Education Department expected me to do ... well, I think the last entry in my official Log Book is a fair sample of that. "The school was closed to-day for the summer holidays. I have received Form 9b from the Clerk." ADVERTISEMENTS _HERBERT JENKINS'_ New Popular Novels 2/6 net 1 McPHEE A football story by Sydney Horler. 2 GENTLEMAN BILL A boxing story by Philip MacDonald, telling how Bill Tressider's left made boxing history. Published in the first instance at 2 6 net. 3 A DOMINIE'S LOG The frank confessions of a Scottish schoolmaster, by A. S. Neill, which created a sensation when originally published. Popular edition. 4 A DOMINIE DISMISSED Some further leaves from the note-book of a Scottish schoolmaster, dismissed for his educational indiscretions. By A. S. Neill. Popular edition. 5 A DOMINIE IN DOUBT Still franker confessions of a Scottish schoolmaster that, after all, he may have been wrong in his previous conclusions. By A. S. Neill. Popular edition. 6 CHEIRO'S GUIDE TO THE HAND A practical book on palmistry, based on the system and experience of "Cheiro." With numerous illustrations. Popular edition. 7 WHEN WERE YOU BORN? A book that will bring you success, your character told, your tendencies explained, your future indicated. With engravings illustrating life's mysterious triangles. By Cheiro. Popular edition. 8 HANDY ANDY A popular edition of Samuel Lever's famous story of the man who possessed the ingenious knack of doing the right thing in the wrong way.