THE SOLDIERS' REST
others, too, in strange dresses, who came and spoke to him. Some spoke in what sounded like French. He could not make it out; but he knew that they all spoke kindly and praised him.
"What does it all mean?" he said to the minister. "What are they talking about? They don't think I'd let down my pals?"
"Drink this," said the minister, and he handed the soldier a great silver cup, brimming with wine.
The soldier took a deep draught, and in that moment all his sorrows passed from him.
"What is it?" he asked?
"Vin nouveau du Royaume," said the minister. "New Wine of the Kingdom, you call it." And then he bent down and murmured in the soldier's ear.
"What," said the wounded man, "the place they used to tell us about in
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