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Introduction
A. G. Gardiner was a columnist for the Star (later absorbed into the Daily Mail) during and after the Great War, under the pseudonym of ‘Alpha of the Plough’. The following extract opened a piece titled “On Coming Home”, in which he reflected on what it is that makes for a really good holiday.
A FRIEND of mine found himself the other day on the platform of a country station in the south of Scotland near the sea-coast. A middle-aged couple were the only people visible, and they sat together on the single form provided for waiting passengers. They did not speak, but just sat and gazed at the rails, at the opposite platform, at the fields beyond, at the clouds above, at anything, in fact, within the range of vision. My friend went and sat beside them to wait for his train. Presently another person, a woman, appeared, and advancing to the other two, addressed them. She wondered what train the couple were waiting for. Was their holiday over?
“Oh no,” said the woman. “We’ve another week yet.”
“Then maybe ye’re waiting for a friend?” speired* the other.
“No,” replied the woman. “We’re juist* sitting. We like to come here in the evening and see the trains come in and out. It’s a change, and it makes us think of home.* Eh,” she said, with a sudden fervour that spoke of inward agonies, “you do miss your home comforts on a holiday.”
* A Scottish word meaning ‘inquire’, a survival from Old English spyrian. These are Scottish people, so Gardiner (who was English) uses Scottish words in the dialogue and even in his own narrative voice. Speir rhymes with ‘spear’, and is sometimes spelled speer.
* Not a typo; again, Gardiner is reminding us that we should imagine a gentle Scottish accent. Too much dialect can be a barrier to reading, so Gardiner just hints at it.
* The homing instinct in Scotland is not felt by humans alone. See Oh Hame Fain Wad I Be!.
Précis
A. G. Gardiner told his readers about a Scottish lady and her husband, who were sitting on a bench at the railway station. When a passer-by asked which train they were waiting for, they explained that they were on holiday, and spent each evening watching trains go by because it brought them such happy thoughts of home. (57 / 60 words)
A. G. Gardiner told his readers about a Scottish lady and her husband, who were sitting on a bench at the railway station. When a passer-by asked which train they were waiting for, they explained that they were on holiday, and spent each evening watching trains go by because it brought them such happy thoughts of home.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 60 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 50 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: although, despite, if, just, may, otherwise, ought, since.
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
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