Well , it is n't ! But I 'm in the right place all right -- make no mistake about that . When I saw what had been done here to homes and gardens and people -- well , dad , I seemed to see a gang of Huns marching through Rainbow Valley and the Glen , and the garden at Ingleside . There were gardens over here -- beautiful gardens with the beauty of centuries -- and what are they now ? Mangled , desecrated things ! We are fighting to make those dear old places where we had played as children , safe for other boys and girls -- fighting for the preservation and safety of all sweet , wholesome things . `` Whenever any of you go to the station be sure to give Dog Monday a double pat for me . Fancy the faithful little beggar waiting there for me like that ! Honestly , dad , on some of these dark cold nights in the trenches , it heartens and braces me up no end to think that thousands of miles away at the old Glen station there is a small spotted dog sharing my vigil . `` Tell Rilla I 'm glad her war-baby is turning out so well , and tell Susan that I 'm fighting a good fight against both Huns and cooties . '' `` Mrs. Dr. dear , '' whispered Susan solemnly , `` what are cooties ? '' Mrs. Blythe whispered back and then said in reply to Susan 's horrified ejaculations , `` It 's always like that in the trenches , Susan . '' Susan shook her head and went away in grim silence to re-open a parcel she had sewed up for Jem and slip in a fine tooth comb . CHAPTER XII IN THE DAYS OF LANGEMARCK `` How can spring come and be beautiful in such a horror , '' wrote Rilla in her diary . `` When the sun shines and the fluffy yellow catkins are coming out on the willow-trees down by the brook , and the garden is beginning to be beautiful I ca n't realize that such dreadful things are happening in Flanders . But they are ! `` This past week has been terrible for us all , since the news came of the fighting around Ypres and the battles of Langemarck and St. Julien . Our Canadian boys have done splendidly -- General French says they ` saved the situation , ' when the Germans had all but broken through . But I ca n't feel pride or exultation or anything but a gnawing anxiety over Jem and Jerry and Mr. Grant . The casualty lists are coming out in the papers every day -- oh , there are so many of them .
I ca n't bear to read them for fear I 'd find XXXXX 's name -- for there have been cases where people have seen their boys ' names in the casualty lists before the official telegram came .
Flanders French Glen Jem Langemarck Valley cooties nights right war-baby