Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-01-30
Miss MatiIda'S
Substitute
Sam DawsOn's Campaign as
a Soldier In the War
Nv 4 4 HApBOlR
By J. l. HARBOUR
Copyright by the international Lit
ernry and News Bureau.

1ueIe was not IN the Wuole loWu VI
Kent n more motherly looking woman
thar Matilda Gwynne. She bore no re-
bemblance whatever to the ordinary
spinster. She vas a large. jolly, warm
hearted woman Of about hfty years.
Never prim nor in the least "fussy"
about her dress or anything else, she
verified her Oft repeated statement
that she always took things rs they
came.
Miss Matilda was one Of the most
useful persons in Kent. She was one
Of those capable women who can turn
their hands TO most anything, and as
the spirit OF h~elpfuiness was strong
within her there was not a day of her
life that she did not do some one a
good turn, rejoicing that Il was her
privilege to do so. When the war With
Spain became n settled and sorrowful
fact Miss Matilda at once became filled
with q desire to do something to help.
The spirit Of patriotism ran high in
her heart, and she was the FIRST per-
son in Kent to run up IA Gag and to be-
gin the making Of comfort bags and
mosquito ~canopies. II was a labor Of
love and loyalty.
Then she went around with a sub
scription paper, collecting money for
the Volunteer Aid association. and, al
though Kent was but a small town,
Miss Matilda never stopped until she
had collected $500 Only she herself
knew how much Of that sum had come
from her own slender purse.
And yet she was not satisfied.
eff / were a man." she said, I'D en-
list quick as a fash, and I'd go as a
nurse II ! was not so old and so big
and fat never could stand 1t down
there in that hot climate. for heat al
ways makes me dizzy. And, OF course,
they'd want experienced nurses. I've
nursed most every disease ] ever heard
of, but | amt at for an army nurse for
all that I'd Just love to be down
there caring for our boys, but ! amt
at, and I'd only be in the way. But US
stay to homes needn't be useless"
When the call for volunteers came
It filled Miss Matilda with disappolnt-
ment and Indignation because there
were no volunteers from the town OF
Kent.
I'm ashamed Of the place" she said
openly. ITO think that there isn't a
man In this town with patriotism and
loyalty enough to respond to his coun-
try's call for men to battle for the
right. It's disgusting"
"Mebbe you wouldn't want to go II
you had a family depending on you
for support" said old Mrs. Lane, to
whom Miss Gwynne had thus unbur-
dened herself.
81 would, for said Miss Matilda
stoutly, "Pd have my family trained
80 that they'd be plum ashamed Of me
II / didn't go and so that they'd be
willing to make any sacrifice to have
me go. / tell you, Kent wouldn't be
without a single volunteer II ] was a
man"
But Kent made no response to even
tho second call for troops, and Miss
Matilda's regret and Indignation wax
ed warmer.
"well, there's one thing" she said tc
herself, "if / can't go myself mebbe
can send a substitute. I know whaI
I'll do. I'll offer to support some mans
family II he'll 90 and put him to this
test that way"
This idea took such full possession
Of her that she let the comfort bog or
which she was sewing fall into her Lar
and began to run over in her MIND
men who might be willing 10 ~volunteel
under these conditions. but the number
OF available men was very small. In
deed. Miss Matilda could not think o
even one until she CHANGED TO looI
out OF her sitting room window an'
saw Sam Dawson spading up a striI
IN her vegetable garden.
why. there's Sam Dawsonr' sh
exclaimed in the spirit OF one who Ia
Iaade a joyful discovery. He's
great strong fellow. who ought to be
match for any Spanlard in even
haRd to hand fight / could supper
his wife and two children for 81
week better than he supports then
and I'd give more than that to be
that ! had a substitute 1ghtin' for m
country.
"And It might just be the maxim
OF him to go to war. Then, again, b
might get killed. but II he did he'd b
dying for his country. and his fam'l
would have a pension. which woul
be more cash money to them ev'r
week than Sam brings IN"
After n little further reflection Mis-
Matilda suddenly appeared in her IN
tie garden with a corner OF her apro
thrown over her head and her eris
calico skirts gathered up In her hand
How you getting along. samr' nh
asked
well. II digs kind o. hard" sal
Sam, In bis usual lone OF whining con
plant
~ don't know why Il should with Z
much rain as we've had to soften a
the ground. Set down on that benc
and rest a spell while ! talk TO you"
Sam obeyed willingly enough, an