The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-12
BUSINESS OF LIVING
BY MRS. EVA LEONARD
A Neighbor of the Filmores Finds an
Unusual Way To DO His Bit

"A
Unusual Way To DO His Bit.
There is more than one way of
being patriotic said Douglas as he
walked into the dining room where
Eleanor was putting the finishing
touches to the dinner table. Eleanor
looked up expectantly. You remein-
Der Max. the cobbler?"
Yes, what of him.?
He is too old to enlist, and being
a bachelor he has no sons to give to
the country. But that does not make
it impossible to be of service. He has
worked out an unusual plan which
believe will be of use,' continued
seat and picking up the baby, who
had clasped his legs the minute he
came into the room Eleanor dis
| appeared INFO nd when
she returned with the dinner AM
every one va .ie table,
she said: Now tell me about Mr..
| Max's patriotic scheme
He makes good living with his
cobbling. He keeps two machines go
! ing all the time, SO you see he has
| good income and nobody but himself
! to support. He heard about young
Joe Nixon who was drafted and want
| ed to go to the war, but as he has to
help in the support of his parents-his
father is quite old, you know-it
| seemed if he would have to claim
| exemption. The men must have been
talking about it in Maxs shop. He
said nothing at the time. but that eve
ming when the shop closed he went
| over to Joe's house. He offered to
fill the breach, as he said He Of
fered to see that the old folks did not
suffer. He would pay them certain
sum each week while the war lasted,
and in addition he would insure the
, boys life so in case he never came
"a n x no fhof 70
on
That is certainly a splendid idea.
What did the parents think of the
plan?" asked Eleanor.
They were willing he should go if
5 he thought he ought to. 1 suppose nc
father or motheriS crazy to have the
: only son go to war, but they are pa
5 triotic people and willing to give OF
} their best to the nation"
Even then they are giving much
more than Mr.. Max. But he is max
| ing it possible for them to make the
sacrifice" Eleanor had been watch
; ing Jack in silence for some minutes
before she spoke.
, IF every old bachelor of sufficient
means would do as much that would
! be a big help. and every one mus
feel that it is up to him to do some
thing
; 81 am not doing anything" sale
1 Jack
so far this year, since you hav,
! been working you have been helping
E to support your mother; while 1 wa
sick, you know, bit now that we ar
2 both at work we can take out a lib
e erty bond, perhaps two of them.
Douglas looked thoughtfully at hi
son.
4 II think that is a splendid idea
D Eleanor looked proudly at her son
Now that father is working yol
1 could put all your earnings into
/ liberty bond and that would help tn,
country just that much and you woul,
be bondholder. Besides, you helped
, to save quantities of fruit and vegeta
f bles that would have been wasted 9th
D erwise. and you helped Aunt Laur;
S with her garden
-'Oh, that Jacks tone wa
g deprecating.
e you have done everything tina
S you could do and so have we all ant
d our sympathies have been who'll,
d with the country in her struggle. Al
Uncle Sam wants is that everybod,
should do all in his power to hell
along. -Eleanor's smile made Jacl
very happy and his father added
When a boy is helping to support ,
SICK father and dependent mothe
he is doing his duty, as is shown b,
the exemption to duty as a soldier
| Father is very proud of the way yol
have accepted responsibility, Yol
have been a real man. Your famil
and your country have reason to b
proud of you
You certainly were a great com
fort to mother in her great trouble
added Eleanor, laying her hand OF
is the test of success as a member O
family: Is the family happier 70
our being in it?''
(To be continued.)