Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1917-12-05
tBy Anna stecse Richardson Of
The Vieilantes.)

-~
Jimmy. the Boy Scout who delivers
just sold her another Liberty bond,
after she had assured me thai she
was carrying all that her means
would permit @
But then no one al Withstand Jim
my. He has a fine, manly way with
him, and he is nc ordinary boy. He is
president of his class in the high
school. has a paper route. morning
and night, and works for the best
grocer in town during the Saturday
rush hour.
So I said to him:
Jimmy, how can you find time to
sell Liberty bonds, and why do you.
take such a great personal interest
in the war ?"
."I have a brother in France"
To me this explained everything.
but my friend exclaimed n a shocked
voice:
why, Jimmy B-you're an only
SOM"
81 got a brother in France" he re-
iterated doggedly./ II got him all
eyes, and he wears his hat So"
drawing his own tan felt over his eyes
at a rakish angle-"He amt much
taller than me. kind Of thin, and
quick as a cat. 1 don't know his
name, but I'm going to get it soon.
I've written a letter-'To a Lonely
American Soldier and sent it care
Generali Pershing to the expedition
airy force in France. bet some fell
lo,,, that snasi hasn't N any folks over there
My friend and 1 exchanged quick
glances.
"Dr. Corbin said to US Wednesday
night-'Each one of you boys has a
brother lighting for you in France.
Go t. it! Work for. him like the mis-
chief. Well, I'm working for mine.
If 1 sell a Liberty bond, it's for him.
If I run e1rands flor tho Red Cross.
it's for him"
pledge, and tucked it into his pocket.
Much obliged,l Mrs. s.. Good
evening""
. "a brother in France!"
Long after Jimmy left. we sat In
silence. Dusk settled on the room,
and the wood fire filled it with
strange shadows. And soon for me
the shadows were peopled with men
and boys. Dominica who used to try
my tidy soul by scattering ashes over
garbage and ashes! He always came
a bit late on Christmas morning. &C
he might receive III person and ex.
press his thanks for the little gift
Of money which he knew would b<
waiting for him. And Dennis, the. ir'
responsible grocer's boy, who almos
invariably forgot the n most i'm
portant item Of my order, and wht
went off whistling despite the repri
nothings to my Finnish waitress VIII
understood his eyes better than hi
words. And sallow, sharp-featuret
Jacob, son of Kertola, the 2newsdeale
who always made mistakes in my bill
He had told me, with a lighting of hi
dull eyes. of winning the phonograpl
at the Royal Arcanum fair.
Dominico! Dennis! Jacob! Thei
names are printed YER week now ii
our village gel paper na unde the caption l'
And suddenly I looked into the fu
ture. Can that be Dominico's blacl
eyes staring up unseeingly from N
Mans Land to a mist-hung sky? Ar
those Dennis merry lips twisted !
pain as his pals carry him back t
the trenches? L. that Jacobs Mario,
forehead, ivory-hued and drippin
with the cold moisture of morta
agony. against the background OF
Such a little. time since all thre
Of them were serving me and min
for wages on which they could drear
Of s~weethearts and homes Of thei
own-and now all three of them
fighting for me, giving themselve
their hopes-their all that their cour
try and mine may be safe from II
vasion. tf
Dominica ~ Dennis 80 Jacob-m
J brothers in France.
My hostess .trose abruptly an
switched on the light.
II think ll"put up the car. =
] can't burn another gallon Of ga
when / think how it is needed}f for til
ambulances-"her voice broke-ft
my brothers in France"
AT dinner that night we ate no blu