The copper era and Morenci leader., 1917-10-19
HOW sTRAYFooT SETTLED DOWN

HOW sTRAYFooT SETTLED DOWN Strayfoot' his title, Pete McGinnis his
  v1ot his title from the home folks ill the old town
 whence he came Saw some service on the border once he d crossed
 the Rio Grande When the greasers started trouble in that hell-in-
 fested land. Failing there to the hunger of his vagfant soul, Got discharged and paid visit to the old folks
 back home. Stayed a single day. then drifted from the quiet
 Kansas town, And his people sighed and wondered if he d ever
 settle down. Like a festered scar, cut deeply, in the troubled
 face of France Stretched a trench where weary ''poiluS;' waited
 orders to advance Gray the day and gray the spirits of the men who
 formed the line, Naught but hope for France and freedom kept their
 faces to the Rhine Caked with mud, his beard in stubbe, gone his old
 time smile and brag, Strayfoot s heart ached for vision of his country
 and his flag Meanwhile gossips back i'll Kansas in little cross
 roads town, Wondered at his prolonged absence-wondered if
 he'd settled down. March passed in sullen deadlock in that tense and
 greWsome game, Move and countermOre in Ill order left wars chess
 board just the same Hindenburg, somewhere in Flanders, moved his
 bishop, king and pawn, Nainly striving for 'checkmate," ," while breath
 less world looked Came the day, the sixth of April, when the news
 reached Strayfoots s ear, . s<Woodrow Wilson signs the war bill, U. S. troops
 will soon be here.'' While girl in far-off Kansas heard the news with
 worried frown, Where, oh. where, is Pete McGinnis? Will he
 settle down?'' Suddenly the fog banks lifted and the Germans got
 the range Then, from weeks of trench stagnation came a
 swift and tragic change Bursting shell and poisoned gases for the Teutons
 cleared path, Swept the field and checked the trenches with the
 victims of their wrath. : 'Retreat'' the order sounded sharp above the
 sharpnels whine, : Each out and take your chances, till you
 reach the second hne.'' At about this time in Kansas, somewhere in a lit
 tie town, A mother prayed that Strayfoot would come home
 and settle down. Strayfoot did not hear the order, but if hearing,
 did not heed For his eyes were on the Boches coming on with
 quickened speed. With his automatic popping through the smoke s
 confusing veil, Sought stem the awful torrent of that enflading hail. Two hours later cheering polus, winning back
 their precious ground Stumbled the lone defender bleeding from a
 fatal wound, And they wired, at his dictation to little Kansas
 town, ''S Stopped southbound German bullet Tell the
 bunch I've settled down. Out in Kansas where the sunhowers and the black
 eyed Susans grow, Where the prairie schooners rumbled Ter the trails
 of long ago, One today may hear the rumble of the army trucks
 and vans, And the tread of brown-cad troopers as they train
 to fight in France Some day, in the golden distance when the world
 shall be at peace, And the strident voice of Justice shall command
 this to cease, We will take the time to finger in little Kansas
 town, And hear again the story of 'How Strayfoot Set
 tied Down.
 Will Terrell in the St. Louis Republic.