Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-12-02
BROTHER IN FRANCE
AID TO j. S. HERE
Secret of Patriotism Dawns
on "Woman Who Could
Not Save"
DOMINGO, DENNIS, JACOB!

DUMlNlCU, DENNIS, JACOb!
BY ANNA sTEESE RICHARDO0N
OF the visalantes.
Jimmy. the Boy Scout who delivers
afternoon papers to my friend. had Just
sold her another liberty bond. after
she had assured me that she was carry
ing all that her means would permit
But then no ono can Withstand
Jimmy He has a fine. manly way with
him, and he is no ordinary boy. He 10
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 said to him:
Jimmy. how can you hnd time 20
sell liberty bonds. and why do you
the war;
II have a brother in Francer
To me this explained everything, ous
my friend exclaimed in q shocked voics:
|. why. Jimmy B. you're an only
SON."
Il got a brother in France" he re.
iterated doggedly. II got him all
picked out. He has brown hair and
eyes and he wears his hat so-"draw-
ing his own tan felt over his eyes II
a rakish angle. He amt much taller
than me. kind of thin and quick rs
going to get it soon. I've written .
letter-'To a Lonely American Soldier
and sent 1T care Gen. Pershtng TO the
expeditionary force in France. I bet
some fellow that hasn't any folks over
there will answer 1T"
Tucks Pledge in Pocket.
NV friend and I exchanged quick
'Dr. Corbin said to us Wednesday
night-'Each one of you boys has .
brother fighting for you in France. Go
to it! Work for him like the mischief.
Well, I'm working for mine. If sell
a liberty bond, it's for him. II run
errands for the Red Cross. it's Tor
him.
and tucked it into his pocket.
Much obliged, Mrs. s. Gooo
evening
"A brother in France"
Long after Jimmy left we sat In d.
lence. Dusk settled on the room ana
the wood fire filled 1t with strange
shadows And soon for me the shadows
were peopled with men and boys. Do
minfco. who used to try my tidy soul oy
walk when he gathered garbage and
ashes! He always came a bit late
Christmas morning. SO he might re-
ceive in person and express his thanks
knew would be waiting for him. And
Dennis, the irresponsible grocer's boy.
who almost invariably forgot the one
most important item of my order. and
who went or whistling despite the rep.
rimand.
He was always saying tender moth
ings to my Finnish waitress. who un-
derstood his eyes better than his words.
And sallow. sharp-featured Jacob. SON
of Kertola, the newsdealer. who always
made mistakes in my bill. He had told
me, with a lighting Of his dull eyes. OF
winning the photograph at the Royal
Arcanum fair.
"our Roll Of Honor"
names are printed every week now in
our village paper. under the caption.
Our roll of honor"
And suddenly I looked into the ia.
eyes staring up unseeingly from no
mans land to a mist-hung sky? Are
those Dennis merry lips twisted in
pain as his pals carry him back to the
trenches? Is that Jacobs narrow fore
head, ivory-hued and dripping with the
cold moisture Of mortal agony. against
the background of q hospital pillow?
Such a litssle time since all three Of
them were serving me and mine for
wages, on which they could dream of
and now all three of them-fghting for
me. giving themselves, their hopes
their all that their country and mine
may be safe from invasion.
Dominico-Dennis-Jacob-my BROTH
ers in France.
My hostess rose abruptly and switched
on the light.
Il think I'll put up the car. II
can't burn another gallon Of gas. when
think how it is needed for the ambu-
lances"-her voice broke-'for ny
brothers in France"
At dinner that night we ate no h-t-
ter on our bread. We drank coffee with
out sugar.
An emotional impulse. reused BY q
boys vivid imagination.
No-a message SO stern that II II net
to be denied.
Sends Candy to Soldiers.
All my life candy has been my ono IN
diligence. 1t has taken me weeks to sub
due the yearning and send chocolate to my
brothers in France.
Last years coat. furnished with q BIT
of fur. seems luxurious when I think OF
my brothers in France, Flooding through
mud.
1t is easy to forego the rug had pro
missed myself all summer, and to darn
and turn upside down the curtains which
thought would never DO another SEA:
son, when 1 think of Dominica, Dennis and
Jacob huddled in dugouts for me.
Last week. q Canadian man. the only
one of his family not in France-and
this only because because Of his gsass1walssd
Dozens of our handsomest homes have
been closed for the winter. This man
stopped before particularly spacious
house and stared at its boarded doors and
America-awakei
Our men are in the trenches today!
In your dreams, in your soul. select your
brother in France, that unknown, un-
named American man who is fighting for
then live for him-twenty-four
hours a day!
DUTCH DINNER PALS POPULAR