The Morgan City daily review. (Morgan City, La.) 1916-1920, 1917-12-03
A BROTHER IN FRANCE
By Anna Steese Richardson
of The Vigilantes


ers afternoon papers to my friend,
had just sold her another Liberty
Bond, after she had assured me that
she was carrying all that her means
would permit.
But then no one can withstand
Jimmy. He has fine, manly way
with him, and he is no ordinary
boy. He is president of his class
in the high school, has a paper
route, and works for the best gro
Ger in town during the Saturday
rush hour
So l said to him.
Jimmy, how can you find time
to sell Liberty Bonds, and why do
you take such a great personal in
terest in the war;"
81 have a brother in Francew
To me this explained everything,
but my friend exclaimed in
shocked voice: -
"Why, Jimmy B-you're an on
ly SON."
81 got brother in France" he
reiterated doggedly. 81 got him all
picked out. He has brown hair
and 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. l 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 General Pershing
to the Expeditionary Force in
France. I bet some fellow that
hasn't any folks over there will an
swer it."
My friend and I exchanged quick
glances.
"Dr. Corbin said to US Wednes-
day night-'Each one of you boys
has brother fighting for you in
France. Go to it! Work for him
like the mischief. Well, Pm work.
ing for mine. If I sell Liberty
Bon, it's for him. If I run errands
for the Red Cross, it's for him."
Jimmy folded the Liberty Bond
pledge, and tucked it into his
pocket.
'.Much obliged, Mrs. s..
Good evening"
"A brother in Francew
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 scatter
ing ashes over my blue stone walk
when he gathered garbage and
ashes! He always came a bit late
on Christmas morning, so he might
receive in person and express his
thanks for the little gift of money
which he knew would be waiting
for him. And Dennis, the ire
sponsible grocer's boy, who almost
invariably forgot the one most i'm
portant item Of my order, and who
went off whistling despite the rep
rimand. He was always saying
tender nothings to my Finnish
waitress who understood his eyes
better than his words. And sallow,
sharp-featured Jacob, son of Ker-
tola, the newsdealer who always
made mistakes in my bill. He bad
told me, with lighting Of his dull
eyes, of winning the monograph at
the Royal Arcanum fair.
Dominica! Dennis! Jacob! Their
names are printed every week now
in our village paper, under the cap
tion-"Our Roll of Honor"
. And suddenly l looked into the
future. Can that be Domincio's
black eyes staring up unseeingly
from Ne Mans Land to a mist
hung sky? Are those Dennis mer-
ry lips twisted in pain as his pals |
carry him back to the trenches? Is
that tJacob's narrow forehead, w.
ory-hued and drippings with the |
cold 1nbisture of mortal agony, !
against the background of a hospi-
tai pillow?
Such little time since all three |
of them were serving me and mine |
for wages on which they could !!
dream of sweethearts and homes of |
theF own-and now all three Of
then-fighting for me, giving
themselves, their hopes-their all