The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-04-12
A SOLDIER OF FRANCE

A dozen or more soldiers just land
ed from America sat in front OF one
of the cafes in Paris, not far from
their own headquarters. They were
bright-faced, square jawed, straight
limbed young men from the farms and
villages of their native land who had
almost in advance of any signal, ans
wered President Wilson's call for men.
They were among the first wearing
the uniform of the United States to
land in France. Their welcome, as
they stepped onto French soil, their
welcome from the towns and cities
through which they passed, and the
wonderful hurrahs and cheers and
hand-clapping which the generous
mothers and daughters and little chill
dren and old men in Paris had given
them that morning had had SOLDERING
effect on these gay boys. They had
been taught much in few hours, and
war and it's sacrifices became more
real than their fresh, light-hearted
minds had thus far grasped.
After the march through the Paris
streets they had been allowed a little
to themselves and, with that natural
and genuine adaptability which is al
ways so delightful, these newcomers
made themselves at once at home In
various parts of the beautiful city.
Of this number our dozen young men
had sought the hospitality and cool
protection of this cafe-when the at
tention of one of the group was di-
rected to what was to him an unusual
sight. There, being slowly pulled up
the street by a forlorn, poor horse,
came shabby, weather-worn hearse,
followed by a single mourner, a poor,
tired, little old woman, who showed in
every line of her face and in her man
ner an awful sorrow--a loss of hope
utter despair. The boys eyes and
his entire expression proved his quick
understanding and sympathy and the
smile of moment before disappeared.
He stood up, pointed to the hearse,
and cried to his mates; "telloWs, do
you see that? Do you see that hearse :?
Do you see the uniform wrapped
around the coffin? It's French SOL
der, fellows! Fall inl"
And without word of question ev-
cry man took his place in line behind
the poverty-stricke little woman, and
the example, so impulsively but natur-
ally set, was followed by other letters
near the cafe. Before they had passed
the next street the line had grown to
hundred, and when the cemetery
gates were reached a thousand sober
people had joined these young Amer
lean soldiers.
The poor woman saw all this with
wonder and with pride. That the SOL
der son, to whom she had said long
and last goodbye, should receive this
honor was almost more than she could
bear, and after the brief service at the
grave she turned to the fresh-faced
young leader, and with tears stream
ing down her cheeks she grasped his
hand and kissed it. Then turning
again to the newly-made grave, she
crossed herself devoutly, and Their
slowly, with head bowed, walked past
the silent assemblage.
Once more the yonug soldier stepped
out from the line, and reverently lift.
ing his cap, said in low voice, "Now
fellows--all together!"--and SO hearty
and 50 full of sincerity and true re
spect was the message of hope ant
good will called out to the sad little
mourner by the boyish cheer that rang
out there, that those in the procession
who were French found themselves
joining in with their "Hourra", al
given with loyal feeling of pride and
tenderness for the lonely mother
whose boy had died for France.
And as she walked on, in spite Of
her tears and sadness, her heart was
full of great thankfulness and of hon
est pride, that her beloved son--a sol
der of France-had received the honor
which the sacrifice of his life for his
country had made his due.-H. G. S.
in Southern Woman's Magazine.