Evening journal., 1918-08-03
BY FRANK J. TAYLOR.
Llted Press Slaff Correspondent.

little and stoOped-ONef Woillan' soiile-
body's grandmother.
With rather feeble stokes, but shrong
ones considering her age, she was cut
ting hay with a scythe in field where
you could hear the guns rumble' She
would swing a few strokes and then
pause for breath.
The amount Of hay already cut was
far from encouraging, compared TO the
uncut waves OF it. But she kept brave
ly on, cutting and resting, cutting and
resting. and making the most OF the
situation.
He was a doughboy from a middle
western State, farmer lad whose tenn
porary profession was whipping the
Germans. His company was on rest,
and he had a few days Of comparative
liberty. He used his spare hours to
hike" along the fields. He said "it
took him back to the homestead" to be
2asre hay and grain were growing.
he saw the old French woman cut
M hay, in one Of his travels. and his
impulse was to jump over the fence
and offer his services. His forethought
was 10 keep on the road, because his
French vocabulary did not include the
word "hay" or "scythe" nor enough
grammer TO concoct the sentence, May
help you by cutting some hay2"
His impulse won, and he hoped over
ne fence to present his freckled hon
est self before the French woman. TAX
ing the scythe from her hands, he said,
pointing at himself, the scythe and then
the hay, "Me cut hay, ME tres strong
farmer boy"
He doubled up his fist and clenched
his elbow TO prove the latter.
Evidently his French misled him, for
the old fsrmeress protested, thinking
he wanted 10 borrow or conilscate her
scythe. II was her only one, she ex-
planned More French made the situ-
alton more OF a dilemma.
A doughboy soon learns on the
French front that once you get into q
scrape, the best way out Of II is to use
action, not words. This doughboy had
learned already snd ne began cutting
hay with wide swinging strokes.
The old French woman's apprehen-
sion turned TO Joy and admiration.
"Vous etes un bon bsrcOn,' she re-
peated, following him, and II the words
meant nothing to him, the tone OF her
toothiess lisp meant much.
Down the field they went, the dough-
boy cutting, and the old woman follow
ing, carrying on a conversation. In
French, to which he always replied,
"Oui, our. He knew that much
French.
Near the tiny house on the edge Of
the village and at the end OF the field,
she stopped him. "Wsit a minute" she
said in French, "untll get you some
thing TO drink"
When she came out OF the house with
a glass and a bottle. he was half wsy
down the field! She followed, and
poured out a glass Of wine.
He declined II with "Pss bon" two
other words ne knew.
The old woman was offended. Not
good," she said. 1T is good wine and
old. II is good"
He understood she was hurt, and
tried 10 make It clear he did not drink
wine and did not want It. She insist
ed he take H.
You cannot do kindness in France
without having II returned. and tlls
doughboy understood It. Yet he did
not want the wine. Also he was not cut
ting hay while he was protesting.
Then he had an idea. I haven't had
a glass Of milk to drink since | left
home" he said, "thst's eleven months.
Give me a glass OF milk and I'll thinR
I'm home again with this hay to cut"
"Comprends pas" she said, shrug-
EiDg her shoulders.
He understood the words with that
shrug.
He pointed TO a cow in the next
pasture. "Mllk, milk" he said, you
know milk"
she understood something and hur-
rled into the house. Presently she
came out with some cheese and bread.
She beamed with the prospects OF de-
lighting this young American.
"Bon,n ne said real Frenchily, but
cant | have soma milk9'
"oul. oul. oul," she said, without
understanding.
"Oh, you don't understand. III snow
you" he said.
He went TO the house, she following
obviously. Taking a pail he sidled up
10 the cow, with, whoa, Bossy'
steady" and attempted 10 milk her.
The COW did not understand, whoa
Bossl steady" and refused to be
MIXED. III
pus the idea downed on the old
French woman. "Oh. vOus voulez de
iait." she said Bon" She mentioned
him TO follow her.
In the little hut. she gave him
chair, and brought a pitcher or milk,
which he drank as he ate his cheese
and bread. She looked on, delighted
that he had accepted something. but
amazed that he would drink milk.
Americans are funny" she declared |
"Mllk is for cheese and babies win |
US. and you drink II and refuse wine.
Americans are funny
It being French, he said, "Oui," and
missed the point.
Then she brought out some pictures.
"My husband" she said, He is dead"
"NIy boy. this is." she said. showing
another picture, HE was killed In the
war at Verdun."
"Nfy daughter and her baby she
described a third photo. "She Is SICK
now and cannot work. l must cut the
hay and run the farm
Someway west gestures she made
him understand. II touched his honest
farmerboys heart.
mo, you don't have 10. I'll do 1t.
I'll bring some fellows from C company
tomorrow and we'll do 1t in jiny.'
lust Fun for the Boys.
She did not understand, naturally,
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