Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1918-05-09
Peoples Forum
The Two Arisings

The Two Arisings
| Yes, she had pledged heself to as
sist in serving meals to the boys on
the passing troop trains; that was in
February, however, and here 1t was
May.
May, the month Of planting, house
cleaning, getting out Of summer
clothes th-balling winter ones.
Then there was the extra things
these days; the time for Red Cross
work, the little garments for Bel
gians. Every day 1t seemed a new
and pressing need called on her and
her sister women for extra time and
service. But she prided herself on
keeping her word and her word was
out for this meal serving. She was
glad Of one thing, however, she
hadn't pledged to assist at breakfast
and there was to be two 6:30 ones
this first round.
Among the crowd of busy women
she took her place for the serving
of the first meal-a MONDAY one.
The women of her town were noted
for their ease in serving large crowds
but somehow nervous tension hung
about the serving Of this first meal,
a tension all felt but no one voiced.
At last they marched in-those
boys-pledged to protect her and the
world from brutality to the last drop
of blood in their young bodies. The
hoy seated third at her table re-
minded her of Mrs. AS boy-he is
in France now. The blue-eyed chap,
who clasped her hand in impetuous
boy gratitude as he>told her the jelly
was just like mothers made her
think of Jim B. Jim is sailing an
airplane over the enemies lines these
days. Well, really now she hadn't
thought it just the proper thing to
bring down jellies or canned fruits,
of course, the club didn't ask 1t, but
that boys hand clasp was worth a
barrel Of anything she had ever put
up. She hoped some women lover
there" would be good to our town
boys "over there.
What was that Mrs c. was tell
ing? A boy looked at Mrs. e. and
said, you look like my mother,
and he choked up and couldn't eat.
Mrs. F. certainly was moving
around as If she was enjoying her.
self. She couldn't be so overly happy
because her boy left for France last
month.
The eyes of everyone seemed peep
ing into the eyes of everyone else
with an expression Of hushed, happy
determined, equal-to-all-that-comes
and, I'VE will keep the homes fires
burning.
Why, everyone was busy clearing
the tables and here she stood moon
ing( bless the heart of her, as il
everyone present wasn't incoming in
side if their hands we're busy). Her
hands fell to their task but her heart
was thinking Now / will set the
clock for 5 those breakfast mornings
I'm sure glad l put up extra
peaches; it was good of Mrs. G. to
send in that canned fruit; how for
tunate John and the children prefer
red the dried fruit"
And so the days went by until the
last troop train pulled out. She was
weary, yes, but hands and heart, typ
ical American woman that she was,
each with joyful self-abandonment
had arisen to another service.
P.S.-This isn't really, truly.
straight to the event story, but, we'll
every Martha of last weeks meals
to our soldier boys at Elks hall feels
the heart of her nod an understand
ing nod and way down in the place
she feel the biggest, sweetest, un-
spoken things. She knows life has
privileged her with a beautiful ad-
venture.
BY Angelina.