Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-02-14

10 look over the gram ueiue auu "
choose a spot at which
To stop off when the return trip is
begun next fall after 1t
Has grown too cold to linger in this
neck Of the woods.
The bird reported that he had put in
an uneventful winter,
Doing his best to conserve in food and
fuel, and otherwise
Aiding the government in It's program
to make the world safe
For democracy as we'll as for the menu
bers of the feather tribe that
Flies in the air, of whom he wished
to be recorded as one of the not
the least
Important. We asked the little visitor
what he had to say about
The war. He reported that he hadn't
word to contribute. He IA
vored
Letting the bullets carry on the con-
versation. Talk was cheap and
Didn't cut much figure. On the other
hand, bullets were bought with
Money and when they were turned
loose against the Germans they
Made a nick that was not to be snick-
cred at
II wasn't news to the reaper that we
had been having a rough winter
In these parts. He had been reading
the papers and seemed to know
As mich about the situation as we
did. We inquired what kind
OF summer we were to have this
year.
First, said the bird, it will be warm.
In fact it will be hot.
He said we would perspire more the
coming summer than IN any
Preceding summer. Why, he would
not say. Our inference was
that we
Were to be driven harder than In
preceding seasons, with Liberty
bond
Sales and other demands incident to
the war. But, We said, that
ought
Not make a patriot sweat. No, an
swered the reaper, but we are
not
All patriots, though many OF us act
as such for the sake of
Keeping on the good side of our neigh
bors and so that we will not
Get in bad with our government
There are many folks who give
up
A hundred bones for a Liberty bond
that actually sweat blood, said
the
Reaper. In fact they would prefer to
give up a pint or more of their
Vein fluid than to separate themselves
from their gold to buy bond
To help the United States give to
Germany what she long has had
Coming beating. We were not a
little surprised at the firm stand
The bird took on the war issues and
the frankness with which he
Condemned those so-called Americans
who were making a noise like
Patriots now in dropping their money
on the bank counters in =
Exchange for Liberty bonds. They
had been buying until it hurt
But he said they should not be con.
demned. They were doing their
Bit, although they would prefer moi
| " w oO.
We asked the reaper what he thought
of the grounding and he
Said not very much. The grounding
he had discovered, was
Fraud, a gloom spreader. always seek.
ing to make bad situation
Worse. The little animal had bobbed
| to the surface frequently durins
The winter and he had found thai
there was widespread SUFFERING
Among the people and that they were
| expecting when the hog came ut
On the second of February he wouldn't
see his shadow and that would
Guarantee an early break in the frigid
spell. The hog fixed it
Up with Old Sol so that the LATTE,
| would make sure to be shining
! his
Brightest on the day scheduled fol
the appearance of the hog, They
Worked together beautifully and il tbs
| dope SO many OF us believe
About the shadow were true W.
would now be hugging our FIRE
! sides at night and
Not daring to venture out lest We
| freeze our ears and noses.
1t simply goes to prove, said the reap.
| er. that we shouldn't take
Any stock In the story Of the ground.
hog shadow and what it is al.
+, legged
To portend. We rolled over for a lata
morning snooze when the
Reaper few of. He asked for a hi
OF breakfast and We said he
would
Find 1t on the lawn when he returned
in a couple of hours.
Where was he going, we INQUIRED. n,
said that hs would take a hike
Into the forests nearby and locate .
| cottage to occupy for the
Summer. Not going to build, M he
said. He looked into prices 81
Materials. and had learned that !,
would be cheaper for him If
| take
Place for the summer, even though
the rental might be a little
higher
Than usual. He wanted to get on the
edge Of the city. rather
Than towards the center 81 ponu,a.
ton. In order that the young.
sters
Might have plenty Of fresh air durin,
tho hot period.