Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-06-27
/ OUR BOYS ;
J and GIRLS 4;
+o+o+o+o+o+o+o to+o+ofOl
SERVING Ills COUNTRY.

You cant JON. You are not big
enough"
Tears filed the eyes of Rufus Mil
Choate Rufus had learned that the
patriotic Civil War veteran was or
ganizing the boys of Mayville into a
home guard battalion and he had at
once determined TO join.
Several thouehtless boys, already
members of the battalion and clothed
in their snug fitting uniforms, snick-
cred noisily.
But I'm old enough" Rufus per.
sisted. I'm past a."
Colonel Choate measured the appli-
cant with a keen eye.
Maybe you are" he admitted, ''but
you don't look it. We're forming this
battalion for work-real service-not
for child's play"
Dejectedly. Rufus left the large
council hall, where the headquarters
OF the battalion had been temporarily
located.
He entered the small cottage In
which he and his mother dwelt. His
fathers death had occurred several
years ago. following railroad aeei.
dent in which he had been fatally in.
jured. With the money he left the lit
tie cottage had been purchased. and
his mother provided for herself and
Rufus with the wages she received
working in Colonel Choate's mill.
Mrs. Miller suspected something
WAS amss.
''You haven't been fighting, Ru.
fus?" she inquired anxiously, for she
neIer had known her son to engage
in disorder OF any kind.
NO, mother" he answered, vainly
trying to keep back his sobs, but
Colonel Choate won't let me serve my
country. He refused to admit me in
) The battalion. He said | wasn't big
enough"
Mrs. Miller attempted to comfort
her son.
Don't worry, Rufus" she said.
You don't need Colonel Choates con-
yent TO serve your country. Perhaps
you'll get the chance. And YOU must
not despair, for only towards do that"
Rufus hurriedly ate his supper and
made his way out OF doors. He would
I, ha ha1 " her n
throng Of boys was consregated, all
members of the battalion, Tor he knew
he could not endure the sight. He
approached the mill owned by Colon.
el Choate. Here his attention was at
tracted by the mysterious antics of
two men near basement window.
Coming closer, he heard one man
ask the other: Where's the pile OF
shayings?' Instantly Rufus realized
the pair was up to mischief, and sur
missed they were attempting TO set fire
to the mill.
Stealthily he made his way back to
the road and started in flight for the
council hall Breathlessly be fell int
the arms of Colonel Choate, VINO, at
the time was busy drilling the youth
full recruits.
Quick, Send men to the mill.
They're trying to set fire to it, he
managed to say.
More than score of men, and a
much larger number Of boys, enrolled
in the battalion, rushed in the direc
ton of the mill. They arrived in time
to grasp the two miscreants and eX
tinguish the blaze that they had start
ed in the basement The mill con
tanned large quantity Of cloth to be
made into uniforms for the newly en-
listed soldiers and sailors, and il
would have been consumed if the de
lection of the blaze had been de
layed but for a short time.
After the eyildoers had been placed
in a CELL the Cononel called for Ru
fus.
Needless to say, Rufus became 6
full fledged member OF the battalion
and 1t was not long before he was ap
pointed to an official position in this
troop. And Colonel Choate, to show
his personal appreciation for what Ru
ius had done in saving the mill, gayt
him a position in the mill at sal
airy that kept him and his mother ii