Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1918-07-10
In FRANCE
BY FRANCES 3. LINSkY.
copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.)

Everyone must do her Bit" she said
to her admiring family, as jacket after
| jacket was neatly folded and sent off to
the local headquarters to be shipped
to the "bOyS at the 'front.'"
On the particular day In question,
Jean decided to go into the pine grove
with her knitting.
"It will be cooler there" thought
she, "and I'll call for Grace on my way.
She'll probably be glad to come with
me-"
A little later the two girls were COM
fortably seated in the pine grove, each
busy with her work.
"Grace, I've an idea," said Jean.
"Not really" said Grace.
"Yes, real one," replied Jean, calm
ly ignoring the intended sarcasm.
sand this is it. Haven't you ever
heard OF farmers who write their
names on eggs when they pack them
to ship to the city?"
"Why, yes" said Grace, 81 have, but
I don't see what that has to do with
knitting sweaters for the soldiers"
"Well," said Jean, 'Td like to put
note inside one Of the sweaters and
send it to some poor fellow over
there
"Why, Jean Wood, I think that's
great" exclaimed Grace, getting into
the spirit of the thing at once, land I'll
give you my Luck Piece to put in the
letter. I've often heard that lucky
piece has stopped bullet"
So Jeans needles flashed back and
forth and dead silence reigned in the
pine grove until the sweater was fin
ished.
snow for the letter." said Jean and
with the stump of an old tree for her
writing table, she wrote:
81 hope this sweater will keep you
warm, and may the lucky piece bring
good luck to 'someone-somewhere In
France" And down in the corner she
signed her name and address.
Some two months later, as the Wood
family sat at breakfast, the postman
came with the mail.
"Hello," said Mr.. Wood, as he glan-
ced over the pile which the letter car
rier had handed him, "here's a very
official letter for JEAN" and he held
up a blue envelope with censored"
stamped across its face. 'It's from
France, too," he said.
maybe jeans got Teller in the
trenches" remarked Bobby, to no one
In particular.
Somewhere in France" it was
headed:
'Dear Jean Wood A very lone
some soldier boy Is just one great
big Thank You Ma'am' to you for
the sweater, the letter and the
lucky piece. If you would only
write me once in a while, tell
you I'd appreciate it. 1t would
seem like shaking hands with
someone from back home
"Im sending you a souvenir in
exchange for the luck piece. It
isn't much, but made it while
was in the hospital here with bad
knee-so I hope you'll accept it
with my compliments.
81 was afraid it might get smash.
ed If / mailed it, so gave it to my
brother to take to you-he's been
here on duty with the university
medical unit, but he's gone home 4
on furlough. You'll see him soon. =
Gratefully, Max Norton"
Jean read the letter and re-read 1t
and then-went straight down stairs
and told the whole story to her father,
"Well, little GIRL" said he when she
had finished. II don't know as it was a
very wise thing to debut I'll see this
doctor man when he comes and until
he does there's nothing to worry
about" SO pinching her cheek, he babe
her "run along and tell Grace all about
it," which she very promptly did.
He came, that very EVENING" pleas
ant-voiced, very much tanned young
man, looking every inch soldier in
his well-ftting uniform, and introduce
ing himself as DR.. Robert Norton, he
explained his errand to Mr.. Wood, and
asked for Jean. .r-t} zg.-s-e.-7ee1g
Jean came forward, looking so sweet
and girlish in her embarrassment, that
as they shook hands, his lips said: 81
am pleased to meet you," but his eyes
were far more eloquent.
81 want to thank you for my brother,
Miss JEAN" said Doctor Norton, "and
to give you this"
"This" proved to be bird cage very
c1everly made of thin sticks of wood
carefully set together.
sob, how lovely" exclaimed Jean.
ST shall hang it on tree down In the
pine grove as a reminder-of-"My
Great Adventure" and, feeling her VS.
itor's eyes upon her, she looked up and
straight into them and smiled-and
they were friends.
Months later, when young Doctor
Norton sailed back to France to "com-
plete his bit" he, too, carried 'Lucky
Piece" in his pocket. A key it was
very tiny key that Jean had given
i'm.
saThe key to my heart" she told him
With shining eyes, as she babe him
goodbye. Keep 1t for your tails