East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1918-11-11
MOTHERS AND FATHERS OF AMERICA
.50 GIVE TO YOUR OWN SONSl

1t was at a little hospital in France One
of the workers Young Mems Christian As
sOciation Knights of Columbus-what does
it matter, they are all the Same-was one
day passing by and suddenly thought of
Scotch boy with whom he had been talking
before that same afternoon. He entered the
tent expecting to find the boy marked that
night for transfer home. But when he APP
preached he saw that something had hap
pened, something had intervened between
all hopes and plans. The wounded lads
eyes were bright with fever and he beckon-
ed to the man of mercy. "COme here, num-
my" he said; ''putyour arm munder my head
and I think will sleep tonight"
And then," says the worker, Il saw that
he had become a child again. Here me say
my prayers now, mummy he said, and be-
ginning Our Father which art in Heaven
he felt his way through it ike blind man in
narrow alley, till he got tangled in forget
fulness and stumbled for a moment into 81
lence. Then, looking up at me, he said
Kiss me, mummy and kissed him and
tucked him in as his mother used to do when
he was a boy at home, and by way of sleep
that night he found dawn beyond our day.
break
Your son, perhaps, is there-that boy you
love so WE'LL He may be wounded. God for
bid But if he is, an arm will pillow his
head tonight and fatherly hands will be on
his and kindly lips will speak those words
that you would speak if you were by his
side. 1t viii be the hands and lips of one of
that band of consecrated men, one of those
big-hearted brothers, who welcomed your
boy that home-sick day he came to camp
who sailed with him on the transport, who
went, perhaps, through the hell-fire of shot
and bursting shell to save him when he was
Ill fo7,
and friendlineSs and home to him on the
very fire-step of the front-line trench.
These big brothers are calling to you from
France for help. Nay, they are calling to
you from every cantonment, from every
camp, here and abroad, where our soldier
lads are gathered together. Fathers and
Mothers of America r they say, "your boys
are in our hands. We want to send them
back to you clean, strong, brave, victorious.
God willing, these shall not be wasted
months or years. We are working andpray-
ing so that even while he fights your son
will grow in stature-bOdy, mind and soul.
Money is needed--a veritabe tide of gold
to make this possible. Fathers and Mothers
Of America, give to your own sons
Shall we add our poor word to the passi-
Onate appeal for $170,500,000 that is being
made by these seven societies, these great
brotherhoods that stand behind our armies
the Young Mems Christian Association,
the Young Women's Christian Association,
the National Catholic War Council, the jew
ish Welfare Board, the Salvation Army, the
American Library Association, the War
Camp Community Service? No, there is no
need for us to tell you why you should give.
Your own heart is crying out to you now to
give Give money? Why, you would give
your right hand, you would give your
beating heart itself, if it would bring your
boy comfort and happiness in his life or
peace in his death.
Little enough do we know what these lads
Of ours are enduring without complaint;
little enough do we know how they die
without bitterness, thinking never of self,
but of suffering chums and loved ones at
home, humble in their self-sacrifice. Little
can we hope to imagine what "Y" or 'K. of
c." men and huts mean to them, we who are
safe and warm and with friends
Sometimes" says ''Y" worker, 81 sit
pfNnIIOSs GREATEST D