Trench and camp. [volume] (Augusta, Ga.) 1917-1919, 1918-03-06
{aY CARL sAck.)

ents were wholly dependent on him for
support.
At the outbreak of the war with Ger
many Robert registered and was accepted
In the first draft
Although Robert is the whole support
of his mother and myself" said Mr.. Dob
son, I'VE would not think of him claim
ing exemption on our account / have a
small farm here and while l am not able
to work 1t myself, | can have someone
work It for me and we can divide the
crop; think by doing this that can
make suitable living for Mrs. Dobson
and myself"
Robert left his home on the 10th day of
October and arrived at his camp few
days later. AS he was strong and healthy
his work in camp was not as hard to him
as 1t was to some of the other boys in
camp who came from the larger cities.
Robert was not in camp but a short
while before he made many friends;
among whom was a young man named
Titus Brown. Young Brown was the
same age of Robert and hailed from one
of the larger cities of the state of Penn
sylvania; he was as wild as could be and
he either spent every cent of the $50 he
drew or lost 1t by shooting crap"
Robert was just the opposite; he did
not throw his money awSy Yoolishly and
sent $10@home to his mother and father
each month. and as he was paying $40 on
a Liberty Bond and IS on life insurance
each month he did not have but S. left
to spend for himself.
Robert attended the Y M c. A. regu-
larly and every Thursday he went to the
city and attended prayer meeting at one
of the churches.
One pay day, just aft. Robert had re-
ceived his pay, he decided he would take
a walk in the, woods. He walked on for
about two miles when he came upon a
number of the fellows from camp who
We're shooting "crap." Just as he cape
up he heard two of the fellows arguiAg
about some money. 1t seemed as if one
of the fellows had picked up IS which
did not belong to him.
Robert was not close enough to dis
tinguish who the fellows were. but he
could hear every word they said:
THAT is not your S." said one.
Yes 1t is, said the other.
Such words as these kept up for some
minutes, and one word brought on am
other until finally they came to blows
All at once, one of the fellows drew a
knife and made slash at the other.
Robert made a dash towards, them and as
he drew nearer he discovered that one of
the boys was Titus Brown. Robert made
one leap and grabbed at the ssnife, but =
was too late; it had already penetrated
up and examined him closely to see how
badly he was cut. He soon found that it
was only flesh wound, but that 1t was
right over the heart. Brown was very
so Robert carried him until they came to
spring. After he had bathed Browns
wound and given him drink of water
he was able to walk back to camp.
Who was that fellow that cut your"
asked Robert
~ don't know replied Brown. az had
lost all of my money and when 1 thought
Of going until next payday without any,
/ determined that would get some OF my
money back before / left that bunch. so
when that fellow laid down a SIS bill
waited until I thought he wasn't looking
u and picked 1t up, but just IS / did so he
turned his head back and saw me pick 1t
up. did not want him to know was
trying to steal it, so l pretended as IL l
laid down ho
did not intend to be done out Of his money
that easy and as | didn't want him to
know I was trying to steal it. we argued
and he struck me in the face and cut me-"
TITUS, said Robert after a few min
utes silence: Did you ever go to Sun
day SCHOOL,"
what do you want to know that for
and what has that to do with this affair
anyway? Please don't mention Sunday
School. Church Y. M. C. A. to me again
as have heard SO much about religion
of IT, " |'''''t net ''''' ~ GU
We'll" said Robert, ST intended to ask
you II you ever studied the eighth COM
mandment."
No; ! never studied any command
eighth: what was it, anyway"
T Thou shalt shalt not not steal said Robert
Yes, thou shalt not steal don't you
know that you broke the eighth com
mandment when you took that $5?"
There was long silence and Robert
watched the expression on Titus face as
he sat there thinking over the command
ment.
After a few minutes Robert turned to
Titus and said:
Titus, am going to the Y. NJ. C. A.
building tonight and hear Mr. E1:s
speak, don't you want to go along With
81 never have been inside church or
Sunday School since was small boy"
said Titus, but as / haven't any money
to spend I guess I will go just to pass
the time away and to see what these
meetings are like
They both left the tent and headed
for the Y NJ c. A. building. They walked
in and took seats in the rear near the
door.
Mr.. Ellis was introduced to the men by
the Building Secretary, and after a few
remarks as to who Mr. Ellis was. he took
his seat at the side of the platform.
The subject which l will speak on to-
night" said Mr.. Ellis twill be the eighth
commandment, Thou Shalt Not Steal F"
Titus Brown became nervous and be-
gan twitching in his seat, but as Mr. Ellis
continued to speak he became so interest
ed in the subject that he vas as still as a