New-York tribune., 1918-08-18

they didn't have anything on
usv'
The little jackie, all Of eighteen, swag-
an extra hitch to his "seagoing" MILDLY
tie knot.
"Cause we got mothers all over, and
gee whiz! who wouldn't rather have a
mothern three or four wives!" His
tones were scornful Then he went on
to explain.
"They used to call them the Wednes-
day Mending Squad, and you just
oughta seen the way they'd come here
to the training station and sew on our
buttons and sew up holes till you
couldn't find them. There was one-oh,
she was peach of lady-that mended
mine the first time and scolded me just
like my own mother about the way my
toes punch through. Next time she
brought me a little sewing kit so I could
fix em up myself before they got so bad.
Then she invited me and my pal to her
house to dinner After that we just got
to calling her mother. She's lots like
mother, and Henry said she was lots
like his mother, the way she knows just
what you like, and makes you take a
second helping and all that.
Ten to Fill the
Place Of One
Zone time, on return trip, the con-
voy put in at other Atlantic port, as
the saying is, and l was awful blue.
Thought nobody would ever care any
thing about me any more. But, say,
that first night ashore-it was Satur-
day-me and George went around to
club they have got there for us sailors.
After we'd had a shower-and you bet
ter believe it was good feeling after
we'd been on the convoy twenty-six days
without even going ashore on the other
side-we were playing game of check
ers, America against Germany, him
America and me Germany, cause he
nearly always can lick the stufin' out Of
me playin'. In comes a man and
announces that his wife sent him to
bring home four of us to spend Sunday.
There was about ten of US fellows in
that room; some of them was doing
clog dance to the phonograph, and some
reading and some hanging over the bill
lard table. We all looks at one an
other, not saying anything 1t sounded
too good to US for US to insist on the
other fellow going-we'd all Just got
ashore. Home dinner and folks to talk
to- GOSH
"He was wise guy. Finally, he says:
AN of you come on, and we all went.
His wife was fine lady. He told her
he bid in the whole lot Of US cause he
couldn't choose, and she laughed fit to
kill herself. 4 wanted somebody she
says, to fill my boys place. He's gone
off to be sailor, too; and his place will
sure be full and overfowing into the
attic. We had an awful good time, and
she made us promise we would come
there every time we come to Norfolk
l mean that Atlantic port
The Trade Mark
OF Mother
ME and George was sleeping on some
camping out stuff up in the attic, and l
says to him that night: George, it's fun
ny how much she is like mother-when
she laughs she looks just like her
"Well, says George, you know how
my mother used to pretend to scold us
for making a drive on the jam when we
were kids. We'd a thought she was
read mad, only there was twinkle back
IN her eyes. Well, that same twinkle
kept coming out in her eyes, even when
she got to telling about her boy and
looked sad like
"That night while was trying to 20
TO sleep great idea flashed into my
mind. George said, sitting up in my
hammock, 4 believe there's something
about mothers that makes 'em different
IT'S just bully the way fellow can have
mother everywhere, and they're not
bit jealous. Mothers are the women
for me"
George just grunted l guess he
must have been nearly asleep / been
worrying about George ever since that
dance he went to at the Grand Central
Palace few Saturday nights ago. There
was a red-head skirt he tagged around
after some, and zeyeral times since I've
thought he had something on his mind
hope it's. NOT girls. A man with girls
Il e. Il L.. =