The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1918-07-22
BRING CHEER 70 ::
FRENCH |;R 1 PEOPLE y
Coming Of Americans Is Hailed
With Joy.
GIVE AID TO THE STARVING
Story by Y. N. C. A. Man Tells o.
How the Arrival Of Troops From the
United States Has Brought Com
fort to the Stricken Peopie-Divl.
sion Plays Raven to Elijah Of Fam.
lily Of Starving French People.

How a division of American soldiers
In France played raven to the Elijah
OF q family of starving French refu-
gees, found covering In the attic Of an
old meat market and how Elijah. in
turn, made the ravens comfortable, Is
told in this story, written by Y. NJ.
G. A. man in France:
"A division Of our troops was on
the move. For 80 hours the pen had
been on the cars. Then they had de.
trained and started to hike for the
front. Two days Of marching had left
them stiff and tired.
"The Y. NJ. C. A. men had. gone
ahead of them. They knew that the
troops would be in certain village BY
a certain time. So they loaded three
big trucks with canteen supplies, hus-
tied to the village, and looked around
for q canteen.
''' Find Family In Want
"They found an old meat market
with shutters up, located the owner,
and got the key. The supplies were
unloaded, and the trucks started back
to town. The two men left behind to
open up lighted candle, and began
an investigation Of the place.
up the steep stone stairs they
found room, with family Of refu.
gees crouching inside. The old fire.
place had been opened. A few twigs,
the size of lead pencil, made a fire
as big as h coffee cup.
"a mother nursing a, baby sat on the
floor in front Of the fire, two small
girls whose eyes seemed unnaturally
big in their Thin little faces covering
near her, scared by the steps they
heard. A daughter about fifteen years
old was cooking some noddescript bits
Of food in an old frying-pan. The fa.
ther, a little man, badly crippled In the
early battles of the war, started for.
ward as the strangers approached.
"'They spoke no English and our men
spoke no French, but suddenly they
These were les Ameri-
caines!' They would not be hurt.
They were even going to be fed.
"When the American soldiers came
they found the mother making chOco-
late for them, while the oldest daugh.
ter scrubbed UP the. old market, hum.
ming the 'Marseillaise' as she. worked.
The two little girls, bursting with i'm.
portance, ran on small errands. The
baby sat on. the canteen counter,
at them. .,,...
Boys Adopt Family.
"As they entered, the crippled little
Frenchman. busy opening packing
cases, Strengthened himself as well as
he could, and saluted them. There
was pride in the way he did 1t. He
had worn a uniform, too.
'The American boys adopted the
family at once. 1sle Y. NJ. c.. A. men
had fed the refugees. of course, but
the soldiers insisted upon buying them
more food in the canteen. They tossed
the baby in the air, and began teach
ing the little girls American slang.
'That night there was real fire In
the fireplace upstairs and real food
IN the table. Windows. boarded up so
ong, were open. The family chattered
away at the top Of their voices, instead
If whispering, as they had done.
There was nothing'to be afraid of now.
"Les Americaines' had Gomez