The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1918-08-08
FATHERS AND SONS.

From the London Times.


From the London Times.
-Four years ago, when prophets held
That three years, at the most, would
see the war through, boys born in 1906
were not inclined to take a very hear
view of their chances Of service. The
Pverturn of the world seemed rather
tine to live amidst, at one remove but
still outside themselves. Elder broth
ers on service were enviable fellows:
No such luck for us youngsters" 1t
would DE all owe before we could be of
military age Spectators they expected
to remain.
But there came a day whea the boy
realized that he might get a look In"
after all. The khaki of everyday school
wear took a new meaning. 1t became q
toreshadowing Of a possible reality.
n with that conviction came n grad
ual change, curious for parents and
guardians to watch. Not that the boy
ceased to be a boy ia all outward es-
entails. but something different had
been added-a hint Of gravity, an in
crease OF common sense an interest In
public affairs that used not to develop
very strongly until the university wal
reached. a general impression of rapid
ripening. The burden of life and of the
nation had been laid upon him; he
was taking 1t up, not grimly, or in any
purdened way, but with seriousness.
the seriousness with which he played
games, where one must be whole
hearted or fail.
TO his father the boys sudden leap
70 manhood has been a revelation
somewhat disconcerting. What his
mother thinks Of it has not beer told.
n days creep on toward his birth
lay. 1t seems but yesterday that he
was an infant. In a few weeks more
his country will have claimed him.
But II the father had something of
a shock when. he discovered that the
years OF war had stolen away his boy
and wonderful, in the mar thus sud-
denly set before him. For in twilight
talks 1t is indeed q man that now sits
beside him., q man with all the fresh
ness and charm of boyhood still un-
shed, more gracious perhaps and win
ming by its whimsical contrast with the
new, strange gravity Of certain moods.
1t lightens the brooding shadow Of un-
certain fate, which to the elder will not
be denied; II purges of everything NOR
bid that inevitable misgiving. The boy
accepts the fortune of war gladly.
These last years nave been crowded
with glorious life; he looks only for
SOiiCthih6 HloIc SlOElCuS. AIlO tnOSo
who remain behind have a priceless pos
session. remedy of good and evil for
tune.
For, let the event be what it may,
there cannot now be any sense of utter
incompleteness in that young life. The
boy may have ripened before his time,
as men accounted time in the sleek days
of peace, but nature or Providence has
spared him unhealthy precocity, and
has vouchSafed q glimpse. and more
than a glimpse, of the man., watched
for, wondered over with a myriad ten
der hopes and surmises FOR Is fleeing
years, and now on a day we looked
not for it, suddenly revealed in full
stature. 1t is as though the eternal
law OF compensation had ordained this
clear provision of a character that
might otherwise have remained only a
fond speculation. But here Is a COM
forting measure Of certainty: it Is a
man that will go forth to war; a man
not merely dreamed of, but one whom we
have seen and known-that will re-
ceive our parting blessing: "Macte
VIRTUE esto!"