Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1918-08-30
SEVEN SACKS OF WHEAT.
(By Earl Wayland Bowmanl


Ruth, who gathered the fallen spears
of barley in the fields OF BoaE. than
the story of the cleaner about whom
am going to tell you.
Ruth went out and by her devotion
to Naomi won the love of Boar.
Ny cleaner plucked the heads of
wheat in an Idaho field without thot
OF the appreciation of men; WITHOUT
hope OF material reward: without de-
sire to win the applause. or attention
Of the world.
Love for Naomi caused Ruth to
toll in the harvests of Bethlehem.
Love for country. for righteousness.
for liberty-for all that these mean
sent my cleaner out into the fields Of
Idaho.
AS the story was told to me pass
1t on to you.
She is old--S1 years old. She lives
with her son on an irrigated Idaho
farm out in the Snake River basin.
When the war came she was eager
to help
Eighty-one years old and eager to
help!
She knew the price of war. Faith
er, brother. husband she had given
that this ntion. under God, might
have a new birth and be preserved. in
truth, nation of Freemen.
Eyes dim, hand trembling, hair
white as the driven snow, body stoop-
ed and worn by the long years-yet
heart and soul afiame with passionate
love for American, for humanity-she
wanted to help.
She could knit. Patiently. hour by
hour, she wove the grey yarn int
warm garments for our lads, our lads
over there.
Every Red Cross appeal found her
anxious to help
Eighty-one year sold and anxious
to help.
Then came the call for War saw
ings Stamps.
Son." she said, II don't feel like
we are doing all we ought tot
takes terrible lot OF help from the
people for the government to carry on
war. | remember in the Sixties
how scarce money and food were, how
we drank acorn coffee, never had any
bread but corn bread, sweetened our
victuals with molasses. how some
times we gave up our only pig or
killed our last chicken to feed the SOL
diers. When father and Uncle John
were killed-but that's past ana gone.
It's now-now-we'veg got to help
-I-wish / had some money"
why, mother-you're helping.
look at all the sweaters you've hade-
and II you want money you know I'll
give 1t to you. How much do you
want?"
NO, mol don't want your money
that would be you helping. not me.
You spend 1t for Stamps for you
for your part-I want some money
I've earned. money I've saved myself,
so it will be my help. not somebody
eIses--"
Eighty-one years old and eager,
anxious. to earn money that she
might help her government!
Then, one night, the ditch broke az
bitches sometimes do where men irri-
gate. The water poured out and
flooded a field of wheat. It was heavy
ripe, ready to cut. Where the water
washed through 1t the grain fell and
lodged"
It was a tangled mass. ruined. No
binder, no machine, could harvest
its grain by hand. 1T IL a shame for
It to waste" he said. but it can't be
helped--I'd be glad to give II to any
one who could save it,"
One morning a few weeks later he
was going to town.
win. you have a load?" the moth
er asked.
Not much. Do you want 10 &c
with me. mother7"
mo, but I'd like to send my
wheat"
your wheat9"
She took him out to the woodshed
There It is-seven sacks-yoU
said you'd give 1t to anyone whC