The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1918-01-19
"A FRENCH LAD

lGIth ldu III XIV ,iNhNiA '' "'c
lust received word the day before
that his father had been killed.
The poor boy had the letter in
his hands which told the sad story
and how it happened. He was
thinking, What will mother do,
oh. my mother, she has nothing,
and neither have |. We Just have
each other"
This boy was greatly attached
to his parents, He mad said before
he had enlisted that he wished to
die before his parents because he
could not bear the hardship But
one was gone already; and the
tears rolled down his cheeks when
there was a tap on the boys shout
der.
What, crying the day before
fore Christmas" exclaimed the boy
who seemed to have more influence
on him than anyone else. Lone
some, old boy; We all have it to go
through with"
Yes, but / will never get to
see him again, even while he is
cold. ! guess the majority of you
get to see your dear ones then,
at least"
Yes, but then cheer up; it can't
be helped. Quit thinking about
it and it will come out all right.
Jean, (tnis is the fellows name, as
I have not told you before) do you
realize that tomorrow is Christ
mas and / haxen't got a thing from
home yet?'
We'll, / haven't either, and don't
expect anything, and now ! know
| won't get nothin' -" said Jean.
Il don't know what to think Of
it. When l was home on my fur
Tough before coming across the
water (as this is an American lad
and the only one in the camp, they
call him Sammy the last thing
mother told me was to look for my
Christmas box"
well, if you don't get it for
Christmas, you surely will get 1t
soon afterwards" protested Jean.
Il don't know, but let's hope so,
anyway. But say, I'm getting al
most as blue as You were, Jean,
and after all, box doesn't amount
to so awful much, but then it helps
a lot when you are as far from
home as l."
They laughed together, but
Jeans smile died into a frown rs
he pulled out his watch which his
father had given him just before
leaving for the trenches. At this
very moment his own father was
being lowered into the ground for
eternal sleep. Jean went to his
cot and lay there. He finally fell
into a deep slumber. but was rath-
er excitedly awakened by Sammy
yelling at the very top Of mis-
voice with delight.
ut has come, hey, Jean, get up!
1t has come, and oh, look what I
got! My! knew 1t would come;
l knew it! And a great big fat
letter frcm them all Say, don't
that look like peach, thought"
And l really believe Jean was
Just as excited as Sammy. There
was enough to eat in the box for
ten temperate people, but for
those boys who were SO hungry to
taste homemade stuff, it was hard
ly a fill. After the boys had eaten
and played game of Rock"
which came in the box, they were
good and ready to lie down and
sleep until the dawn of Christmas.
But they did not get to sleep until
the dawn for the officers came and
gave them a signal that the enemy
was coming.
1t was il this fight that Jean and
his best friend had been seriously
wounded. They we're taken to the
same hospital and lay side by side
and both of them fell into deep
sleep. When Jean awoke his mother
the only one left, was at his bed
side, and it was to her that he
breathed his last words and told
her that it was for her and their
country that he had died. And ii
was all on Christ's Birthday.
HELEN B. ROLAND.