Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1918-09-12
YANKEE SOLDIERS
HARVEST HER HAY
Aged French Woman Unable tc
Understand at First-They
Enjoyed Work.
BY FRANK j. TAYLOR.
United Press Staff CORRESPONDENT


United Press Staff Correspondent.
With the American Forces in France,
juno 80. (by mail).-She was a little
and stopped Owe woman, somebody's
grandmother.
With rather feeble strokes, but strong
ones considering her age, she was cut
ting hay with q scythe in a field where
you could hear the guns umble She
would swing a few strokes and then
pause for breath.
The amount of hay already cut was
far from encouraging. compared to the
uncut waves OF 1t. But she kept brave
resting, and making the most Of the
situation.
He was a G~oughboby from a middle
western state, a farmer lad whose
temporary profession was whipping the
Germans. His company was IN rest,
and he had a few days Of comparative
hike" along the fields. He said lit
took him back to the homestead to be
where hay and grain We're growing.
lie saw the old French cut
ting hay, in one of his travels. and his
impulse was to jump over the fence
and offer his services. His f~orethought
vas to keep on the road because his
French vocabulary did not include the
word hay" nor ''scythe'' nor enough
grammar to concoct the sentence. May
I help o by cutting some hay"
His impulse won, and he hoped over
the fence to present his freckled honest
self before The French woman. Taking
the scytl1e from her hands. he said.
pointing at himself, the scythe and
then the hay, NJ cut hay. Me tres
strong farmer boy"
Will Good-French Bad.
He doubled up his fist clenched
his elbow to prove the latter.
Evidently his French misled him. for
the old farmeress protested. thinking
he wanted to borrow or confiscate her
scythe. 1t was her only one. she ex-
planned. More French made the situa-
ton more of a dilemma.
A doushboy soon learns on the
French front hat nee you get into a
scrape, the best way out Of it is to use
| action, not words. This doughboy q
learned already and he began cutting
hay with wide swinging strokes.
The old Frcnclhwoman's apprehen-
sions turned to joy and admiration.
"Vous etes unbon sarcon," she re-
| peated, following him, and il the words
| meant nothing to- him, the tone of her
tuotaless lisp meant much.
Down the field they went, the dough-
boy cutting. and the old woma follow
ing, carrying on Il conversation in
French. to which he always replied,
] Nul, OUl. Ile hIleM llldI liuCu
French.
Near a tiny house on the edge Of the
| stopped him. wait a minute she
said in French, until get you some
thing to drink"
When she came u of the house
l with a glass and a bottle, he was half
way down the field. She followed, and
poured out a glass of wine.
He declined 1T with, Pas bon," two
other words he knew.
The old woman was offended. Not
good she said. 1T is good wine and
old. 1t is good"
tried to make it clear he did not drink
wine and did not want it. She insisted
he take IT.
You cannot do a kindness in France
without having it returned. and this
doughboy understood it. Yet he did not
want the wine. Also he was not cut
ting hay while he was protesting.
Then he had an idea. Il haven't
had q glass Of milk ia drink since
LETT home" he said. That's IL months.
Give me a glass Of milk. and I'll think
I'm home again with this hay to cut"
"Comprends pas" she said shrugsine
Pointing Helps a Little.
He understood the words with that
shrug.
He pointed to a cow In the next pas-
thre. Milk. milk he said, you know
milk.
She understood something and hur-
ried-tnto the house. Presently she came
out with some cheese and bread. She
beamad with the prospects Of deiishtine
tiltl young American.
Bon, he said rea Trenchily. .'but
can't have some milk?"
"Oui. oui, QUIZ she said, without un.
d~erstanding.
oh. YOU don't understand. III show
t-you," he said.
He went to the house she following
obviously. Taking q pail he sidled ur
to the cow, with, Whoa, Bossy,
steady" and attempted to milk her
The COW did not understand whoa
Bossy. steady" and refused to b,
MIXED.
But the idea dawned on the ole
French woman "Oh. vous voulez dl
lait," she said, Bon" She motionet
him to follow her.
In he little hut she gave him ,
4 chair. and. brought g. pitd1aer off milk
which he drank q he ate his cheee,
and bread. She looked on, delighted
that he. bad accepted something, blu,
EamA1e0 That he would drink milk.
American r funny" she declared
MIX II Tor cheese md babies witt
". end yoQ drink It aud refuse wine
A0eftpaNoslfo fnnny."
afIe befn1 French. hs said, "Oui." ant