The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-07-11
DaWn's Early
Light
o@
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union
By FRANK RIGNEY


Six rows of stars, eight in row.
Forty-eight white stars twinkling on
blue square. Seven long lines of
red and six of white ripping, waving,
gathering up and flying out straight
again. A setting sun sending out red
beams of light that mingled with and
faded away among the early peeping
stars far overhead dipped q parting
salute to Old Glory. Old Glory, illu-
mined by the red golden rays, looking
more respondent and glorious than
ever, waved back an acknowledgment.
Such was the picture Jack Cody
gaZed On. Jack. a fine, hearty, clean
cut boy of fifteen years, was the son
of lHmberman and lived in Il small
wooden house on the outskirts of
village that was situated away off ever
so far from trolley cars, subways and
skyscrapers. Jack was q boy of the
woods. The forest was for him school
and playground and was frequently his
bedroom.
This particular June evening Jack,
resting after a strenuous day, was
sitting on a pile of lumber ana gaz-
ing at the fiagpole newly erected on
the town hall"
News, q speedy traveller, where tele-
phones, papers and crowds mix,
seemed to slow up and get down to Il
crawl when it jOurneyed toward
Jacks town. 1t had to work miles
upstream against rolling logs, along
old, rocky trails and through long
stretches of woods, lakes and other
things that 60 to make up virgin
country. This time it had put on
little extra speed. being helped along
by some surveyors who had come US
the advance guards of party of rail
road engineers and workmen. The
news was big news. II was the preSl-
dents war declaration, and it had the
village buZZing with excitement. The
surveyors had brought the flag along
and one of them had left behind him
It pencil, colored blue at one end and
red at the other. Jack was the lucky
finder Of the pencil and with it he
was endeavOring on Il piece of white
wrapping paper to portray the scene
spread before him. The trees, hills.
houses and view in general proving too
much for him, he concentrated on the
flag.
''Fortyeight stars and thirteen
stripes. said Jack. Gosh but it is
some flag, l wonder who invented
it,"
His picture finished, he climbed
down from the log pile and, wandered
towards the "town iiaii'' 10 proudly
display 80 some of his boy friends his
copy % Old Glory. From nowhere in
particular, similar to that mysterious
place from which. conjurers produce
cards and rabbits, Jacks friends pro-
duccd pieces of paper of various
shades ana shapes and the young ar
fist was surrounded by a noisy crowd
shouting, a flag for me, Jack -
'Make me one!' do one for mew
Across the main street, the one and
only street Of the village, was a group
OF men quietly discussing the news
and asking questions of an elderly
iiitIlI NJltSt OilCc SiiONt Gu li!liI "
he newcomer to the place.
The cOmmolion created by the clam
orine boys brought the quiet discus
sion Of the men to an end and the
stranger strolled over TO know what
the upr0ar meant.
Good he exclaimed. when he
found out. Great, boys, great!
That's the spirit, boys" he said but
easy there, fellows, until l ask you
few questions. What are you going
to do with your flags?"
"Stick 1t in my window" shouted
one boy. paste it on the wall owe.
my bed between LincOln AID Wash
ington." said another. nd 50 on un-
til il seemed that the lille village
would ID papered FROM end to end will,
the flags that Jack had not yet
drawn.
Fine" said the inquirer, 'Fine.
Let me ask you, boys, now that l
know what you are going TO do with
your flag, what you know about your
flag-and what you are going to do
fer your flag? I ask you what you
are going TO do?"
A silence that could be almost
heard descended On the crowd and the
boys looked uneasily at each other.
Il didn't know that the flag wanted
me to do anything for it." spoke up
Jack. much to the relief of his friends,
as the strangers attention was drawn
from them and directed to Jack.
Come into the hall, my boy, get
your friends TO round up a few of the
men. as many as they can, and let
them all come, and I'll try and tell
you end your friends little story of
the flag waving up there on the pole"
very quickly the big room filled and
1t seemed as though Jack would have
to get busy penciling out standing
Room Only notices, when the man
who called the meeting had com
menced his story.
There is no occasion to follow in
detail all he told the men and boys
of the Stars and Stripes, for that
would be telling you something, friend