The Denver Jewish news., 1919-03-26
Before Dawn
A Story of a Great Decision.
BY l.. c. EHRLICII.
In the Hebrew Standard"

'''"' ''', Sooiir iith Ai''h 'hNii "A'NS
and mothers and will not let them
return" Worn with watching and
anxiety. she grew hysterical, putting
Into words all the vague resentment
she had felt for so many months.
THE war goes on and on and there
is no end. / thought when | came TO
this country my boys would be safe,
but they have taken my Bonnie and
now they take you and my Rosie will
die when she finds that you are not
here. 1t is Il war for rich men, l
tell you: not for poor people like you
and me- You don't owe this country
anything. do yOu?"
Her voice, bitter shrilI in its impo-
tent wrath, died i'm silence. From the
next room came Rosics dclirious
wailing and IA moaning cry of Nam
ma, ~ The old woman's darkencd face
grew tender; she smoothed hcr apron
and turned back to the sick room. i
am coming. my lamb" she murmercd
as she shuffled across the floor
iN''b'i Will itlil tsNS
All Of his ugly doubts and fears seem
ed To have embodied themselves in
this weary old woman. who had come
TO tempt him in his moment of weak.
ALL He had heard more than one
CurbStunc orator railing against the
draft, had read bitter phrases in his
Tntrniig paper. After ALL he hadn't
TO him. Why should he go back to
camp TO he sent across rnc seas. IL it
were possible to remain in hiding in
his home for few days until Rosie
to leave the city and find work under
un assumed name. preparing n little
home for Rosie and the child. 1t
could he dome
And even as he dreamed. his own
words to the doctor ripped thru his
tired brain like IA flash of Tightening:
We Jews out at Rockford have good
recortls-I should not like TO hurt the
Others" That was all but new
look crcpt into his eyes as he remcm-
bcrcd. There was nothing heroic
about Reuben. he was just very
commonplace young man, much more
interested in earning his own living
than in the world war. rather be-
wildcrcd by terms like democracy and
league of nations. He was not wear
Ing the uniform TO serve such ideals /;
he and his kind had not yet learned
to translate the meaning of America
into deeds of self-dcninl. But as he
stood erect in the darkness. he realiz-
ed that he could not go down on the
books Of his company ns descrter;
he could not bring shame upon his
fellow Jews. who before long were
to fight. and if needs to he TO die
like Heroes across the scu.
Striking match. he lokcd at his
wrist watch. He must leave ut once,
he decided. His face set and grim,
he walked toward the bedroom. then
stoppctl--and waited. \ sound of
NllSlSS tui lllt sum hiSiii Si'p
ing shriller and stronger every mo-
mcnt hurrying to the window. he saw
lights appearing here and there; u
moment later IL hnlf-drcsscd boy rush
emily. waving flag AS he ran. Reu-
ben stood like II man in n dream. 1t
could not be true; only II few days
before there had been blowing of
whistles and waving of flags. and the
next day the papers had spoken of
unofficial reports. denying that an ar
misticc had been signed No the war
would drag on and on and he and
million others would he sacrificed un-
til the monsters hunger WIS salts
fled But. thank God, he had made
his. decision. he reflected. and not dar-
ing to enter the bedroom again, he
stole softly out into the night.
As he made his way 40 the street
car. the streets gradually filled with
half frantic men and boys beating
tin cans. blowing horns. waving flags.
Lights appeared in every window his
neighbCrS. ;ilmost dcliriOuS with Joy,
shouted greetings to him rs he passed.
Reuben wondered whimsically whcth-
or his long vigil had been too much
for him. perhaps he had fallen asleep
in the little parlor and was dreaming
of this strange carnival before dawn.
As he waited for his car on the
corner. he recognized Ike Roscn. the
flee. in the midst of an excited. flag
waving group. Rosen wore strip
Of bunting around his derby and
swung an oId-fashioncd dinner bell i'll