Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1922-07-01

country. and we know what they mean
to do TO ours. So we're going to at
tend to them. OF course that's why
I'm here. II wasn't you.
Don't forget to write pretty soon,
Dora. You say In your letter--I GER
tainly WINS glad to get that letter
well, you say have things to do more
important than girls Dora think
you probably know without my saying
so that OF course while have got Inn
portant things to do. just as every
man over here has. and everybody at
home, for that matter well, the thing
that Is most important In the world to
me, next to helping win this war, It's
reading the next letter from you.
Don't forget how glad III be to ret
II, and don't forget you didn't have
anything to do with my being over
here. That was--it was something
else And you bet, whatever happens
I'm glad camel Don't ever forget
that!n
Dora knew IL was something else
Her memory went back TO her first rec
election Of him In school. from that
time ON be had been just an ordinary,
everyday boy, laundering somehow
through his lessons In school and
through his sweethearting with MlIla.
as the millions OF other boys houn-
dered along with their own lessons
and their own Millas. She saw him
swinging his books and romplng home
ward from the Schoolh0use, or going
whlstling by her fathers front yard,
rafting stick on the fence as he
went, care-free and masterful, but shy
MS Il deer II strangers looked AZ him,
and always mot much OF talker"
She had always felt so superior to
him; she shuddered as she thought of
1t. His quiet Ind been so much better
than her talk. His intelligence was
proven now. when 1t came to the great
test, to be Of d stronger sort than hers.
He was wise aud good and gentle
and fighting mani I'VE know what
they've done to this country md what
they mean to do to ours. So we're
going to attend to them" She read
this over, and she knew that Ramsey,
wise and gentle and good, would fight
like an unclaimed devil and TINT he
and his comrades would indeed and
indeed do what they "came for
III wasn't YOU" he said. She nod
ded gently, agreeing, and knew what
II was that sent him. Yet Ramsey
had hla own secret here, and did nor
tell 1t. Sometimes there rose, faint ia
his memory. whimsical picture, yet
one that had always meant much TO
him. lie would see an old man sitting
with little boy upon rustic bench
under walnut tree to watch the "Dec-
Grafton Day Parade" go by~-and Ram
sey would see shoot OF sunshine that
had somehow got through the walnut
tree and make a bedazzlement of
glinting fine lines over spot about
the size Of a saucer, upon the old
mans thick white hair. And III Ram
seys memory. the little boy. sitting
beside the veteran. would half close
his eyes. drowsily. playing that this
sunshine spot was white bird's-nest.
until he had a momentary dream OF q
gittering little bird that dwet there
and wore blue soldier cap on Its
head. And Ramsey would bring out OF
his memory thoughts that the old man
had got Into the chiid's head that day.
ave knew that armies Fighting for the
Freedom Of Man had 10 win, In the
long run. !. !. We were on the side OF
Gods Plan. Long ago we began
to zee hints OF His Plan. Man
has to win his freedom from himself
men In the light have TO fight against
men In the dark That light Is the
answer /. We had the light that
made us never doubt"
A long while Dora sat with the let
ter IN her hnnd before she answered II
and took II upon her heart 10 wear.
That was the place fol- II. since 1t was
already within her heart. where he
would find II when he came home
ugaIn And she beheld the revelation
sent to her. This ordinary life OF Ram.
sey's was but the outward glIntlng of
d high and splendid spirit, as high and
splendid as earth can show. And yet
Il was only the life Of an everyday
American boy. The streets OF the
Town were full. now, OF boys like Ram
sey,
AT first they were just boys In uni
'orm; then one saw that they were
Boys no more.
They were soldiers.