The Bienville Democrat., 1922-06-08
CHAPTER XIII.

So everywhere over the country, that
winter Of 1915, there were light-heart-
ed boys skylarking-at college, or on
the farms; and In the towns the
young machinists snowballed one an
other as they came from the shops;
while on this Sunday of the "frat"
snow fight probably several hundreds
Of thousands Of youthful bachelors, be-
tween the two oceans, went walking,
like Ramsey, each with a girl who
could forget the weather. Yet boys
OF nineteen and In the twenties were
not llght.hearted all the time that win
ter and that spring and that summer.
Most Of them knew long, thoughtful
moments, as Ramsey did, when they
seemed to be thinking not Of girls or
work or play-nor Of anything around
them, but Of some more vital matter
or prospect. And at such times they
were grave, but not ungentle.
For the long strain was on the coun-
try; underneath all Its outward SEEM
Ing Of things going on as Usual there
shook a deep vibration, like the air
trembling to vast organ pipes in dia-
pasons too profound to reach the ear
as sound; one felt, not heard, thunder
In the ground under ones feet. The
succession Of diplomatic notes came
to an end after the torpedolng Of the
Sussex; and at last the tricky ruling
Germans in Berlin gave their word to
murder no more, and people said, 'This
means peace for America, and all Is
well for u.s. but everybody knew in
bis heart that nothing was we'll for
us, that there was no peace.
They said, "All is WELL" while that
thunder In the ground never ceased
1t grew deeper and heavier till all
America shook with 1t and 1t became
slowly audible as the voice Of the old
American soil. a soil wherein lay those
who had defended 1t aforetime, soil
that bred those who would defend 1t
again. for 1t was theirs; and the mean
Ing Of it--Life, Liberty, and the PH-
suit Of Happlness-was theirs, and
theirs to defend. And they knew they
would defend 1t. and that more than
the glory Of a Nation was at stake.
The Freedom Of Man was at stake. So,
gradually, the sacred thunder reached
the ears Of the young men and gave
them those deep moments that came to
them whether they sat in the class
room or the counting-room, or walked
with the plow, or stood to the machine,
or behind the ribbon counter. Thus
the thunder shook them and tried them
and slowly came into their lives and
changed everything for them.
Hate Of the Germans was not bred !;
but 4 contempt for what Germany had
shown In lieu Of national heart; a
contempt as mighty and as profound
a. the resolve that the German way
and the German will should not pre-.
vail In America, nor In any country Of
the world that would be free. And
when the German kaiser laid his COM
mand upon America, that no American
should take his ship upon the free
ssas, death being the penalty for any
who disobeyed, then the German kaiser
got his answer, not only to this new
law he had made for US, but to many
other thoughts Of his. Yet the an.
swer was for some time delayed.
There was a bitter Sunday, and its
bitterness went everywhere, to every
place In the whole world that held
high and generous hearts. Its bitter
ness came to the special meeting in
the frat hail." where there were
hearts, indeed, Of that right sort, and
one Of them became vocal in Its bitter
ness. This was the heart Of Fred
Mitchell who was now an authority,
being president Of the Junior class,
chairman Of the Prom committee, and
other things pleasant to be and to live
for At bis age.
"Fos me. brothers," he said, Il think
I'd I great deal rather have been shot
through the head than heard the news
from Washington today! l tell you,
I've spent the meansst afternoon |
ever did In ny lie. and I guess It's