New Britain herald., 1927-06-14
My Sons Sh|0f[E i /! q! f!
nxsHe z.p coesap t Johnson aaes me- DA MccloM GIBSON

sDN JvU&y&A/INl OUkJS\DN
tell him it was all a mlstake-that
she looked for him but he was not
there.
Il hope you are not thinking that
I was cruel because l left you while
you were partially unconscious. l
knew you could not go through all
hat parting again, and to tell the
truth, the only way i could get up
enough courage to leave you was to
60 when ! could not sac through
your -dimmed eyes your grow
ing grief and fear.
There. that's enough of that. isn't
it dear? I don't want you to worry
al out me, out I do wan. you to know
that / love YOU. and tnat I'm all
right-as right as about 500 other
mothers sons that are here this
morning.
you would know this if you
could only look in this tent where
50 many of us are writil. home. A
boy in another cot has Just asked,
How do you spell "lovingly"? You
see, he also is writing tn someone
he loves.
Have any of the Other boys en-
listed? 1t looks as though there was
going to be a nice bunch in the ar
tilery
Rod said yesterday he was glad
we we're in the same outfit, but ]
don't know how he feels today.
II never knew before tlat l had
so much and Rod had so little.
HE has just poked his head IN
the door and said We we're called
for medical examination. Perhaps.
Mother dear. your boy will be found
to have flat feet or some other silly
thing that will send him back to
YOU. but whether go or stay, prob
ably you will have a boy at the
front. for Rod told me to tell you
YOU were the only mother he has
ever known, and as such, he loved
You. must go now. Phil.
The army doctor was waiting with
a stethoscope.
Take off your Clothes" he said.
Rod and Phil stripped. That's all
right" he said, Il can take two at
once. Now trot around the tent.
Faster Stop. Open your mouths.
Bend over. Again. Take a long
breath. Spread out. Read that sec
ond line. You're all right-both of
YOU"
The boys quickly scrambled into
their clothes, and then they turned
, 10 each other and solemnly shook
hands. They felt that now they were
ready to march in the big parade.
Phillip never forgot the moment
he donned his uniform.
1t was the regimental o. D.
The heavy brown shoes hurt his
feet. His breeches and CATERS were
too big. as were his coarse flannel
shirt and tunic.
AS if 20 make up for It. his hat
cross between Stetson and
cowboy head covering-was too
small: but even that, perched on the
top Of his head. could not take
from him certain gallant air that
was to make all the old women's
eyes fill with tears and all the young
women's mouths wreath with smiles.
That ugly lot of misfit regiment
ais. represented in both Phil's and
Rods minds, the most glorious uni
forms on earth-they meant the
Homeland and the Flag-the land
that had never been vanquished.
1t meant to Phil at least. that he
was to follow in the footsteps of
the generations of ancestors behind
him. who. whatever codes. had one
tradition in common which they fol-
lowed much more unswervingly
than they did their religion.
Both young men had plenty Of
money. and the first thing they felt
absolutely necessary to do. after
dressing in the uniform of the Unit
ed States army, was to obtain leave
and go to the hotel in the town just
outside the barracks, for dinner.
Here they comported themselves
with great dignity, looking about at
the young men who were in civilian
clothes with scornful superiority as
they ordered and drank a bottle Of
champagne. with the best food they
could obtain.
Pills eyes wandered over and
fingered On the faces of all the girls
sitting there at the tables in the
room. He had a feeling that at last
he was proving himself man and
accepted the homage and smiles of
the young women who were cap
tured by his handsome face, as his
due.
1t was late when the two boys left
the dining room. Phil was a little
in front and reached the barracks
first.
He was accosted by the guard.
Halt! Who goes there
With perhaps moro pride than he
ever again answered the challenge.
he answered:
Recruit Phillip Wynne Tracy ".
United States army, from Flusing,
New York"
To his surprise, the man in front
of him laughed so heartily that it
was some time before he could say:
Advance. Recruit Phillip Wynnc
Tracy ". United States army. from
I'lusing, New York--but for Gods
sake. don't come this way again, for
have to take this guard duty seri.
ously,"
CHAPTER NXNII
Phil Is Being Fed Up On Being A
Hero