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Show PATRIOTS ALL O By JENNIE LITTLE. " 7T (, lS-I, by AtcClure Newspaper Syndicate.) "Girls and boys," said the young minister, "of course the general subject sub-ject that fills the back of your heads just now is vacation. Hut the outstanding out-standing idea Is the Fourth. "Now, I have a question to bring before be-fore the bouse. Last year your celebration cele-bration consisted of noise, and what were meant to be howling funny tricks. Suppose we have a worthwhile worth-while program a parade with floats, decorated vehicles, scouts, and a nicnic supper out here in the birches? Then a splendid flag raising, us the good, old one has done Its duty to the point of dissolution music, speeiA.es , and real fireworks. Let's have some- thing that will leave a good taste In , everyone's mouth." The bell sounded dismissal, and the ! pupils unversed In the subtle science j of mental telepathy, swarmed about ! tbe teacher and preacher like hum- j tiling birds on hollyhocks, and knocked j cold his plan to walk home with lier i alone. Don't blame the children, though, for the little teacher was the kind that the girls copy and the boys would rather look at than their lessons; les-sons; while the minister, instead of he'ng one of those solemn dignitaries k whose opening conversation was sure to expose a fellow's ignorance of youngsters right ( f? the bat, such as "I trust you attend church regularly, William. Can you recite the Commandments?" Com-mandments?" would call. "Say P.ill, if you can hook a two-pounder today to-day I'll go you one better." Yes, and dig his own bait, too. From the hedge squirmed the undersized under-sized body and unsmiling face of a boy who had listened wistfully. Stingy Bud Daniels, on the back road, had taken him from an institution to "chore," in return for a hard bed and poor food, and he had not made a friend. Once lie ventured to school, but with that cruelty to animals tl at children unthinkingly practice on each other, they made his life miserable. July 4th was as perfect as if made to order, and things went off gloriously till the happy procession neared the schoolhouse. Fire! The flames were eating greedily through the dry timbers, and the youngsters stood aghast, for tbe'r beloved be-loved fireworks were stored inside. Suddenly a figure that had followed afar off hurled Itself like a streak across the yard and Into the burning building. Men tried to follow, but returned re-turned gasping, and there in an upper up-per window poised "the Shrimp" with the new flag In his arms. lie threw it to safety, and before It touched the ground scouts caught and raised it high. Tbe rockets exploded ex-ploded deafenlngly, and he fell into . stronsr arms helow. i nuiiian muure encountered ny Mr Christopher Wren, when he tried to rebuild a London beautiful after the tfreat fire of IfiOG. remarks the Literary Liter-ary Digest. If left to themselves .lean and Jeanne would ehuild their homes and shops exactly as they were before German arfillery reduced them to. dust and tender memories. A simp keeper fears that his customer's will not find his shop unless it is the replica of its predecessor. And madam would like to have her spimrng wheel set bs it was when she stopped spinning In the summor of 101 4. Habits are Strong. The habits of centuries are strong among the poilus. Nevertheless, the re-constructionists re-constructionists are hopeful. Outlines of plans for model towns to replace (hose destroyed have been appearing off and fin in French and other periodicals for some t'me. and one of 1he Intest projects will be tried out as an experiment, with the financial backing of an American committee. This plan was prepared under the nuvipiees of the French organization kn wn as La Renaissance des Cites, which Is seeking to have spring up on the ruins of northern France communities communi-ties which shall combine modenrty with the charm that is so striking a Winracteristlc of French towns many centuries old. I a Renaissance des Cites has already al-ready bellied over 200 towns in northern north-ern France to prepare reconstruction plans. In addition. It is doing educational educa-tional work of various kinds in the res of the communities In the devastated devas-tated lands aggregating about 2.-KX). If order to further the work of reconstruction. re-construction. La Renaissance des Clt decided to create a model vil-Uft:. vil-Uft:. After studying more than 1,500 In the preacher's study he opened his eyes as the doctor gently unfastened un-fastened the blistered fingers from a package pinned inside his blouse, which disclosed an exquisite pictured face called "Mother," a little flag, three medals, and a letter, frayed with much reading. "Dear little son whom I have scarcely scarce-ly known once when misfortune crushed me. I took money to buy necessities for which your angel mother moth-er was suffering, yes. dying: and .justice .jus-tice showed no mercy. P.ut from Chtir'estown prison to Flanders was a step upward, and now I am about to receive the highest promotion possible pos-sible and be with her. These are all T have to bequeath you. but fry and forget my great mistake by remembering remember-ing that I died for America, and. whatever what-ever your lot in life, he a brave and honest gentleman." The doctor ad.hted the bandages and slipped out and cot busy. Simultaneously the min.rter and teacher teach-er bent and kissed each scorched cheek, for their eyes were too misty to Fee distinctly. Their own cheeks brushed as lightly as butterfly wim-'s and their hands met behind the pillow. pil-low. "Muriel," he sa!d. softly, "as your spiritual adviser, may I clearly point out your patriotic duty to marry me and help me look after this hero? We'll put youth In his heart, joy in his life and fleh on his bones." He paused, for happiness and disappointment disappoint-ment wrestled together In "the Shrimp's" face. "I wanted to marry her myself," he pulped, "but you spoke first ; so she can take her pick." She smiled down at him. "Let's make It a three-cornered partnership, laddie hoy. I fancy you would like me better as a sister, while Mr. Thayer has no use whatever for sisters." sis-ters." Hut why the band playing and pev pie cheering to beat the hand? The doctor re-entered, and. wrapping "the Shrimp" in a rug. carried him out where the assembled village waited to do him homage. The scoutmaster saluted. "v t an IS-oarat American like you in our ranks as soon as you can join us. and then, in behalf of all. he unfurled a beautiful silken flag and presented It to the speechless boy. As the cheering burst anew he burled bur-led his poor singed head in the doctor's doc-tor's shoulder, and, hidden by th sheltering folds of the starry hannet the healing tears washed away the accumulated ac-cumulated bitterness of plever lonel-years, lonel-years, for never again R-ould he I-"Nobody's I-"Nobody's Kid." |