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Show I "THE LITRE SOLDIER," I liTEBESTIi THIKSGI10 STORY Bf IELEIKEW I By HELEN KENNEY. "Mother, is the day after tomorrow Thanksgiving?" "Yes dear, it in just about six months now since Daddy went to the border," replied Mother who sat in a big chair with JImmie 'squeozed in beside her and 2-year-old Betty on her lap. For the past months the little family of three had spent their evenings together in one big i chair and talked about all kinds of things but mostly about Daddy. It used to be that Daddy sat in the other big chair on the opposite ride of the 'fireplace with Jlmmle. Thoy had al-was al-was spent a few hours together be-fore be-fore Jimmio and Bottle went to bed, lit had been very hard to get accustomed accus-tomed that hour with father's big chair empty but they tried to pretend they didn't mind and talked about him. I "We have many things for which to thank God this year, haven't wo dear?" said Mother, then sho added 'as if speaking to herself, "I don't think I have ever been so grateful in all my life before," Jimmie's round blue eyes filled with puzzled bewilderment bewilder-ment were raised to Mother's face. He wondered if he would ever bo able to understand grown people, they do and say such unexpected things. He i knew that Mother was not happy even I 'if she did romp ana piay, laugn ana sing with Betty and him. Sometimes .when Mother didn't know he was "watching her, he saw in those soft brown eyes loneliness and sadness that he was sure had not lurked there before Daddy went to Mexico. As far as he was concerned he had just been thinking that with his beloved Daddy gone to war he could have nothing whatsoever to be grateful for. Mother Moth-er understood the question in Jimmie's Jim-mie's eyes and said, "Would my little boy like to know a few of the things I tnank God for every day? I thank him for my precious baby," and hero Mother hugged Betty until she squealed squeal-ed like a little plggio; "and for my good boy and for keeping Daddy safe and the country out of war; for giving us a pretty home and plenty to eat; and for dozens of other things I can't think of just now." There had been a question trembling trem-bling on Jimmie's lips for the past II week but he hesitated to ask It, fear-I fear-I Ing an unfavorable reply. At last I when he could endure the' suspense I no longer he said, "Will Daddy bo I home for Thanksgiving?" "No dear," I Mother slowly replied, he said we I must not expect him but he will sure-I sure-I ly be with us for ChristmaB." Jimmie, I without a word, slid from the chair and walked over to the window humming hum-ming a queer little strain. A lump rose in Mother's throat, sho knew that I pitiful little attempt at a song was only Jimmie's brave way of keeping back the tears, for of course a soldier's sol-dier's son would not cry. Mother longed long-ed to rush over, gather him into her arms and cry too but she knew he could not tolerate sympathy. For a long time he stood with his face pressed against the glass, watching watch-ing the first silow flakes of the year drift softly, silently through the darkness. dark-ness. He whispered over and over, "Please God send My Daddy home." Behind hJm he heard Bettio and Mother Moth-er chattering while Betty was being undressed and put into the little soft nightgown. Then he heard the well-loved well-loved baby voice repeating after Mother, Moth-er, "Wo thank Thee God, for taking care of our soldier Daddy today. Keep him safe and well and don't let him miss us too much. Help us to be brave and good like a soldier's children chil-dren should be." Mother started to say "Amen," but Betty continued, "Let I me be a good baby soldIerand help Jimmio be a good boy soldier. Good night God." Long after-the lights were out Jimmie Jim-mie lay -wide-eyed, staring into the darkness. For six long months now he had felt responsible for the safety and happiness of Mother and Betty. After all he was only seven and he longed to crawl into Daddy's arms and feel that he was just a little boy with nothing to worry him. He put his hand under his pillow and drew out a letter that ho had read irntll he know every thing in it- It said in part, "Be brave old chap and kind to Mother." Help her to take care of Betty and don't worry her and you will be as much a soldier as Daddy. I'll tell you a secret dear little son, I don't see how I would be able to stay here if I didn't know what a brave little man you are. At seven o'clock next morning Jimmio was standing on the corner ,with a big bundle of newspapers. The air was dense with smoke that cut I his throat and burned his- eyes. The cold stung his toes and fingers and kinkled his nose. If Jimmie had not heen a soldier just like his Daddy, he would have gone home to a brlgnt, warm fire. Instead he reached Into his pocket for his treasured letter The very touch of it sent new life and courage throbbing through his numb little body. With a determined light in his eyes he cheerfully smiled at the hurrying men and women that passpfl the corner. As the sunlight, little by smoke brightening the tops of the little, crept from behind the fog and tallest buildings, people became more interested in Jimmie and his papers. Although thoro was no thrilling story of black-mailers, robbers or burglaries, few people passed who did not want to buy a paper from the bright-faced, neat little boy who seemed so grateful for each purchase and so entirely ignorant ig-norant of newsboy roughness and slang. While Jimmio stood smiling mechanically me-chanically at the continuous stream of people, his mind was very busy. He was thinking of the last Thanksgiving eve when he had gone with Daddy to 1 select and help carry home the nicest 9 turkey they could find. Daddy had jj brought Mother a big bunch of Jim- I mio forgot the name they were flow. I ers at an rate, white and yellow E ones, as round as baseballs only larger I nf rnnrRP. Rfitfv had hnon vorv small a year ago, but they had bought her 1 a toy turkey, filled with candy. Jim- 1 mie felt in his pockets for the nickles S ho had earned that day and counted i them for about the twenty-fifth time. 1 He know that Mother would be glad 1 to see all those nickels. She spoke every dar of being economical and 1 explained that Daddy was not bringing 1 home his big checks at the end of each m month. At first Jimmio could not un- 1 derstand what that horrid thing econ. I omy, tnat seomed sucn a bugbear to Mother could be. As the months went i by and Daddy with his pockets full of 5 nickels did not return, Jimmie learned I that being economical meant saving I his nickels for Mother, Instead of run- ning to the nearest small store to look H for something to buy. It also meant ij that he must be more careful than ever not to tear his stockings, rip his I coats or lose his hats when playing to with the boys. What was worst or all, H It meant that he could not persuade m-Mother m-Mother to buy a single one of tho n lovely hats in the store windows. Of 1 course, even with her last winter hat 1 and coat she was the prettiest lady ft in town. When Father was home he toolc Mother down town every few I days to buy a hat or a dress, or some- a thing dainty and sweet like she was. HE Jimmie felt that something was sen- m ously wrong: he must not be taking P very good care of Mother after all. ffl wnea jimmie went nome to luncn he begged his Mother to let him sell some extra papers since it was Satur. day. As ho was leaving the house he had found mischievous Betty cheerful, ly flying the pages of his best-loved book. He took it away crossly, grum. bling about a mean little sister who didn't lovo him, and tore up his things while he was working for her. Mother looked very much grieved, but said nothing. Betty's big blue eyes filled with tears, "Me do to, love you," she said, her pretty lips trembling pite-ously. pite-ously. Jimmie went out feeling dread- J fully ashamed of himself. He knew I that for a girl Betty was the dearest thing that ever lived. He resolved to show her when he came back that he was sorry he had been so cross. He need not have worried for Betty could not remember to be angry any longer than it took two big tear8 to well up in her eyes and roll down the pink cheeks or slide off the tiny nose. Then a bright rainbow smile always followed. During tho afternoon after-noon a little group of boys went by and coaxed and teased Jimmie to go with them to the skating rink. When they saw that Jimmie would not be coaxed they jeered and la,ughed and finally departed calling back, "Good bye newsy," "Be a good boy dearie,' and similar tantalizing remancs. George Drayton, as usual could noi leave without adding a parting sting. I can beat anybody in a Bkating race. Ought to come and see me," bragged the little boaBter. Jimmie knew he could skate faster than George and-boylike and-boylike he longed to show tho crowd that he could. He started on a run to the. newspaper office to return his papers, but a nickel bounced out or his pocket and rolled to the curbing reminding him that if he went skating baby sister would have no Thanksgiving Thanks-giving candy. Some wicked little 8plr. nr7hfs?? d ln h,B ear that he was only a little boy and should be play! ing with his freinds. Just then he saw Betty's eyes filled with tears and heard her say," are do to love you -Betty won. He went back to stand ntb ,COrner tbe rest of the after noon. A man who liver neir ti1, came to him about five o'docl d told him he had better run e a it was too cold for a little boy like him to be out and his Mother would be worried. He offered to buy the remaining papers for somd friends of I his. Jimmie went homo mui ".5 .c " urging, on the way he bought a hit-box hit-box of sack candy for Bitty tlm still had a big handful to bring homo to Mother. Maybe she woufd bu? tJ67 ld 311 lbe thlngs that go wUh it; perhaps she would t,uy a prft rJh?Dat Tr B?me lovely lowers for her table. Just so Mother was happy it ZtoSt dlfference-t0 ffSii1 inn? n r atbes. Just then the ff 7 open and ho was lifted off his feet and clasped in somebody's 55 i6 nV5 d,d like to be surprised r?d haY? his dignity destroyed no ftter how delightful the surprise wafcn'rnVn fl nth1 ill comfortably seated on Daddy's th?MnVher sald' "Can any! I thing to be grateful for now Jlinme' Elder8 hT hIddfn agaln8t dWfi tly un- both been. When" Father asked it Jimmie as too tired to go back un town to help buy a turkey ttat yJuSJ man proudly drew out his handful of enr el8anJ t0Jd, hlB astonished pa? exits that he had intended to buy a turkey himself. When he attempted to explain how very hard he had L tried MnR? a rei? f.IdIer and helP cae tot Mother and the baby, everything be! a SnJerr Bt,1K LookIne UP he saw a most strange thing. Daddy's eyes glad""oeidn,Wlth tea"' "Ob-, I am bo mie Vrt ?Leri?n cry" thought Jim. DaddV nd thjong his arms around ttYflBr?Efc.he burBt Into 80bs r wo nrst time in months. qutetff efrrJmkthdnUP thG l&hy and BtoIe era know ,rom because moth- are b?r m 80lf iers Aether they llttl0 d0 not llko to have people see tears in their 'eyes. That night Betty's only prayer was. "Thanks for Daddy. Good night Godt" SACRED HEART ACADEMY. Ogden, Utah. |
