Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 August 1917 — PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON [ARTICLE]

PHILOSOPHY OF WALT MASON

Jim Brick was hewing wood for *me, a wholesome, cheerful fellov,’, so husky he was good to see, without a touch- of yellow. And while, to earn a shining bone, he plied the ax, stout-hafted, his father called him up by phone, and said, “My boy, you’re drafted!’’ An instant Jim looked rather sick; perhaps he thought of mother, and all the family of Brick, the sister and the brother. A sweat stood out upon his brow I saw his pale lips quiver, and thought, “Alas, this young man, now, has got a chicken’s liver.’’ A ifioment Jim looked full of care, then raised a cheerful holler: “I’m glad I’m called to do my share, you, bet your bottom dollar! So for this day by labor ends —the news this fact determines — I want to go and tell my friends that I’ll be pbtting Germans. 1 want to tell a certain girl that I have been elected to make the kaiser’s whiskers curl, and make the prinz dejected.’’ I handed Jim a bunch of flowers, asd said, “Go, do your playing: I’ll only dock you seven hours when comes the time for paying.” When he was gone my eyes grew dim with patriotic fervor. “The country’s safe while boys like Jim,” I said, “are here to serve her!”