“Oh, Ruth, Ruth!� she said. “If only you were a boy in khaki, and I at your side!�
“Oh, mother! I w-w-wish I were!� cried Ruth.
“It’s wonderful!� Black Mayo tapped the paper with a thoughtful finger. “He Americanizes the war, and does it by putting aside everything for which the ‘land of dollars’ is supposed to stand and upholding our old high ideals. No indemnity, no conquests. The Lusitania was an insult to our flag; more than that, it was a dishonor to humanity.�
“He starts us on a high-going road,� said Mrs. Wilson.
“Please,� broke in David, “let’s finish planting our corn before dark.�
“Righto, boy!� exclaimed Black Mayo, jumping up. “And my plow’s standing still. Geminy! how time flies!�
He hurried away and the war gardeners went back to work.
“Will you look who’s coming?� Patsy exclaimed presently, glancing toward the gate. “Jeff Spencer and Will Eppes!�
Mrs. Wilson hastened to meet the visitors who had been her pupils from A B C days till they went to university and engineering corps.
“Why, Jeff! I didn’t know you were at home!� she said, shaking hands with the boy in front, a pleasant-looking, round-faced fellow, so fat that he resembled a well-stuffed pincushion.