“But what should we do if they made you go? Who would take care of us?” said Lila anxiously.
“Do not worry little sister. I shall not go and leave you without protection,” comforted her brother.
While Austin and his family had been fighting their own battles in life, many stirring events had been going on about them. There had come the call to arms when the whole nation had been stirred from center to circumference, and after that the sad, heart-rending times when the boys had been called away to the camps and later over the sea to the battle with their common foe. In all this Austin had been interested, but had hardly seemed a part of it, so engrossed had he been with his own perplexities. But now had come the call which included the boys yet in their teens, and he was now in the draft age. Today had come his summons from the Government to appear and be examined for enlistment in the service.
When Austin appeared before the board they greeted him with smiles. The manly form and apparent health of the young man appealed to them, and his youth naturally proclaimed him a man without family cares.
“It is easy to place such men as you are,” said the officer.
“In what class do you think I should be placed?” inquired Austin.
“In first class, of course. You are in perfect health, and within the age limits, and too young to have a family.”
“But what of dependents?”
“Dependents! Have you dependents?” asked the man in some surprize.
“Yes sir. I have a family of four or five entirely dependent upon my labor,” answered Austin quietly.