That he was now with them and busy in the schoolroom gave much
pleasure to Austin, who could appreciate the need the boy would later find
of learning.
CHAPTER 25
HARRY HILL
"I got it today," announced Austin at the supper-table.
"Oh, Austin! Will you have to go? What will become of all of us?" and the
young faces about the table looked the grave concern each one felt. "I can
not tell. I hardly think so. If having a family keeps a man at home I think
I can be exempted on that score," and he smiled cheerfully as he looked
about him.
"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.
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