A UNIQUE COMMITTEE
had come, the Comforter that would lead these boys into the truth of whatever situation awaited them.
How true were the words of a big, uncouth enlisted lad, who, upon leaving the Comforts Forwarding Rooms, said: “There are some things that money cannot pay for; this is one of the times. I haven't much, and when I get in the army I shall probably have less, but I want to leave this,” and he laid down two dollars as his offering.
Another boy, wishing to pay for a sweater, was told it was a gift.
“But,” he said, “things cost.”
“These are given.”
“But they cost something.”
“I cannot take anything for them.”
“Well, if I leave something on the table you can't say anything;” and suddenly dropping a five dollar bill, he vanished through the door.
Garfield once said that whenever he saw a young boy he felt like taking off his hat to him, because he never knew what might be buttoned up under his coat. How many feel that way today. The boy has made for himself a new place in history, and perhaps, too, in the hearts of all mankind.
Another source of distribution was, as has already been mentioned, through other relief organizations, and for this opportunity of showing to those who hitherto had known nothing of us, or were, perhaps, antagonistic, what our religion really teaches us to do and to be, we have every reason to be grateful. How many prejudices were broken down, how many bitter feelings sweetened, how much of ignorance dissolved and replaced by intelligent, sympathetic understanding, we shall never know. Often and often came the
271
