THE WIDOW'S ONLY SON.

White Ribbon, Volume 23, Issue 265, 18 July 1917, Page 6

THE WIDOW'S ONLY SON.

The day had come. Europe was in a blaze. Germany had poured her hordes over Belgium and Northern France. England had joined the fray to protect Belgium .<nd her Dominions over the seas had hastened to the help of the Motherland. In far-off Zealandia young men were leaving farm and office and hurrying to enlist and fight under the Union Jack. Among the first to hear the call was Jack Frazer. He hesitated for a time on account of his mother who was a widow, and he her only child. Their home was a lovely little farm s ia?t“d on the shores of Cargill Harbour, one of those beautiful land-locked harbours which are one of Zealand ia's chief charms. Jack’s father had been a fine type of farmer. He and his young wife had purchased this farm in its wild state, and by dint of hard and constant toil had converted it into the < ultivatcd and beautiful home that it was. One day the father left for town in his boat accompanied by his two little daughters. On their return trip a heavy storrn swept up the harbour, and the boat was swamped by the waves, and father and children perished. Great was the grief at the stricken homestead, but for her boy's sake the devoted mother kept a brave face. She gave her boy a good education, and when after a year at an agricultural college he came home to take the burden of farm management off his mother’s shoulders her joy was deep if silent. The affection between the two was a very real and strong one. Now had come a bolt from the blue. Her boy inheriting the spirit of his soldier ancestors wanted to take his part in the great struggle, and do his share to defend the Empire which he so loved. The brave mother stiff led the cry of her lonely heart and gave her free consent for her boy to follow what he thought the path of duty. Then how quickly events followed on. Jack was gone to camp, then home on final leave. How precious to the mother was every minute of that time, and oh the contrast. Youth looking forward to the future, e.iger to be in the fray, and Age dwelling in the present and dreading the time when it should he over. Mrs Frazer went to Windsor to see her boy embark, and once more Jack and his mother spent pleasant hours together, the memory of which were to comfort the lonely

mother in the dark anxious days to come. She gave him tender and loving words of counsel. Bravely she gave the last kiss, and the smile as she watched him march aboard the transport was like sunlight playing upon a grave. Then she returned to her deserted home to watch for news of her boy and to pray without ceasing for him. Jack arrived in Egypt and threw himself with ardour into their training. One night a comrade went with him into the city. There he said Come and have a drink Jack.” Now Jack had left home a teetotaller, but one night returning to camp after their heavy march over the ranges in wind and rain the rum ration had been served out. Jack longed for a cup of hot soup or hot coffee, but only rum was provided by the military authorities, and feeling the need of something he drank it. Now with his resisting power weakened by the rum ration he yielded to his mate’s entreaties and followed him into the bar. One drink was followed by another, and then with brain bemuddled and passion inflamed by alcohol he* followed a fair-haired, painted and bedizened woman to her quarters. The “strange woman” had got Jack in her clutches. Next morning thoroughly ashamed of himself, Jack resolved never to touch a drop of drink again. He kept his resolution and won golden opinion* from his officers. The dark hour of shame was almost forgotten, and Jack looked eagerly forward to winning fame and distinction in the battle front. Alas! Alas! Jack is ill, and he goes on sick parade. Questioned by the medical officer he relates his dark experience. Sadly as he looks at the bright young face the doctor gives his verdict. Not for him the path to honour and fame, but back to disgrace and the seclusion of a quarantine camp. ‘'Doctor,” falters Jack, “do you mean I am never to be well again?” “My boy,” was the reply, “it is no kindness to mislead you. You have an inc urable disease, and in its worst form.”

“What a price to pay for one night’s folly, or rather for one glass of rum,’ moaned Jack. Jack w.is sent back on a transport. Thoughts of his mother drove him nearly mad. Gone were all his lofty

dreams of winning honour and glory in defence of his country, only disgrace, ruin, and death awaited him. For a time he meditated self-destruc-tion, but the boy was no coward, and resolved to face the consequences of his folly. Remorse preyed upon his health, and left him only the shadow of his former rosy, happy self. Arrived in Zealandia, no welcome home awaited him, and his companions in misery, only the Defence launch to take them over to Quarantine Island, and Oh ! the pity of it! from his island prison Jack couM look across the harbour and see the roof of his mother’s home*. At Jack’s request, the doctor visited his mother and told her the sad story of her boy’s disgrace. Grief had weakened the boy, a sharp attack of influenza had prostrated him and the doctor told Mrs Frazer that her son was in a dangerous state of health. Jack longed to be with hts mother, and she begged the doctor to intercede with the military authorities that her boy might end his days at home*, and that she might have the sad task of nursing him. Upon the doctor representing that Jack’s span of life had nearly run out, and how he and his mother longed to spend the last few days alone, permission was given for Jack to be sent home. How he longed, yet dreaded, to see his mother; but who can fathom the depths of a mother’s love? Mrs Frazer aeceived her boy with open arms. His own little room, spotless and clean, awaited him. Everything looked so unchanged that it was hard to realise* that such dark memories were between now and the days he had lived his care free boyish life there. “Mother! mother!” sobbed Jack, “how good to feel your arms around me again, and to know that you have forgiven me.” “My only boy,” whispered his mother, “thank God I have you once more to be my own. We will forget the dark past, and look forward to a brighter future. Darling, this earth is not all. You will, through God’s mercy, leave earth’s sorrows and stains behind when you enter the new life beyond the grave.” Jack grew steadily weaker, and at last the end was very near. “Mother,” said Jack, “it was the rum ration that ruined me. Had 1

never had that 1 would not have touched the >tuff in Egypt, and had I been sober th.it woman would never have got me. It is so hard to leave you alone, dear, but I’d sooner die than live as I should have to live. Oh, mother, for my sake tell all the boys to sign tho pledge, and beg the (iovernment not to give poison to soldiers. ” lie lay exhausted, and the\ thought him gone. Once more his eyes opened, and looking at the dear face bending over him. he murmured, “My mother.” Again raising himself slightly, a great Hash of joy illuminated his face as he said, “Jesus!" then gently falling back into his mother's arms, he passed to “where beyond earth’s voices there is peace." Next morning Mrs Frazer ; nd a friend stood beside the bier vU ere Jack lay, robed for his last sleep. “I thought to have your strong young arm to lean upon in my declining years. I freely gave you up to fight for your country. Death 1 could have borne, but Oh ! this disgrace. Mary,” she said, turning to her friend, and speaking with rising passion in her tones, “Had my boy lived 1 could never have forgiven the military authorities. It is hard to lose them by a clean death on the battle Held, but to have them live victims of a horrible disease is infinitely worse. 1 never thought 1 would be thankful to know my boy was dead.” Gently she stooped and kissed his rold brow. “My baby boy; May (iod forgive the doctor who ordered you rum to your ruin !’’ Mrs Frazer thought it her duty to do all she could to save other mothers from passing through sorrow su< h as hers. Years ago her husband had had a friend, Walter Broad, who had been elected to Parliament, and was now Zealanda’s Defence Minister. In olden days he had been fond of her little son, so now she wrote to Mr Broad, recalling those long-ago days, and asking, for the sake of auld lang syne, if he would grant her an interview. He wrote expressing his pleasure at the renewal of an old friendship. and appointed a time for her to call at bis home. Tile Ministei received her kindly, and soon she was seated beside tin tire in his study, and fat »ng him across the rug. Sternly holding in

check her bitter sorrow, she briefly told him Jack’s sad story, and spoke of her great desire to shield others from a like fate. “Oh, Sir,” she said, with kindling eyes and passionate voice, “Can’t you do something to safeguard bens like Jack? Why is it that everywhere in our F.mpire politicians shiver when the brewer cracks his whip? Oh; I am ashamed of my country. When Canadian mothers discouraged their* sons from enlisting, their Minister promised to make the camps safe for the boys. He forbade liquor in Canadian camps, but as soon as they got to Fngland a wet canteen was placed in their (amp. Russia, France, and Roumania have all stopped the traffic in strong drink, but Fngland on'y does what she is compelled to do. Do you wonder that Australian mothers voted against conscription? Who* would vote for boys to be conscripted to a fate like Jack s? My old-time friend, can’t you stop the rum ration to our troops both at home and abroad? Fngland won’t respect our wishes. She does not deserve our soldiers. We send our boys to Hght a foreign enemy, not to swell the dividends of the enemy within. Admirals, generals, statesmen, shipbuilders, and doctors all tell us it is the cause of national inefficiency, hut what care the men who want to make fortunes out of their brewery shares? The only patriotism they possess is to fill the po< kets of themselves and friends. Unless Fngland shakes this incubus from her nothing but national ruin can await her. A righteous (iod will never give world dominion to a ration ruled by brewers, who will sacrifice every mother’s son to swell their own coffers, and whose every dollar is stained with blood.” The Minister was deeply moved, for he had loved the curly-headed little boy. He soothed the mother, and promised to think over what she had said. Then ne took her and left her with his wife, whose power as a comforter he well knew. Mr Broad returned to his room, but he did not get to the work whidt awaited him. His thoughts were too disturbed. He was face to face with his own awakened soul. He was not an emotional man, but the stor\ he had heard had strangely in<»v« «1 him. Haunted by the words,, “The only son of his mother, and she was a

widow," he owned that this son had been entrusted to his care. Had he failed to adequately protet t these boys from the drink evil? Was he a man to crouch in dread before the power of the liquor ring? His pride was hurt, but a nobler feeling began to stir in his heart. He walked to the window, and from it gazed upon the scene below. Zealandia’s loveliest city lay spread at hi* feet. He lifted his eyes to the loft> hills surrounding it, and he looked far awav down the harbour to the lighthouse at the entrance, and beyond that still till he cou.d catch a gleam from the blue wav s of the Pacific. The moon was rising just over the Heads, and turned the sea to living gold. As he looked upon that pathway of gold, strange unwonted thoughts rose within him of the “sea of glass with mingled fire.” Was Mrs Frazer right? Was the Eternal (iod in the crucible of suffering preparing the British F.mpire for world dominion? What might not that Empire accomplish for the world were she always loyal to the highest ideals! If she always sent out to weakc r races men like Chinese Gordon, like Lawrence and Havelock; men who spent themselves for others without a thought of reward; men whom their dark-skin-ned brothers loved and trusted. Could she but eliminate the greed for gold, and so rule and so decree that no company which exploited weaker races, which ground them down by usurious interest, should be able to claim the protection of the Union Jack. With shame he thought how for greed of gold opium had been forced on how the gigantic evil of strong drink was destroying white and black races alike, and all to fill the pockets of the ghouls who batten on the ruin and death of others. A flush of shame darkened his face when he contrasted Russia and Roumani:» with Great Britann. How the Russian Government, on the eve of a mighty war, had by a stroke of a pc i stopped the vodka traffic and u bbed itself of a princely revenue. Roumanian statesmen had given up the profits from their vineyards for the national good. What a contrast to Britain! How the liquor-sellers had howled at the prospers of reduction in their profits, and had terrified a weak Government into su! mission. Hour after hour the Minister spent in reviewing the situation. Never a

materialist, yet the influence of the spiritual touched him as never before. On his knees that night he got a glimpse of a wonderful Kmpire that should rule the world. Britain had learnt her lesson, and in the reconstruction of her Kmpire every licensed evil was swept away. She upheld the standard of “a white life for two.” She had learnt that person was more valuable than property, and protected her young people of both sexes as long as she protected their property. That night Walter Broad got a glimpse of the heavenly /is'ow, and on his knees he promised his (iod to be obedient to it as one of old had been. Next morning Cabinet met. A strong demand had been made by the people for the restriction of the liquor traffic , and Cabinet was to discuss it that morning. Once more the brewing interests in the (. abinet bloc ked the path of reform. Then the Minister of Defence said he intended to follow the example of our ally, the U.S.A., and forbid liquor to be sold or given to any man in uniform. A murmur of protest arose. Were our soldiers to be treated as children? Particularly loud in protest was the Hon. A. Cohen. Quietly Broad turned to the Premier: “Sir, I consider that a man who has financial interests in the liquor trade should refrain from voting on this matter, either in the Cabinet or in the House.” The bombshell had exploded. W ho would have expected it to come from the calm, well-balanced Minister of Defence? The Premier, with others, feared to offend “the trade” and lose i s vote; but Broad had been lifted above these conside rations. Cohen sprang to his feet: “Jir,” he spluttered, “do you mean to in sinuate that my vote is biassed on thi.; question?” “No,” said Broad, “I don’t insinuate. 1 speak plainly. If a Judge is not allowed to try a case in which he has financial interest, neither should a politician be allowed to vote against a measure which, if passed, would cut his profits down to nil. Sir, the country’s need must go before the brewer’s profits. It has been proved up to the hilt that the greatest menace t<> our efficiency is strong drink, yet the liquor trade is unwilling to give up even half an hour

a day of its trading. Throughout the British Kmpire not a liquor-seller has been patriotic enough to say, ‘Don’t consider us; do what is best for the nation at this crisis.’ There is not a single reason for giving drink to our soldiers. All expert opinion agrees that even in moderation it is harmful, and every soldier and every civilian also is better without it. Sir, I claim the right of a free hand to deal with this matter as regards the soldiers.” Much discussion followed, hut in the end he got his free hand. Were it refused, he would appeal to the people, and Cabinet knew thu country was with him in this matter. The struggle was won, but he returned wearied to his home’. There he sought his wife’s presence. Quiet and undemonstrative as he* was, not a man to wear his heart upon his sleeve, bi his wife was enshrined in his heart of hearts, as fondly worshipped as on the day when he wooed and won her among the forest trees around her home. Briefly he told her what had transpired, and spoke of his resolution to guard the boys committed to his care by the loyal, loving mothers of the Dominion. Fondly kissing him, she murmured, “How proud lam of you! How 1 prayed that you might take a firm stand for right!” The abuse of the trade was heaped upon him, and for a time he was the best hated man in Zealandia. His was not the winning personality that attracts all hearts, but as the years went on Zealandia learnt to value the man who had been true* to her best interests, and trusted him fully. He lived to see the total prohibition of the liquor trade in his loved isles, and when he passed to higher service, it was amid the mourning of a whole Dominion.