one can unless he
has seen it displayed, as I have, in many instances," said Captain
Favor.

"For instance, there is a little story of 'The Hero of the Guns,' as
he was called. His name was Mattia, and though only twelve years old,
he was determined to go to war and fight for France. This boy had only
his mother left, his two brothers being already in the war and his
father having fallen a victim to the Prussians when they raided the
village in which Mattia's parents then lived.

"For a long time the lad had been studying a map of France until he
possessed a very clear idea of the territory held by the Germans, as
well as that where his countrymen were fighting. He talked over these
things with the old men of the village and learned much from them.

"One day when he thought he knew the country well enough, this little
patriot ran away from home and was well on his way to join his
brothers when his absence was discovered.

"Mattia's mother appealed to the police but it was not until the
following day that he was found and returned to his home. He had gone
more than twenty miles on his journey when the police got him.

"'Unhappy child!' cried the boy's mother when he had been restored to
her. 'Why did you do this? Did you not know the danger into which you
were running? You might have been killed by German raiders or taken
captive and carried to their own country and made to work, with barely
enough food to keep you alive.'

"'My mother,' answered the boy bravely, 'when France is in danger,
everyone, boy or man, should go to her aid just as my brothers have
done, and as my father did, and gave up his life for his country. I,
too, must go.'

"'Yes, but they were men while you are but a child, Mattia.'

"'Other mothers' sons have gone to war, mother; other mothers' sons
will never come back. They have been shot in the war.'

"Mattia's mother, however, refused to give her consent, and the little
patriot was obliged to remain at home, yet with his purpose of
fighting for France still firmly fixed in his mind. One day he would
go, he told himself, and one day he would show them that even a child
could do a man's part.

"Early in the following spring Mattia's mother grew ill and died. The
little fellow grieved for her until his face grew wan and pale. He was
now left in the care of an uncle who was not very kind to him. After
a month had passed in which Mattia had continued his study of the war
map, he determined