The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-30
To My Sweetheart
SOLDIER
Every Girl Should Read
These Wonderful
Letters.
NINTH LETTER

Dearest:
This is q wonderful day! Your
first letter lies against my hearth
What am that should deserve the
love Of a man Like you7 I feel as
though ! had climbed high hill, and
looked at the Aurora Borealls Of
your soul. Your words are wonder
full and so brave. You try to lead
my faltering feet W to the wind
swept space where you stand serene.
But oh! l am so afraid, 50 afraid
The cannon. and the deadly shell,
seem to me but instruments Of death
and torture, while you. with you-
fine courage. look upon them a.
weapons in the Hand Of God, bring
ing about-freedom for all the world.
How wonderful It Is that the star
Of Faith and Hope shines so clearly,
as you say, before the striving sol
diers Of France Perhaps the minis
ter in our little church was thinking
Of that this morning In his sermon
He said You must never lose sight
OF Your star. as you travel Lies
winding ways-Look up, and on, in
earnest faith; 70 shall you Sc the
King in His beauty. and behold the
Lamb that Is very far or"
try to keep my star bright before
mel I try to realize that only as
my light Is trimmed and burning.
shall I be worthy to be a soldiers
daughter and a soldiers wife" But
OH beloved, sometimes my star
seems very high up and very far on.
and 1t casts long shadows through
my tears
I have not told you about our little
church here, and our minister. The
church is just diagonally across the
way, and it is such a quiet little
place, with its sacred graveyard
lying at once side. Some day I am
going to visit the tombstones and see
who the brave souls are who have
fought the good fight, and finished
the faith. The minister / have seen
but afar, but / feel in my bones he
will call shortly. He Is such pain
fully homely man, that one feels he
went into the ministry as a last re-
sort. He has a wife, and the Lord
has otherwise rewarded him BY CIV
ing him twelve childreni couldn't
believe they all belonged TO one fam
lily, but Frank-who knew the history
OF everyone In the village after We
had been here twenty-four hours
says the whole twelve belong to the
minister! No wonder he breaches
about the Star of Faith and Hope-I
should think he would pray also
that mama might drop down from
Heaveni
The minister's wife Is seldom seenl
They say she sometimes falls into .
back seat in church, but hurries out
again almost before the service u
over. How busy she must be! Just
think of the one item Of keeping
twelve faces clean! And as for
darning all the stockings! Ny mind
cannot encompass that herculean
task
All my little items Of news seem
50 frivolous in comparison with the
great issues you are facing. But
must occupy myself with these same
frivolous details or else believe
should lose my reason thank you
for your brave EFFORT to hearten and
cheer me, but my soul shrfnks at
the nameles dangers which surround
7ou. while sit here in my garden
,afe and protected on every side
by tranquility and
peace. As I write the children IN
he chapel across the street are
singing with shrill high voices, the9r
gospel hymns The words ring out
n the quiet air-"Abide With Me-
Fast Falls the EVentide-" Oh! Be-
owed, my heart takes up the refrain
md sends its lonely message across
he seas. How hard life isl How
liffcult to understand! And yet =
ny rebenious soul asks the Same old
question, your answer comes back
o me in your letter Of today
Doing ones duty as one sees Il.
helping wherever one can. oeins
patient, loyal, and brave, dying Vhen
mes time comes What a wonderful
hing Life is!"
GOODNIGHT, BELOVED.