The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-06
To My Sweetheart
SOLDIER
Every Girl Should Read
These Wonderful
Letters.
SIXTEENTH LETTER


Last night l had a most wonder
full dream. 1t was hardly dream,
it was more a vision. / seemed to
be wide-eyed, and know had
been praying God to send me some
comfort. Some spirit Of hope to
help me in this loneliness and fear
which SO sorely Expresses me.
This was the answer to my prayer:
You came to me quite naturally
in your everyday manner and with
your everyday smile, and you took
my hand and led me a long way,
very far, of. And the mountains
grew higher and the clouds were
near and mighty, and now and
then loud noises broke and rever-
berated and rolled on and away.
And, finally, before US rose one i'm
mense, stern hill-round in shape,
and like a great crater-and seeth-
ing and roaring came from the
top, and angry flames shot up into
the sky. And there, far above, as
on a mighty throne, sat the Divine
Presence, in majestic robes and
with a scepter in his hand, and
over and above him was a blood
red banner, and We could REID the
words emblazoned there, Any will
be done, Ny kingdom come, on
earth as It is in heaven"
! chung to you in awe and ter
ror, but your face was slight
with great understanding, and
the flaming grew in violence, and
the blood-red sparks flew into the
heavens and formed a million
stars in the crown Of the Mighty
Presence. And knew at last
that what I saw was the Furnaces
Of the Lord-the melting pot Of
God! As we watched all the arm
les of the earth marched up in
solemn file! Alexander with his
selfish greed-the Crusaders with
their cross held high, and their
garments of sackeloth-Luther
with his religious rapture and his
band Of Christian martyrs-Na-
poleon with his mighty sword
George Washington and his no
BILE patriots-Abraham Lincoln,
striking the keynote Of freedom
for all mankind! Ali these
locking their adversaries in NOR
tai eombat-some with faces in
spired by zeal, others distorted
by deadly hatred and selfish pas
sion-all passing up together and
one by one into the melting
pot below.
And then came the armies Of to-
day-rocking and reellng-:n bit
terest combat Clinehed In deadly
embrace they fell at last with
cries and screams into the yaEn-
ing cauldron. As I looked rooted
to the ground and speschles-you
took your place among the rest,
and with a glorious look of sacri-
nee and conquest, you lifted your
sword high upon your breast, and
disappeared-and Just as the
agony seemed too great, ! saw =
mighty multitude rising up from
the other sideI Their garments
were beautiful and bright, and
their faces were TRANSPORTED, and
the blood and greed and passion
was washed away, and they greet
ed one another as brothers and
walked lovingly on, and in the far
distance / could see green fields
and still waters, and the banner
of God foated over all. And I
seemed to know and understand
that every great conflict the world
has ever had, has been but the
melting pot Of God, and that the
Mighty Presence which broods
above and over all, is tending the
fire, and tempering the metal, and
bringing forth gold for his Eternal
Kingdom.
So it is in this great conflict
the sacrifice of life is not in vain,
the cruelty and ravRge, the suffer-
ing and horror, will not be in vain.
From the ashes of the fire will rise
phOeniX-like a better world. and
beyond stretch the peaceful fields,
and the quiet waters, and Gods
banner hangs high with its blood
red challenge-"My Will Be Done.
My Kingdom Come. on Earth as it
is In Heaven"
| wish every soldiers mother
and every soldiers wife could have
seen my vision. In this awful
agony of being brave it would give
them the solemn comfort Of know
ing that their sons and husbands
are helping the great business Of
reconstructing a universe of peace
and democracy, and after the melt
ing pot has consumed its dross
and given out it's gold, we shall
find the sacrifice has given unto
us Beauty for Ashes, the oil Of
joy for mourning, and the garment
of praise for the spirit of heayi-
ness"
Beloved, l am glad your sword
is held high against your breast.
In humility and faith and great
love. | lift my hand in answering