Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-12-15

mere Is a lettcr-a wonderful let
ter from a mother to her soldier boy
in France. And The Bee wants every
mother in Omaha to read it and
when she has the spirit OF it write to
her own boy across the ocean. If
she hasn't boy of her own "over
there" then she can write to some
other mothers boy.
There was never a time when the
boys were so greatly in need of let
tiers from home as now. When the
battle was on the soldier had little
time or opportunity to let his mind
wander to things unwholesome-he
gas too busy with what was then
me sraveset problem of the hour,
winning the war.
But now it is differept and the
woman who wrote this beautiful
letter is not the only one who real
ICES that the real danger to our
boys is greater today than when the
the battle was raging. Then there
was only the danger Of being killed.
Now--but read this mothers let
ter. She tells it more beautifully
than we can. Then read the appeal
from Raymond B. Fosdick, chair
man OF the commission on train
ing camp activities. who wants the
overseas forces to be bound to home
with that strongest tie OF all-loVe.
Her Soldier Boy.
"Son OF Mine:
They're sending you home to me
atlast. Through all these months of
Whiting and longing I've been wear
ing as.star sfor you and holding my
headshigh and thinking wonderful
thoughts about you. I've watched
you through ocean mists and dream
ed anxious dreams. Yes, and cried
little, too, but not when people could
see.
"And now you're coming home,
Oh, it seems too good to be true,
I've just read your letters again.
They say so much more than you
ever thought when you were writ
ing them. Just happenings-that's
all most. OF the things you wrote
about were to you, But to me they
said you were facing the biggest
thing In life, facing it bravely, as |
should want my son to face it. You
were offering your body and your
soul for thing bigger than you or
me or America.
Don't think me silly or senti-
mental because | say these things.
Just remember that while you were
foing through that fire and terror
\ had to sit here and smile. | had
to try to be as brave as you, so that
you shouldn't be ashamed Of me.
When / wrote to you | tried to write
cheerful, encouraging letters, be-
cause | did not want you to go into
battle feeling that | was holding you
back from the big sacrifice. It's
only now, when the fighting is over,
that | can let down little and be
Just your mother, just the woman
Who loves you better than anything
else in the world and is 50 glad to
khoW you're coming back to her
That she doesn't care who sees her
ssry. p;n,+ Mot Over
perhaps for some of the boys
who have stood with you so finely
through these trials the fighting is
not yet all over The fighting |
mean is that between a man and
himself, and for many of them this
will be the hardest battle of all. Dur
ing the long days and evenings Of
waiting before they can start for
Hbme thoughts will creep into their
minds which will be hard to resist.
3dlere will be times after all these
months of action when the longing
for change and for the companion
Ship of women may lead them into
associations which will spoil their
Akmecoming and cause them shame
and humiliation and even perhaps
ulake them unfit to receive the love
ffat awaits them here.
You, dearest boy, are just as
Adnana as your comrades, and feel
ings like these may come to you
1oo.% Tdon't ask you to crush them.
They are natural, and they only
prove that war has failed to dry up
theswenspsing of your emotions. |
ask you only to recognize them
when they come and to control them
with the fine strength you have
gained while fighting for the ideals
and principles OF America. Just re.
member that many joyous years of
liiesarc ahead of you and that the
fisk Of spelling them and the love
that will fill them is too tremendous
to run for short hour of seeming
pleasure.
Somebody Cared
MANY of the boys who will come
home with you have no mothers to
write to them. Some of them may
think that no one cares what they
do. But somebody does care.
America cares. And the girls they
will marry some day care. And, oh,
the difference it make in their lives
if they will just remember that there
Is always somebody, alwaysl
Help them to remember Help
them to come home clean and fine.
Don't let them spoil everything
now. They have been so splendid.
you think this letter will help
Them give it to them. If they have no
mothers let me be their mother I'M
til the have come back and taken
the high places that await them
here. Tell them to write to me. How
should treasure their letters!
And, of course, you will write to
me. Just say that you understand