The Carlisle independent., 1918-12-12
Suggestion for Mothers Letter.

Suggestion tor Mothers Letter. Son of Mine:
 They're sending you home to me at last. Through all these months of waiting and longing I've been wearing star for you and holding my head high and thinking wonderful thoughts about you. I've watched you through ocean mists and dreamed anxious dreams. Yes, and cried little, too but not when people could see.
 And now you're coming home Oh. 1t seems too good to be true. I've just read your letters again. They say SC much more than you ever thought when you were writing them. Just happenings 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 I should want my son to face it. You were offering your body and your soul for thing bigger than you or me or America.
 When l wrote to you I tried to write cheerful encouraging letters, because did not want you to go inte battle feeling that was holding you back from the big sacrifice. It's only now, when the fighting is over, that [ ean let down a little and be just your. mother, just the woman who loves Fou better than anything else fin the, world and Is so glad to know you're- toming back to her that she doesn't- ,are who sees her cry.
 Perhaps for some of the boys whe> have stood with you so finely through ihese trials the fighting is not yet all ,ver. The fighting I mean is that be- sween man and himself, and for many of them this will be the hardest battle of all. During the long days md evenings of waiting before they ,an start for home thoughts will creep nto their minds which will be hard 10 resist. There will be times after all hese months of action when the long ng for change and for the companion Ihip of women may lead them into as- sQciations which will spoil their home coming and cause them shame and hu- initiation, and even perhaps make hem unfit to receive the love that awaits them here.
 You, dearest boy, are just as human IS your comrades, and feelings like .hese may come to you too. I don't isk you to crush them They are nat lral, and they only prove that war has failed to dry up the we'll spring of Tour emotions. 1 ask you only to rec )gniZe them when they come and to control them with the fine strength Fou have gained while fighting for the deals and principles of America Just remember that many joyous years Of fife are ahead of you and that the risk of spelling clem and the love that will 6ll them Is too tremendous to run for a short hour of seeming pleasure.
 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 1t will make in their lives if they will just remember that there is always somebody, always
 Help them to remember. Help them to come home clean and fine Don't let them spoil everything now They have been so splendid. If you think this letter will help them give 1t to them. If they have no mothers let me be their mother until they have come back and taken the high places that await them here. Tell them to write to me. How I should treasure their lettersl
 And, of course. you will write to me. Just say that you understand-that you know why I have written this let ter. Then 1 can wait months-yes. even years-knowing that you will come home to me as fine and clean as you were when I sent you away to camp so long ago. MOTHER