Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1918-07-24

out IN those SWEL DeautlIul years,
brought to the heart of my boy the
great brave deed of yielding to- his
country's call--an enlisted man, nine
teen years old in event of war with
this country.
Think not, my brave man-child, that
while the mother heart of me Rugged
the thought that could not give you
up, for you were not Of military age,
that in all these very first moments of
decision, / was not very proud of you
and your strength of character. And
through all the months of camp life
at Fort Myer, Va, that my heart did
not keep pace with every bugle call.
And when the third chevron ap-
peared upon the dear sleeve, my ser
geant son, felt my heart bursting
with pride. And, as we walked to-
gether through the streets Of Wash
ington, I know my step was lighter
and my eye brighter than for some
time past.
Dearest, there is an old legend
which runs this wise: At creations
dawn, an angel came down to earth
to look for something to carry back 20
heaven. Three things attracted the
messenger-a bouquet of sweet flow
ers, the smile of a little boy, and
mothers love. But when he reached
the pearly gates, the flowers had with
cred, the baby's smile vanished, and
and only the mothers love remained
the same. And all the angels ex-
claimed: there is nothing pure enough
fo~ heaven but mothers love.
And so, dear heart, while you are
away Somewhere" SO far, this dis
lance is only in miles, for our hearts
are united and | have never lost the
sound of your dear voice close to my
ear in parting, "Mudgie, | am going
away-a long way off, but | shall
never be away from you"
All through the lonely nights, that
rings through the darkness, and | feel
you near.
Sweetheart, you know Nudge is
not made of the stuff that makes her
soldier man feel weak, when he is so
bravely doing his bit And | love to
think of our little heart message: "Cy-
ril you keep smiling and Mudgie's
heart echoes back q smile" And l
grow stronger and the Blrebird says,
"Heaven is where you and I kiss each
other.
Listen, till | tell you tne of orr
little secrets. Sometimes when |
meet the men who do not go, l make
no sign, but thank: God in my heart
they are not mine, and of me born.
You and | are sensible enough to
realize that It's not d bed Of untrou-
bled thoughts, this separation, are we
not? For there is pain in most great
events of life. When you were born,
way down in that little old Kentucky
home, Mother suffered pangs of tor
ture, but that was as naught when
they brought me the beautiful baby
boy, to bless our home.
And, thus I can only liken the Civ
ing of you to this, your country's call,
another of those great suffering
pangs But out of it comes the crystal
thought of the mans whole purpose to
do his very best for Freedom, without
a murmur. All, putting aside the
mother grief, | repoice that in so
great crisis my heart should have
given to the country, are heroic soul
all that ! possess; who is making his
mothers faith in his young manhood,
absolutely fearless. And she stands
at your shoulder in this war, and right
in your heart, always. | am standing
dear, for your sake mostly, to help
women of the good old U. S. A. have
only this one thing TO do-to stand
ready, steady of heart and hand, to
help our brave men, with all the dear
and splendid allies to win the war.
l will enclose the clipping from
Paris, dated May %, which speaks Of
4bo Npthp;.'c 1ot+nr opS ca m, writ
ing you Sons letter" which hope
you'll receive safely.
I have Just received card from
Camp Dix, from enc of the draft men
we sent away two weeks ago-an
Italian with the proper spirit. He
writes, 81 don't mind the hard work
in camp for | want to get over there
to lick them brutes" This is his own
vernacular, but It's the spirit, is It
,o+2 Ard ar.;,, CIV ,,.;1l Goo. I,o