The Washington times., 1918-02-01
TO My Sweetheart
SOLDIER

Ny Own Beloved two n,oit.
era have been busy al day. ard a
service Of love FOR rne-fh1ir ~
worthy daughterl Il al be ran r.vS-
terlously this morninr. Fir1f
heard them whispering tofefbef. ~
then Frank was caI'ei - Sn1 ~
o.nea the whispering n such
nosrse masculine way that / could
not ne,p hearing that he vas . ro
u on ne tnird hoor, and bring down
two respective packing trunksl The
plot thickened. and must rnv ]
hung around, frankly trying 10 zst
the next clue. But Is Soon a. nv
tWo ladies' saw me, they put On sIIch
q nutterinR air Of innocence and -
erecx and they asked me 80 tsnderlr
II l didn't think 3 little walk IN -,
omen air would Be good for me. tk1f
hadn't the heart 70 spoil their g1eSl
little mystery. So went, and when
returned, what 3 uonderfrl our-
! prise awaited mel The bed anf slI
the chairs n ny room were r,'o5
high with ireasnre 1Ifls from ont -
@5cEeno1ss Of thoss Packine tzurln:
Wonderful silks and I1ceg. gathered
together and laid aside. and I1Vod
through many yearsI Fans, bought
IN travel from every end of tha
earthi Scarfs and nhaWIs, and Ror,
gcous pieces Of jeWelry-al gins e
mementos long loved and treasured
by these blessed ladies. Not thing
but what held sacred nssociati11-
perhaps Of sweetheart or husband.
or Of faithful friend. or maybe 81
little sweet baby handsl
As looked about hardly lmouin1
how 70 realize the wonder Of src1
giftsi I saw my two ladies' 11I|4
watching ne behind TIE hE1ginE5 q
the window. Their dear faces Wora
transdgsIEed With love. huk their eye
were bKi~ht with tears. ! threw nv
self first into one pair Of arms. En1
then into the other, and we an crI11
together. Wasn't It perfectly won.
derful Of them 70 give me 81 thsiT
| treasures3
The rarest gift from my motkal
was an India shawl ! suppose it's
very valuable, and ] touched L With
awe. It has every color IN TIE raIn.
bow-goftened and mellowed, and
made beautiful By mystic We4Yins.
When vou come home. and the war >
over. and hearts are happy cncs
more. you VII take me - some
grand bah, and / shall wear ny
shawl for an evening wrap, and y1u
viii kiss my hand, and look At ne
with awe, and say, Sid ! marry z
grand duchess. or just plain HOPS
Deering q
The sweetssf xift from your moth
er q series Of your early lifetime
pictures. framed and all N . row.
The first ooe'is iuss you. . We bahy,l
and your eyes are big and frightened.
and ! know. you would rather CT
than do anylhing else The next
one, you are lying on little mat,
and, oh. how you are kicking ana
croWing! And then. comes little
soldier suit, and your hand proudly
holds your tiny sword, and my heart
| 6ives a uueer throb. for-yOu sscri 70
sav as y0g look ont over DC wgrlds
sWe MI fghi. together, you ard r.
we vii, surely conquer, you ard l.
Oh, NY beloved, gas Il ordained ray
back II those habv days that Jou
were 70 Be n1y AiRn, and vas -
BE your girl, and you would taka
your baby sword -groT1i biz ard
with dcsslly proportions-and 90 out
into IL orid 70 fight for it freo-
dom, wLlle stayed at hcme 70 weep
and to waltz
And then came yoHr sciiooldsv MS
lures 50 proud and manly. Ard
YOUR Erst edress-up ricture. ghero
your bands and feet look as II they
loneed disappear and didn't kno6
howl I'd you would give aryth;ng
70 exchange your dress Buit for .
pair OF overalla! And then your col
Iege picture, with the high prrposa
shining an over you and the knovl
edge Of world 70 conquer lighting
nm your fnee. There the pictures
end. The last picture Of you Is IN
NV heart, forever engraved By .
lightning fash Of fate Il Is the pie.
tnre Of YOU as you bade me good-byi
The picture Of your dear ewes look
ing into nine-of your dear v0lco
saving, Little connrnds, little soldier
wifs'Cit Is the picture, Of your swim
salute. as you swung into hDs and
marched away.
Goodnight, my husband. Ny room
Is full Of treasures. Ny heart q mn
Of you. YOUR OWN.