The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-02-20
To My Sweetheart
SOLDIER
Every Girl Should Read
These Wonderful
Letters.

ehee Win hed cross etocAlhgl
Ny sweater with its little note
brought me such a nice reply that
] was encouraged TO try again.
This time I'put a gold piece in
the very toe Of stocking with
''best wishes and . prayer for
strength and courage" and today
came back the answer There was
no name signed, but ] have the
feeling that some day | shall hear
and know more Of the writer.
"Kind Lady Hopey
THE nice stocking with it's
golden toe was appeFtioned to me,
in the general distribution. ! have
kept the slip Of paper containing
your prayer for my strength and
courage, and give q grateful
prayer in return for the kind heart
which prompted the message But
! put the gold piece back In the
toe, and added one Of my own, and
passed the Stockings on to a poor
devil who needed both stockings
and money more than l do. For
tunately or rather unfortunately
II have more money than ! know
what to do with. Money has
wonderful power II used rightly,
but to q young fellow like myself,
1t makes the downward path too
easy. and on looking hack ! feel
that the one act in my life OF
which ! can be proud, was my
signing up at the beginning Of
the war. Yellow stFeaks can't.
live very long in this kind Of q
life, so near all the time to death
and eternity, and the good In a
fellow has awful growing pains
trying to break through, II ! ever
come back home I'm hoping ] can
look my sainted mothers picture
in the face once more. There's q
girl ever there in New York that
lost. Her name is Esther
Strong. II you ever should chance
to meet her, you would know her
because her eyes will look right
through you and then on up to
heayenl Tell her, please, that /
shall keep my word never to
write or see her again, and that
] am trying to be worthy the trust
she once gave me. 1t may seem
all rot for me to write you like
this, but when q fellow lies in
these trenches, the cut and dried
rules Of life fade away, and the
craving for a little human sym.
PATTY wFings a fellows heart.
lnclosed is one hundred dollors,
Please use 1t for me in any way
that will most help some diseour-
aged Sammy. Give 1t to the Red
Cross or put more gold pieces in
the toes Of stockings. do what
/ can over here, but ] have not
much chance, and besides a wOna-
an knows best anyhow. ! haven't
any woman belonging to me, so
if now and then there is a prayer
lying loose in your heart, you can
just label IL for the Sammy who
meant well, but somehow couldn't
make it,
"Your obedisnt and grateful"
Beloved, IL makes me heartsiek
to think ] don't know this lads
name, and II seems almost hope
less ever to find out any more
about him, unless he should choose
of himself to write again. But
somehow / feel hat either he or
Esther Strong will some time en-
ter our lives. Il am so happy
over the hundred dollars. There
is such crying need all the time
for money. I believe I will dis
tribute it a. personal gifts, and /
am sure the influence of the spirit
which prompted him to send 1t,
will be far-reaehing. Did you be-
heve your wife could knit a sock
which would so go out into the
world as "bread upon the waters ?"
] wish / could get word to this
soldier that the prayer he asked
for Is already his. Not alone;
rising from my heart, but from
the hearts Of thousands Of wom-
en- who are praying for just such
as she, and who are IGNORING just
such a. he. Hunt for him, be-
loved, and for all others VINO
"meant well, but didn't quite
make IT," and give them this mes
sage from the women back home.
For yourself my husband, I give
you all that your heart asks Of
mine, in full measure Of devotion,
and oh! 30 much more, 50 much
more.
YOUR OWN.