Norwich bulletin., 1918-06-15

Clothes Came Home From Camp To- 1 day.. It has been my experience, with | many other mothers, to see my boy 1 SO from home dressed in his civilian 1 clothes and in a few weeks the parcel post delivery returns the dark blue serge suit, also his collar, necktie, cuff ] buttons, etc.. all so familiar to his person, but their owner is absent.
 Again in a few months we are de- lighted to have "limited'' visit from cur son, but this time he appears with a military uniform, of the olive drab.
 The next time he sends home his suitcase from camp containing many | little gifts. and remembrances he has l received while in training and for which he has no room to take them :! overseas" A letter accompanies the | last returns he has to send. saying, | Mother, just put them away for me till I come back"
 Yes, we do put them away, in his room, and Tn his trunk; but not with out some tears and llearta ches, and we wonder when he will see them again.
 On the eve of his departure from these shores he writes a farewell let
 ter, making several requests, plans he has made he wishes fulfilled, and I'thus and so, in case I never come l back. One of his deepest regrets, that he must leave parents and friends, in so short a space of time, not being able to receive from them I a parting word. He leaves that fare-
 well message. which must be censored
 and retained for five days, then al- flowed to the postal service, and when 'l Mother reads those precious lines sine
 knows her boy is on the high seas
 many miles away.
 About a week later there comes
 glad tidings, jusI a plain postal card, but bearing a red cross, with few printed words, ''The ship on which I sailed has arrived safely''-wfth our soldier boys signature. This card he
 had signed before leaving port. and ] retained by the Red Cross society un- { til the cable communicated they had reached Q foreign shore.
 Later on a letter comes dated two
 weeks or more ago. written on the voyage, telling of many interesting ln- l cidents, both to the soldier in his new experience and to his mother whe
 reads it. As the young American sol 2 dier approaches the harbor of an old ] but new country to him. he sees g v lighthouse at the early dawn of morn g ing; but it is monday before they are e close to the green hills of Trance. As \ the soldiers are landed, and they UlE II0IGA SOll, lOI l11C III . . time, unfamiliar sights and scenes art I all about them.
 The little children gaze upon ths t new corners, though they see them of h ten, and Uncle. Sans soldiers are nt S longer a curiosity to them but th' y little "Frenchies'' are dressed so queer that they interest America" J The women wear white caps ol r their heads, which are very clean am n neat; they, too. pause to witness ant
 welcome these troops that have com
 to help their devastated country. ant
 which vast sacrifices have already been made of the men in youth an, brine of life.
 So grateful are the French wome, a and children that they give of thei h beautiful wild flowers to tour boys if 3s a token of good will and friendship
 as they enter upon the coast. with l. purpose to do their bit, to help ''mak the world a decent place to live in.
 As every mother. who has soldie ,- boy lover there" and her heart
 filed with anxiety for his welfare an il safety, may their consolation be a ,e nine, if sacrifice it must be-his las
 words as he has courage to say:
 Mother I am ready to meet what
 ever is before me"
 a Loving greetings to every soldier er mother.