The central record. (Lancaster, Ky.) 18??-current, 1918-12-19
Suggestion for Mothers Letter.

Suggestion for Mothers Letter.
Son Of Mine:
They're sending YOU home TO me nj
last Through all these months Of
waiting and longing I've been wearinl
star for you and holding my head
high and thinking wonderful thoughts
about you I've watched you through
ocean mlsts and dreamed anxious
dreams Yes and cried a little. too.
but not when people could see.
And now you're coming homo Oh.
IL seems too good TO be true I've Jus,
read your letters again. They say 50
much more than you ever thought
when you were writing them. Just
happenlngs-that's all most Of the
things you wrote about were 10 you,
But 10 me they said you were facing
the biggest thing In life. facing II
bravely. as should want my son TO
face II. You were Offering your body
you or me or America.
when ! wrote 10 you I tried 20
write cheerful. encouraging letters
because ! DID not want you 10 20 into
battle feeling that | was holding you
back from the biz sacrifice. It's only
now, when the nghting Is over. that !
can let down little and be just your
mother, Just the woman who loves
you better than anything else In the
world and Is So glad TO know you're
coming back 20 her that she doesn't
care who sees her cry.
Perhaps for some Of the boys who
have stood with you so finely through
these trials the fighting is not yet all
over. The fighting | mean is that be
tween man and himself. and for
many Of them this will be the hardest
battle Of all During the long days
and evenings Of waiting before they
can start for home thoughts VIII creep
into their minds which Will be hard 10
resist. There will be times after all
these months Of action when the long
ing for change and for the companion
ship Of women may lead them into as
sociatlons which will spoil their home
coming and cause them shame and hu-
milintlon, and even perhaps make
them unit TO receive the love that
awaits them here
You, dearest boy, are Just as human
as your comrades and feelings like
these may come 10 you too. aoDt
ask you 10 crush them. They are nat
ural, and they only prove that war has
failed 10 dry up the well spring Of
your emotions. ! ask you only 10 rec
ognize them when they come and to
control them with the fine strength
you have gained while fighting for the
ideals and principles OF America. just
remember that many Joyous years OF
life are ahead OF you and that the risk
81 spelling them and the love that win
Nh them is too tremendous TO run for
n short hour Of seeming pleasure.
Many of the boys who viii come
home with you have no mothers TO
write 10 them, Some OF them may
think that no one cares what they do.
But somebody does care. America
cares. And the girls they win marry
some day care And, oh. the difference
II will make In their lives II they will
just remember that there Is always
somebody, alwaysl
Help them to remember. Help them
10 come home clean and fine. Don't
let them spoil everything now. They
have been 50 splendid. II you think
this letter will help them give Il TO
them. II they have no mothers let me
be their mother until they lave come
back and taken the high places that
await them here. Tell them TO write
to me. How l should treasure their
letters
And, Of course, you will write TO me.
just say that you understand--that
you know why have written this LETT
ter. Then ! can walt months-yes.
even years-knowing that you wills
come home 20 me as fine and clean as
you were when l sent you away 10
camp 10 long ago. MOTHER