The Washington times., 1918-02-02
To My Sweetheart
SOLDIER
Every Girl Should Read
These Wonderful
Letters.
TWELFTH LETTER.

- HAAA1cN AAOAC N1~~N-~-AAs
than II an inaugural ball or a COM
ing-out party Lad been given in our
behalf. | find that the old-fashioned
traditions still obtain in these small
places, and ones social position Is
reckoned by ones religious standing.
And so it was through the medium
Of the Westinghouse that we burst
into prominece-exactly how high
We rose, or how low we sunk. in the
social scale will leave you to Judge.
1 fancy Your verdict will depend
mainly on your sense of humor.
aided perhaps by your knowledge of
the Bible. The minister made his
expected call! l came in one day
and found him sitting before the fire
place with my angelic fadiesl He
was balancing cup OF tea on one
knee, and looking as frankly miser-
able as man can possibly look. who
is unaccustomed to refreshments
served in any way except placed
squarely on a table before him. Be
tween gulps Of hot tea. which made
his Adams apple rise up In protest.
he mentioned Red Cross and foreign
missions, and weekly prayer meet
ings, and sewing circles, with a
series Of Jerks which left US helpless
in the way Of answers. / know We
finally promised to lend a hand in
/ everything, and 1t was through going
to prayer meeting that the trouble
began.
Last night, It happened. and want
to write quickly. before we are sum
moned before a church council. for
disturbing the peace. Your mother
! and mine and walked sedately up
I the churchyard path. as the bells
were calling to weekly prayer! The
general with his sergeant was wait
| ing at the door and we made quite
an imposing line as we marched in
and took seats in the front row. Our
mothers bowed sweetly in prayer,
with that wonderful feeling Of de-
tachment which loses sight Of time
and place, and recognizes only the
nearness of God! No so, your wife,
l gazed frankly around, and even as
gaZed the back door opened, and
my eyes were transfxed at the sight
/ Of Nanny coming slowly In. She
paused q moment, and then caught
sight Of me, and her dear old eyes
lighted as they always do. A worthy
steward OF the Lord. at the door,
waved her to a seat, but she brushed
him aside as though he were a worm
In her path, and said very audibly,
Use going where my Baby-chile is"
So she marched majesticdlly up the
aisle, swaying fiercely back and
forth, and planting her feet with that
indisputable evidence Of moral turpi-
tude, which has long been my envy
and admiration. A chair was vacant
behind me and she sank into that.
but not before she had laid a hand
lovingly on my shoulder, and said In
a loud whisper, Use here. too.
Honey"
Under the tittering confusion of
Mammy's entrance, the minister,
somewhat hampered by embarrass-
ment-said, "We will open our meet
ing by singing, Lord Dismiss Us
With Thy Blessing"
A deacon rose and addressed the
minister. 81 think. Brother Minis
ter. we'll leave that hymn for the
close. And now let's all join heartily
in singing 'Blest Be the Tie That
Bindsn" / have two soul brothers
now-Sammy Jones and this un'
known gentleman Of the stout and
fearles heart! Everyone sang, and
then the minister, after making sew
eral futtering inroads upon the
Scriptures. announced that the
meeting was open for discussion OF
question. A dead silence reigned-
you know the kind. where one mind
waits on another. and suspense hoV;
ers over all-but finally creakins
took place behind me, and felt that
Nanny was maJestically rising tc
her feet. The silence that reignec
before was as a noisy tumult COM
pared to the amazed calm which
greeted her movements.
With uplifted finger. 2Hd stern
gaze directed toward tine minister
she asked In tones of accusation
Who and what was Ahinedab?' Noi
Only once, Dul lNlCt' uiu ti'Ne
question ring through the room.
can't exactly say that the minister
law dropped, because well-bred peO'
pie of today do not express astonlSh'
ment In that manner-but ! do know
that he looked as though he enyieC
Jonah his complete and swift retire
ment In the bosom Of the whale.
After a reasonable length o:
time, and signing deeply-with ih'
air of one who has done her duty
and can do no more-Mamny SAM
back majestically in her chair.
Coming home, l tooN Mammy'
dear arm, and We cOmmuned TO
gether. Dear Nanny" ] said, "wh!
did you inquire about Abinedab 10
night? There are 50 many swce
and familiar things in the BlDle
why did you bring up somethln;
that no one knows anything about?
That's It, hOney-chile." the fearless
woman answered. What everybod!
knows about we don't have TO tackle
It's when there's something nObod,
knows that we ought to set up To !
square, and look II I'm the eye
And so, beloved, such was our en-
trance into local fame! Shall W
be reckoned sacred or profare?
You. perhaps, know who or wha