The Washington times., 1918-02-08
To My Sweetheart
SOLDIER
Every Girl Should Read
These Wonderful
Letters.
EIGHTEENTH LETTER.

wish 1 had the gold tipped pen
OF the Recording Angel. that 1
might write with it tonight, Never
has there been a letter so hard
TO write, and never one so utterly
full Of love! 1 try to close NV
eyes and believe by very force OF
longing that you are near! That
your hands hold me, your voice
comforts me, your heart under
stands! But the empty air mocks
me! 1 am alone in my tower
room! The easement is open wide
to the night and the stars! The
beauty Of God and His love is
all about me, but you are rot here!
an alone!
Beloved. l want you to pause
for a moment and think OF every
thing that is gentle and sweet and
lovely and Of good report! Every
thing that is little and tender and
very, very preciousi 1 want you
to think of your own mother
bending over you as you slept,
And then l want you. to think Of
me-here alone with God and the
sacred knowledge He has given
me, that He finds me worthy to
take my place beside the mothers
Of the world!
Beloved, had thought that you
and l would be together as we
faced the mysteries Of life and
death. In my dreams and half
formed hopes Of Gods blessing
upon our marriage, It was with no
thought that We could be apart!
But God had other plans for u.s.
You are alone, facing death across
the sea, and ] am alone here to wait
and watch and give welcome to
the spirit and fulhIlment Of our
love. l must stand alone at the
portal OF death and welcome life
from the unknown bourne.
In telling you this, beloved,
want to tell you. also, that there
is nothing but rejoicing in my
heart-no regret, no fear-just in
describable joy, and q grtituds
and pride which transdgure me.
/ shall walk forward through
these months, knowing that Gods
mark Is upon me, and glorifying In
the knowledge that l have been
found worthy of this holy estate.
To lay my sacrifice OF pain and
self abnegation upon the high al
tar Of the world! To bear alone
my souls travail and know, at
last, that I have given Of my
spirit and courage and blood to
little creature from Gods realm,
to me for life and love
and shelter! Could anything BE-
more glorious?
My beloved, do not grieve for
me, or have one anxious thought
In this new knowledge l am hap
pier than / can ever express.
'eeI that in some humble way l
I'm helping you-helping my coun-
.ry, even helping God in his divine
II 1 can bring into
he world a man-child, who shall
grow to be like you. / shall feel
hat my being has been justified,
md l can say with Gods servant
" old, Now, Lord, lettest Thou
Thy servant depart in peace, for
nine eyes have seen the glory Of
he Lord"
There is much to comfort me
hese days, and nothing to terrify
,r make afraid. Our two mothers
Iustain me by wisest council and
ender love. Nanny hangs over
ne, as a brooding dove hutters
,ver its nest. And God. with all
lis multitude of striving, suffer-
ng children, is not unmindful Of
ne. In the Bible today, as It
pened to my touch, found this
'erse-''He shall feed his flock
Ike a shepherd: He shall gather
he lambs with His arm, and
AIRY them IN His bosom, and He
hall gently lead those that are
nth young" Isn't that beautiful.
beloved? Isn't that wonderful?
He shall gently lead those that
re with young," Wholly l give
o Him my faith, as I lean hard
n the arm which has never failed.
The night is dark outside nv
pen window But the stars shine
With a steady light. The same
tars are above you, and the land
nd water are but a little space
Or love to cross.
Goodnight, my husband. For
ach of US the night and stars
lean but another day.
YOITR OUN