Jackson County sentinel. (Gainesboro, Tenn.) 1914-current, 1919-06-12
by GRACE eoULDER.

1t happened right here In COblenz.
A big corporal came into the Y. w.
G. A. Hostess House and asked for the
director, Miss Ruth Woodsmall who
comes from Colorado Springs, Colo.
"Could my mother stay here?" he
began at once, trying his best to cover
his excitement.
"Your mother!" gasped Miss Wood
small. "How did your mother ever get
hereT
"Well, she isn't here yet, but If she
comes will you keep herr"
"0f course / will, but"
She didn't finish, for the boy had
smashed his cap back on his head and
was out Of the door on run.
The corporal's visit remained mys-
terry for two days. Then one evening
Just at dusk little white haired wo-
man dressed exqulsitely In black APP
peared In the sitting room of the Host
ess House, and the corporal was hover
ing behind her, trying to be beside her
and back Of her and In front of her
all at once. He was carrying her
coat-a big fur one. With them were
three c,ughboys, pals of the corporal
They tiled to keep in the background,
but their eyes were glued on her face.
Everyone In the sitting room sat at
attention. There are no English
speaking men or women out of uni.
form in the Third Army area. Yet
here was woman In civilian clothes
Mothers are unheard Of with the army
But this was mother, everyone knew,
After awhile someone found out
about this mother.
Had Been internsd During War.
She and her husband, who were
born In Germany, but had been nat
uralized, lived In San Francisco. Be-
fore the war they left for Weisbaden,
Germany, that their invalid daughter
might have trea tment at this famous
health resort.
They brought their other children
with them One was Walter, small
boy, and the other was Ralph, now
Corporal Stepp of the American Army
When the war was declared they
sent Ralph back to America, because
he was of military age, and they did
not want him to fight for the kaiser
Then America entered the war
Mrs. Stepp-Mrs. Anna Stepp she Is
told this part of the story:
until a month ago hadn't heard
from Ralph for two years and half
even before America got In the war
mail was held up. / didn't know
whether he was in the army or not
but was sure he was, because well,
because he Is an American" Here
she stopped minute to smile up at
him.
after awhile we heard from some
friends that he was In the army-and
that he Had come over here That was
all ever knew. It's nearly five years
since have seen hint
"Of course IL was awfully hard-I
couldn't get word to him and he
couldn't to me. MY husband used to
tell me II wouldn't help Ralph any for
me to cry. tried not to-before the
rest Of them anyway. My daughter
got worse stesdily-she Is no better.
We couldn't get the proper food for
her after awhile. And she hated to
see me worried about Ralph, so used
to try to keep up beforl them.
last January my husband came TO
Coblsnz about ais citizen papers. An
American soldior I'm Ralph's company
who was In the Office heard his name
and asked him II he was any relation
to Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralph
was In Coblenz, but went after Ralph.
he didn't tell Ralph his father was
here. When they met they couldn't
believe their eyes.
Ever since then l have been trying
10 see Ralph. He couldn't come to
Wasbaden because 1t was out of the
American area, and couldn't get
through until today-more than two
months"
1ney asked her III her Ralph had
changed mach In all that time.
"Oh. yes-very much. But do you
know, think Ii Is because all that
long time when / didn't know where
he was or how he wss-I got In the
habit Of thinking of him as he was
when be was q baby-I kept seeing
him as q baby ind remembering the
way he felt when be was little. Isn't
that queeri And now look at him e
And the corporal trisd not to see the
alteration 10 her eyes.
"Fiye years Is a long dime to waft
TO see your boy" she nurmured. and
kept her eyes on him. Again she had
forgotten the people around her.
The corporal cleared his throat.
This 10 why ask d you II you could
keep my mother. Miss woodsmall.
didnt want her 30 GENE unless she
bad good place 10 stay. All. e-e-r-
thanks awfully."
And that Il the story Of how the
Hostess House happsssd 20 entertain
fhn anlw knoww Z e naaffaar who