Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-05-29

A1dlSA 20 Wy NANAHf |
1t happened right here in Coblenz.
A big corporal came into the Y. W..
C. 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 motherw gasped Miss Wood
small. "How did your mother ever get
here?"
.Well, she isn't here yet, but If she
comes will you keep herr"
"Of course 1 will, but"
She didn't finish, for the boy had
smashed his cap back On his head and
was out of the door On a run.
The corporal's visit remained a mys-
terry for two days. Then one evening
lust at dusk a little white haired wo-
man dressed exquisitely 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 doughboys, pals of the corporal.
They tried 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 a woman in civilian clothes.
Mothers are unheard of with the army.
But this was a mother, everyone knew.
After awhile someone found out
about this mother.
Had Been lnterned During War.
She and her husband, who were
born in Germany, but had been nat
uralized, lived in San Francisco. Be-
fore the wal they left for Weisbaden,
Germany, that their invalid daughter
might have treatment at this famous
health resort.
They brought their other children
with them. One was Walter, a small
boy, and the other vas Ralph, nov
Corporal Stepp of the American Army
When the war was declared they
n Ralph back to America, because
he was of military age, and they die
not want him to fight for the kaiser
Then America entered the war.
Mrs. Stepp-Mrs. Anna Stepp she Il
told this part of the story:
until a month ago l hadn't heart
from Ralph for two years and a half
even before America got in the wa
mail was held up. l didn't know
whether he was in the army or not
but 1 was sure he was, because-wel
because he is an American" Her
she stopped a minute to smile up a
him.
"After awhile we heard from som
friends that he was in the army-an
that he had come over here. That wa
all 1 ever knew. It's nearly five year
since / have seen him!
"Of course it was awfully hard
couldn't get word to him and /
couldn't to me. My husband used
tell me it wouldn't help Ralph any fl
me to cry. 7 tried not to-before tt
rest of them anyway. My daught'
got worse steadily-she is no bette
We couldn't get the proper food fl
her after awhile. And she hated
see me worried about Ralph, so l us'
to try to keep up before them.
"Last January my husband came
Coblenz about his citizen papers. /
American soldier in Ralph's compal
who was in the Office heard his mar
and asked him if he was any relati
to Ralph. He didn't tell him Raj
was in Coblenz, but went after Rail-
He didn't tell Ralph his father W
here. When they met they could
believe their eyes.
"Ever since then I have been tryi
to see Ralph. He couldn't come
.Weisbaden because 1t was out Of t
American area, and l couldn't
through until today-more than t
months"
They asked her if her Ralph /
changed much in all that time.
"Oh, yes-very much. But do
know, I think it is because all Il
long time when I didn't know VIII
he was or how he was-I got in
habit Of thinking Of him as he Y
when he was a baby-I kept see
him as a baby and remembering
way he felt when he was little. Il
that queer? And nov look at him!'
And the corporal tried not to see
alteration in her eyes.
give years is a long time to v
to see your boy" she murmured,
kept her eyes on him. Again she
forgotten the people around her.
The corporal cleared his thr
'This is why | ask.d you IL you &C
keep my mother, Miss Woodsmall
didn't want her to come unless
had a good place to stay. All, e-e
thanks awfully."
And that Is the story Of how
Hostess House happened to enter
the only known A. 10. #. mother
has visited the Army Of occupatio
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