The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1919-06-13
Nv GRACE coUIDER
with the American " w. c. A. Over
seas.)

Coblenz. Germany,
March 80 (By Msn)
Ii happened right here ia CobienZ.
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 10 cover
his excitement.
Your mother" gasped Miss Wood
small How did your mother ever get
here
We'll, she isn't here yet, but If she
comes VIII you keep herr"
"Of course | WILL but"
She didn't finish, for the boy had
sms shed his cap back on his head and
was out OF the door on run.
The corporal's visit remain u mys-
terry FOR TWO days. Then one evening
just at dusk Il little white haired wo-
man dressed erquisitely ia 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 buck OF her and ia front of her
eli at once He was carrying her
coats big fur one with them were
three dOughboys. pals OF the corporal
They tried TO keep III The background.
hut their eyes were glued on her face
Everyone in the sitting room sat ut
attention. There are no English
speaking men or women out OF uni
form Ia the Third Army area Yet
| here was n woman in civilian clothes.
Mothers are unhesrd OF with the army.
But this WAS mother everyone knew
After awhile someone found out
about this mother.
Had Been Interned 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 WelsbsdeH,
Germany, that their invalid daughter
might have treatment at this famous
health resort
They brought their other children
with them One WAS Walter, q 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
Ire was Of military age, and they did
not want him to fight for the kaiser.
Then America entered the war
Mrs Stepp-Nrs Anna Stepp she is
told this part OF the story:
Until "a month ago / hadn't heard
from Ralph for two years and a half
even before America got In the war
mall was held up. l didn't know
whether he was In the army or not
bur | was sure he was, because-well
because he is an American Here
she stopped q minute to smile up at
him
After awhile we heard from some
that he had come over here. That was
oil / ever knew. It's nearly five years
since ! have seen him
"ot course Ii was awfully hard-T
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 tn cry. tried not to-before the
rest Of them anyway NV daughter
got worse steadily-she is no better
We couldn't get the proper food for
her after awhile And she hated 10
see me worried about Ralph, so l used
TO Try 10 keep up before them.
Last January my husband came TO
CobIenZ about his citizen papers An
American soldier ia Ralph'S company
who was in the office heard his name
and asked him II he was any relation /!
10 Ralph. He didn't tell him Ralph
was ia CoblenZ but went after Ralph
He didn't tell Ralph his father was
here when they met they couldn't
believe their ewes
Ever since then I have been trying
70 see Ralph. He couldn't come To
WelShaden because II was out Of the
American area and I couldn't get
through until today-more than two
months"
They asked her II her Ralph had
changed much In all that time.
"Oh, yes-very much. But do YOU
know. 7 think 1t is because all that
long time when I didn't know where
he was or how he was-I got in the
habit of thinking Of him a. he was
when he was baby kept seeing
him as baby and remembering the
WAY he felt when he was little. Isn't
that queer? And now look at him,'
And the corporal tried not to see the
alteration In her eyes
Five years Is long time tn walt
tn see your hoy" she murmur-d. and
kept her eyes on him. Again she had
forgotten the people around her
The corporal cleared his throat
"This Is why I ask Il you II you could
keep my mother. Miss wo"dsmaII.
didn't want her 70 come unless she
had goo' place to stay All, e-e-r-
thanks awfully."
And that IL the story Of how the
Hostess House happened Ia estertain
the only known A. r. r. matilrr who