Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 109, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 May 1919 — HOW ONE SOLDIER CAME HOME [ARTICLE]

HOW ONE SOLDIER CAME HOME

Perhaps no spot of similar size ever witnessed as much joy in a similar period of time as did Military park, in Indianapolis, on Wednesday when relatives were reunited with loved members of the'lsoth Indiana field artillery. .Nearly everyone had succeeded in finding the soldier boy for whom they were in quest and tears and smiles and happy chatter were everywhere in evidence. A timid, frail little woman wandered expectantly among the happy throng. She was tiny, her shoulders were stooped and she impressed those who saw her as one who was not entirely at ease in the bustle and excitement. When one looked at her there came to mind thoughts of a tiny cottage, with the little woman performing the modest household duties and kitchen porch for the morning glory vines to climb upon. The light of expectancy in her eyes was slowly dimming, the droop of a terrible disappointment was chiseling itself upon her withered face, her phin trembled occasionally. Upon every hand were happy family groups; one could not see far in any direction and it seemed that every soldier had found or been found-by those dearest to him. The little, aged woman presented a pathetic figure. • Suddenly there came a vigorous, brawny soldier elbowing his way through the crowd, looking eagerly in every direction, scanning every countenance. AJI unexpectedly he came face to face with the little woman whose place was in a tiny cottage somewhere on a side street in a country village. Strong arms opened wide ana swept the little woman into them giving her time for but the briefest glance at the joy-illumined countenance that bearrtted beneath the “tin hat” of the veteran. He was tall and broad and she was short and tiny and the mother-head that was streaked with gray laCkened much of reaching to his shoulder, but he strained her close to him. One of her. arms hung limply at her side, the other was stretched round the waist of hei* robust son. A toil-worn hand patted him affectionately—not vigorously, but there was a world of gentleness and love m those fingers as they beat a slow but glad tatoo in the vicinity of the spine of the soldier man, . , . Not a word was said by either of them but a look of ineffable poy spread over the features of the little woman whose happiness was so great that she could not even give vent to tears to relieve the strain of it all. Occasionally, after the first fierce surge of joy had spent itself, she would glance straight up into the eager young face that was bent above her graying head and then she would snuggle contentedly closer. When released from the embrace her eyes were dry and shining with a wonderful light; her frail strength would no longer support her and she would have fallen if the soldier had not seized and supported her. Tears were streaming from the eyes of everyone Who chanced to witnesse that reunion. Behind the greeting there was visioned for them the sleepless nights, the agonized prayers and the terrible loneliness that had marked the. life of the tiny woman since her boy marched off to war. And that is the way one soldier lad came back to his mother. —Lafayette Journal.