I'll Write Next Mail

Levin Daily Chronicle, 27 April 1918, Page 4

I'll Write Next Mail

How often is this promise made only to be broken, greatly to the disappointment of the boys in the trenches, who look forward eagerly to letters from far off Now Zealand and their loved ones. In the course of a letter, a soldier writes: — " . . .1 wonder if fathers and mothers know how much their boys at the front arc depending on their love. If some of the mothers and fathers could see the disappointed look on their boy's face when the mail is given out —hear him say "Another mail and no letter from home; I would rather have one letter from home than one from each of my friends I know" —X think they would not rest at night until they had a letter ready for the post for that bor, and be sure that he got one at least' every other post, once or twice a week. X wonder if they know thev arc depending on them for love. A boy expects it, at least from his own people, and you may be sure if he does not get it in letters from home, in most eases he gets none. Can you picture a young boy, ready to go in the line, and just before he'goes the mail is given out, as is the case sometimes when it happens along before we leave our billots —lie fails"to got a letter mid remarks "no letter last, time." or "none this time, and I am going in the line," and you see a tear fall. I have seen this lmppon. I sometimes wish I could talk with all parents who have sons over here and tell them the.- bare facts. Should they be spared? I think not. They should know and do their duty. Tt certainly would bo a heartless parI cnt that would not keep his boy supplied with news, 1ov« and encouragement bv means of a letter at len~t once a week'. The wh'.le trouble is thev cannot realise what his life i«. and that 'inv dav mav bo his last. I say "God be merciful to tho'=e parents who are at fault." for T feel there arc many who have let their bov down.