Everyman’s Hut

Camp News, Volume 3, Issue 145, 23 October 1942, Page 4

Everyman’s Hut

THE SACRIFICE OF WAR. By Mavis E. Hills. TO A SOLDIER’S MOTHER. Her courage is a thing we scarcely mention (For seldom do we contemplate her fears), Her name has never captured passing interest (We’ve never borne witness to her tears). A silent background is her chosen setting, Content that every glory should alight Upon the one she cradled — as a baby— The boy she planned—and prayed for through the night. Her smile resembles curtains in a window, That camouflage the store-room of her pain With little frills of light and lacey laughter, Behind which, guarded secrets still remain. She is the true foundation of the Empire, Expecting neither gratitude nor praise For unrewarded years of quiet devotion, The moulding of its youth to manhood days.

Most of her drearest dreams were never realised, While disappointment 'fell her lot and fears, (Embrace her tenderly in parting, soldier, She walked beside you thru’ the upright years.) I’m sure, some day, in some un-dreamed-of heaven, God will reward her in His way above, She is the answer to the word “unselfish,” She is the living proof of deathless love. Some day, no doubt, a history of this present war will be' written, when much will be revealed, of which, at present we must perforce remain in ignorance. But so vast is the scale of operations, involving every quarter of the globe, so intricate are the ramifications of the forces and influences at work, that much of what is happening will never be told.

Of this, however, we may be sure Never will be told the story of sacrifice which this war has entailed upon so many millions of innocent people and greatest of the sacrifice is that made by the mothers. To give the one whom she has -nurtured with her own life, whom she has nursed and cared for as he grew to manhood, and to know that never more in this world will she look upon him again. Well may we ask :“Is it worth while?” The last war was a war to end war. This war is to bring in a new world order. But will the result be the same as the last and will the new order be better or worse? That depends upon us as individuals. We failed before. Will we fail again? Is the sacrifice in vain? God grant that we may be able to rise to our responsibilities and put the welfare of our fellowmen before our own and so create that spirit of goodwill which is necessary to do good. x