Susan keeps the flag up but we go softly. The price
paid has been too high for jubilation. We are just thankful that it has
not been paid in vain.
"No word has come from Jem. We hope--because we dare not do anything
else. But there are hours when we all feel--though we never say so--
that such hoping is foolishness. These hours come more and more
frequently as the weeks go by. And we may never know. That is the most
terrible thought of all. I wonder how Faith is bearing it. To judge from
her letters she has never for a moment given up hope, but she must have
had her dark hours of doubt like the rest of us."
20th August 1918
"The Canadians have been in action again and Mr. Meredith had a cable
today saying that Carl had been slightly wounded and is in the hospital.
It did not say where the wound was, which is unusual, and we all feel
worried. There is news of a fresh victory every day now."
30th August 1918
"The Merediths had a letter from Carl today. His wound was "only a
slight one"--but it was in his right eye and the sight is gone for
ever!
"'One eye is enough to watch bugs with,' Carl writes cheerfully. And we
know it might have been oh so much worse! If it had been both eyes! But
I cried all the afternoon after I saw Carl's letter. Those beautiful,
fearless blue eyes of his!
"There is one comfort--he will not have to go back to the front. He is
coming home as soon as he is out of the hospital--the first of our boys
to return.
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