Show kathleen Kathlee Kath leeh ii norris says time the inevitable cure bell features tb N IN wa ll 11 0 when your soldier boy comes home remember that time Is the cure lor the problems that will come with him B by y KATHLEEN NORRIS HEN your soldier boy WHEN comes home remember that time is the cure for the problems that win will come with him whatever the situation is time will alleviate its hardest hardest features time will bring new interests new turns of th the a wheel that will make living tolerable to him be infinitely patient not too cheerful not too sympathetic keep about him as pleasant an atmosphere as you can and wait for time perhaps he may have to adjust himself to the loss of a hand or a leg perhaps his sight is gone perhaps some facial injury will cause him pain and difficulty for the rest of his days or perhaps and this Is the most dreadful of all his mind will be slightly disordered not enough to make him an institution case but enough to distress those who love him depress him almost to despair desir pa ir and make readjustment slow and id hard meet all this with serenity and faith time works miracles torn ligaments heal lost limbs limb are missed much less than anyone by that loss can believe and love and courage and ti time me time time build up ruins and tie the scattered threads of life into new patterns after the parties so when your soldier boy comes home meet him with the usual royal welcome fried chicken and layer calces cakes joyous telephoning and visiting presents entertainments unlimited family affection end and interest but when this flurry Is over the strain comes and that Is the moment when you have to have your strength and philosophy ready here Is the story of an american mother who has had that crisis to fac face e my twin sons ralael rafael and raoul went into the service in the army two years ago writes mrs frank espinosa of tucson ariz for a while they were together then rate rafe was sent to the marianas mariakas Mari anas from which he returned six months ago having lost both legs rolly roily Is still in this country the mass horrors of war are beyond all comprehension but surely there Is no sadder case than that of a ma magnificent 22 year old who comes home hopelessly crippled his father aged 20 years overnight and for all my prayers all my determination I 1 could hardly bear the shock chock of meeting him in his wheel chair he held a sort of travesty of homecoming reception cep tion then we had to face the grim tact fact put away forever the old fishing rod the football clothes the pity of friends and family cut him terribly yet he had to see people we are not rich my husbands salary Is adequate but no more our home Is a six room cottage in a plain block of similar cottages the boys used to go away camping in hot weather and tor for several alveral seasons my husband took a job in a mountain hotel and I 1 went there with him and helped in the dining room but we could afford no luxuries for our stricken boy we could not take him away from the eyes of neighbors and friends for months he sat and brooded blooded bro oded I 1 ol 01 toj t A look I 1 thought never to see aga ie THE ROAD BACK families of war veterans will have to put up with a period of reorientation while the young nan man struggles to readjust himself to the old ways way of life Jf JV hether this trying truing time is long or short depends a good deal on the mans mares character and on the experiences e ances he has endured A soldier who faced death for many months will have a harder course than one who served as a clerk far from danger then too the problem is frequently complicated by wounds loss of limbs or senses or by mental disturbances the sense a of J helplessness is empt especially oppressive to a senst sensitive young man who has always been strong and active mother other ll s sisters sweethearts in fact ev everyone er one associated with these unfortunate v fortunate nort fellows will have to make a constant effort to help them back to a cheerful viewpoint how one soldier regained his happy hap y outlook is recounted re coune b by filiss miss norris norr is in articie article he is only 22 but he has to face the future without legs begs yet in tin time te he found new nav interests woodcarving wood carving helping with the family cooking caring for a 11 few ew chickens and a bagh dog simp simple e homely things but t they ey are often the best cure for the aftermath of war lie he would try to brighten rny my poor boyl boy I 1 he could not do it rate rafe came home and was happily married last june maria toy MY daughter in law generously agreed to a quiet wedding in our parlor to so that roily could be pre present seni but holly would not be best man it was all sadness darkness hopelessness ies s for the three ot of us at home carved wooden dolls then I 1 hardly know how things changed for one thing we we bought him a dozen chick chickens afis and it Is extraordinary tra how they amuse and interest him for another I 1 let him help me with cooking and got him a little cook book now he be asks me to get vinegar or maraschino che cherries irles for various dishes and putters away with chopping bowls and egg beaters while I 1 am getting meals best ot of all he carved me a little scotty out ot ol soap one day and it was so good that I 1 have kept it under a glass bowl and hive have encouraged cou raged him to carve other things now he Is carving the most remarkable jointed dolls ot of white wood they are so fine to in their natural little 0 childish faces and forms that he has not only aund found an immediate market for the few he has done but may really hope for a fine livelihood from them this still seems to my husband and me too good to be true but it Is surely coming lastly two weeks ago to celebrate the first little success of the dolls we brought him 1 a baby scot ty a little mass of bou bouncing acing black wool and a few hours later when brig was asleep in arm I 1 saw a look on hollys face that tha t I 1 thought never would be the there re again in gratitude to god this letter ends my husband and rolly roily ind and I 1 send you his story to encourage other mothers to be patient and to believe that things will be better bette r in time |