?HE "White Comrade 
 
 To k^.^watchet'St iwi^' God's om l< 
 
 By I'mm^^MM,mMG 
 
/ 
 
 ^ 
 
 Class t^^l32A\ 
 
 Book '15^3 ^ 
 
 Copyright N". 
 
 x\^ 
 
 CQFXRIGHT OEFOSm 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 "THE WHITE COMRADE" 
 
("atherine Wilcox Nash 
 \SffJt s /or the mothers' crowns of great splendor 
 
THE BOOK OF 
 
 ''THE WHITE COMRADE" 
 
 '■^ Sent from the Throne above 
 To help the ivatchers, with God's own love" 
 
 By FRANCES NASH KING 
 
 NEW HAVEN: 
 
 THE TUTTLE, MOREHOUSE & TAYLOR COMPANY 
 
 I918 
 

 
 Copyright, iqig, by 
 FRANCES NASH KING 
 
 All rights reserved 
 including foreign countries 
 
 w 
 
 ^ 
 
 OCT -2 laia 
 
With abiding love, to my own Mother 
 
 Catherine Wilcox Nash 
 
 zvho "yet Speaketh" 
 
 And 
 
 To the heroine Mothers 
 
 of this war 
 
 They zvho stand upon "holy ground" 
 
 I dedicate this book. 
 
FOREWORD 
 
 "Behold, I bring you good tidings, of great joy." Our 
 Lord, Christ, who said in His great agony, "I am not 
 alone," and assured His heartbroken disciples that He 
 would not leave them comfortless, who said, "The world 
 seeth me no more, but ye see me," and "because I live ye 
 shall live also." Christ, their Comforter is to-day seen and 
 recognized to such an extent that "The Comrade in White" 
 to our soldiers, means a beloved personality, with whom 
 they walk as "on the shores of Galilee." 
 
 When asked "\\'hy must death come?" the Master 
 answers, "Where your treasure is there will your heart be 
 also." Many a man's first " Cry unto God" is, "Where, oh 
 Where?" The name of the gate Earth calls Death, on 
 Heaven's side, is Life. 
 
 To-day our world-wide sorrow finds that gate widely 
 opened, a growing multitude follow with seeing eyes those 
 entering, they have "Ears to hear what the Spirit saith," 
 and faces tell of meeting the Comforter. 
 
 "To the colors" the word passes, and from the four 
 quarters of the earth we hear, "Here am I, send me!" 
 "The Man of God" a tireless soldier, was brought by the 
 Great Physician Himself to me as I lay wounded, "Freely 
 has he received, and freely does he give." 
 
 We are "tenting to-night" comrades, telling of the day, 
 trusting ourselves to our Great-Commander for the 
 morrow. Just talking around our campfire, talking of 
 home ! 
 
 "Oh that home of the soul, in my visions and dreams 
 
 Its bright jasper walls I can see, 
 "Till I fancy but thinly the veil intervenes 
 
 Between that fair city and me." 
 
 The Anchorage, 
 
 Madison, Connecticut, 
 June, 1918. 
 
WAR 
 
WAR 
 
 Trouble, trouble, everywhere! 
 
 On the sea, and in the air 
 Birds of prey swoop down from yonder 
 
 Ships once fast now rent asunder ! 
 Just trouble. 
 
 Trouble, trouble on the land. 
 
 From outreaching, grasping hands. 
 
 Hands now filled, that want their brothers' 
 Portion, his love, glory, riches with theirs. 
 Always trouble. 
 
 Trouble, trouble with the masses 
 Armed with hate against the classes 
 
 Blindly led, by leading blind. 
 All is woe, no good they find. 
 Drear trouble. 
 
 Trouble, trouble with the women. 
 
 Something here seems not quite human 
 
 Turned into a picket fence, 
 
 Lines not plumb, designs lack sense. 
 Dreadful trouble. 
 
 Trouble, trouble in the eating. 
 
 One has much, the next goes lacking. 
 
 Days are meatless, days are wheatless. 
 
 Meals are served that seem quite worthless, 
 
 Sugar's rising, coal's declining. 
 
 What can we do to keep from buying? 
 Daily trouble. 
 
 Trouble with the burning buildings. 
 Lit with hate, and fired by envy. 
 
 Food thus taken from the starving 
 Mothers of the race! who bore them, 
 
 Suffered, loved, and prayed God for them. 
 This is trouble. 
 
Trouble with the college students, 
 Who no longer come to classes, 
 
 But caper 'round the place like asses, 
 While the kindergarten babies. 
 
 Rising in united strength, 
 
 Call for days of shorter length ! 
 Added trouble. 
 
 Trouble between men and women. 
 The only trouble that is human, 
 
 "Free and equal," all are crying 
 Not two men while I go lacking 
 
 To be pretty is quite shocking! 
 I won't have it ! Do you hear me ? 
 
 Votes we'll have, we'll never miss, 
 
 Votes we'll have, and change all this. 
 Presidential trouble. 
 
 Trouble with the striking trainmen. 
 Labor when the sun is shining ! 
 
 Work this engine, might and main 
 
 While that man just rides on train? 
 Why should I work, get hot and tired. 
 
 By those women I'm not hired! 
 Legislator's trouble. 
 
 Trouble sad and drear in homes. 
 
 Envy starting, members shirking. 
 Never seeing Satan lurking, 
 
 Neighbors then their tales unfold. 
 With their, do not tell, I told 
 
 Just for friendship ! 
 This the way and this the plan 
 Earth's greatest sorrows come to man. 
 Living: trouble. 
 
 Six days went by, the Lord's Day fair. 
 
 The sinners with a pious air 
 Set off, with frocks of latest cut. 
 
The men with new attire to suit, 
 In autos, taxis, cabs, or walking, 
 Smiling and bowing, always talking. 
 Arrived on time. 
 
 They whispered and chatted. 
 
 Talked loud and berated 
 The methods of this one — the doings of that one. 
 
 They wondered and pondered 
 
 On names quite unnumbered 
 
 And felt called upon 
 To ask brother Jackson, to rise and explain. 
 
 They couldn't quite see why 
 
 The Red Cross should go by 
 The route it had chosen to reach the French shore. 
 It seemed a mistake, 
 
 They feared quite a break, 
 From the Liberty loans four percentage or more! 
 
 They had given up dinner, 
 And daily grew thinner, 
 To help all they could, in this very great cause. 
 While Mrs. O'Hara, wife of the mayor, ate 
 French fries, and good beefsteak. 
 Entrees of sweets and fats, 
 Wheaten bread, and butter pats. 
 It really was shameful to break such just laws. 
 
 They gossiped and chattered. 
 
 Got rattled and flattered. 
 Right up to the church's own door. 
 
 Then quickly they parted 
 Looked demure, and sad hearted. 
 
 All ready to hear of the poor. 
 
 ******* 
 
 The preacher, well beloved of all. 
 
 The man of God, (God gave the Call) 
 Arose, 
 
"My friends," he said, "great is our need, 
 To God's commands, let us give heed. 
 
 Our hearts are sore, our world grows poor, 
 
 Grim Suffering waits from door to door. 
 
 Let us give heed, and find the cause 
 By looking into God's own laws. 
 
 Our God hath given a beauteous world. 
 
 To every one He hath unfurled 
 Its marvels. 
 The hours of light, for labor needed 
 The rest of night, its darkness heeded, 
 With lavish love, He gives the sun 
 The sun which seeks us from above 
 Then from its height, befriends each seed 
 
 To succor all in time of need. 
 
 Cool breezes blow — the air is rife 
 
 With God's own blessings ! 
 But dull the ear that hears not strife 
 
 And many cursings. 
 The firmament, God's handiwork, 
 Is filled with shrieking demons 
 The singing birds have flown, and birds of prey 
 Fly forth, their song a requiem dirge 
 So low they lay a mother and her child 
 On verge of evening prayer. 
 The glorious deep, made sacred by our Saviour's steps, 
 The home of tiny folk, once in a miracle. 
 Torn from all joy and fruitfulness 
 To devastation ! 
 
 Gone are those quiet times, but from a battlefield 
 
 Come shrieks of conquerors 
 With sobs and prayer of conquered. 
 "The Heavens above, the earth beneath" 
 
 Aye "even the waters" Hell calls own. 
 "Oh Earth, Earth, Earth, how long?" 
 ******* 
 
The preacher looked into their faces. 
 
 ******* 
 My friends, he said, the cause 
 We now will find — in one of God's own laws. 
 To me it seems we surely have it 
 In God's own words, "Thou shalt not covet." 
 Of this the ancients said, "The command of the hedge," 
 For whoso keeps this hedge, keeps all commands. 
 
 In God he trusts, no other Gods intrude. 
 To him who covets not, his neighbor's good 
 As seen in mirrored lake, so God is seen. 
 In days of loving, and on mercy bent. 
 Guiltless is he, of finding any vent 
 Through use of this dear Name. 
 
 His full six days he owns, and rising early 
 Fresh from his rest, his brain and mind alert 
 
 He soweth seed, 
 At even time he watereth 
 And lo ! the increase. 
 And on the day of days, the Lord's, 
 Doth he bring thanks, and of God's own returns. 
 
 His days are long 
 A mother's love — a father's blessing 
 
 One grand sweet song ! 
 
 He who plants well this hedge 
 
 Doth covet not. all lives are safe, 
 His neighbor's wife, his neighbor's goods secure. 
 His neighbor's deeds of hate, and unblest kind 
 
 Cling to the clod. 
 Speaks he of thoughts that rise, that on bright wings 
 
 Fly home to God ! 
 So peace and plenty reign 
 
 In Paradise regained 
 Thus taught the ancients, — said the man of God, 
 
 "The command of the hedge" 
 For whoso keeps this well, breaketh no other 
 
 And still this hedge protects 
 
Even Eden's gardens from the outer world 
 
 Of sin and sorrow. 
 My son plant well thy hedge 
 
 And thou my daughter water it 
 And "God shall give the increase." 
 
 The preacher ended. 
 With a loud "Amen." 
 
 The people vanished. 
 The man of God 
 
 And Christ, who stood beside him, 
 Alone were left, 
 Christ drew him to His Heart 
 
 And then — both wept. 
 
SOLIDARITY 
 
-^f-l-'.'.UAi-eiS. 
 
 
 ^'4t-fuL/.4jl- feJf AM'S'-^ik/ i^ tirtjat^ ^4^J 'i^^ 
 
 Lit v^-oeSiW , 
 
 i!!ii.ajzjii/ UUjJ i-Lc-A^ /-^ J'/m- t- ^e /^S-jy ^.w- ''?>vJ?s«w 
 
 
 7^/, 
 
 From an old uotc-hook of Catherine Wihox Xash 
 AutJior not sriven 
 
SOLIDARITY. 
 
 "I 'clare to goodness," said farmer Brown, 
 "When them city fellers come into town 
 With their four-in-han' ties, an' their high up hats. 
 Their ironed-down trousers, an' fancy spats, 
 I says to my wife, 'Doggoned if I be 
 Going to bow to such boys as I see !' " 
 An' my wife says, "Jake, 
 
 Go pick up that rake. 
 An' make that path 
 Like the other half." 
 
 "I was a-rakin' that path, as in they come 
 Heehawing and humming a cheerful tune. 
 
 An' I looked 'em over, from outen my eye. 
 As the four big fellers went laughin' by ! 
 
 Thar was one, with a blue eye, like my boy John, 
 Who sleeps under a cross, in a far-away town. 
 An' I says to myself, "I love that eye," 
 As the boy who owned it went smilin' by. 
 An' I says to my wife, 
 
 "Take care of him; 
 Make his crullers good, 
 
 An' his batter cakes thin." 
 
 "He is our boy, has the very head 
 An' the selfsame tread, of our John." I said. 
 An' mother, she looked till the tears come down, 
 
 At that city lad in our country town. 
 She wanted to find how he looked when he spoke, 
 An' how he sat in his chair when he wrote? 
 She hovered around 
 An' made his toast brown. 
 
 An' before he could ask 
 The butter was passed. 
 
 17 
 
They stayed just one week, those boys from the city; 
 
 We forgot about collars 
 An' dudes, an' more dollars. 
 
 For mother had John 
 Right back in her home 
 
 The boy God had sent for 
 In our deepest pain 
 
 He loaned us again. 
 
 I felt my heart burst 
 
 The day that we found out 
 That John had no mother. 
 
 We was settin' that night 
 
 Whar the roofin' was tightest. 
 An' the boys was a-yarning, 
 
 An' the kettle a-bilin. 
 When all to once, John, 
 
 We missed from the room. 
 Mother went out, 
 An' worried, I foller'd. 
 
 The boys was so quiet, 
 It seemed the boards hollered. 
 
 In a corner I found 'em, 
 'Way off from the rest, 
 An' John was a'sobbin'. 
 
 His head on her breast. 
 
 Her eyes was so tender, 
 
 I minded the time, 
 When John, as a baby, 
 
 Became hers and mine. 
 
 Thar's many ways thinkin', 
 
 But to me, it's quite clear, 
 That God seen they needed 
 
 Each other ria:ht here ! 
 
An' up in His Heaven, 
 
 Whar we go, one by one. 
 In another dear corner 
 
 Is a mother and John. 
 
 When our war world we leave. 
 
 For the homes that are buildin' ; 
 Whar the sun shines all day. 
 
 An' the roofs don't need shinglin' ; 
 'Way off in a corner. 
 All done with the dyin', 
 
 I shall find — my two Johns, 
 An' each boy 
 
 With his mother a-livin' ! 
 
 •9 
 
THE VISION 
 
THE VISION. 
 
 "My beloved are tired," said the Lord from His Throne, 
 
 "Draw the curtains of night, 
 Shut out all the light. 
 
 In the darkness alone. 
 Sleep, my beloved ones, sleep." 
 
 ******** 
 The guardians of the sun, brought forth 
 
 His stately cradle; 
 Full panoplied it ivas, its zvondrous gold 
 Outlined ivith deepest red, its coppered hood 
 
 Burnished, 
 That the sun, lover of life, might yet again 
 Look on the lives of men. 
 Its canopy of azure! 
 Thus the sun zvas placed, and silently 
 The guardians of the night 
 Drezv down its curtains. 
 
 "Come forth, ye stars," said the Lord from above ; 
 
 "The stars of glory, the stars of love! 
 The stars that shine when the zvorld is dark. 
 That bring hope and comfort to aching hearts, 
 The stars that are sent from the Throne above, 
 To help the watchers, with God's ozvn love. 
 
 Stars of the night! 
 Stars for the mothers, crozcns of great splendor, 
 
 The mothers zvho wait. 
 And the star of all stars. 
 
 To guide the sons to the Hcaz'cnl\ Gate!" 
 
 ******** 
 
 I found myself within my room ; 
 The day was spent, the night had come, 
 And as I sat before my fire, 
 
Thinking of things, now here, now higher, 
 Methought 
 
 I heard a knock. 
 Quickly I turned — the door flung wide, 
 
 And saw my Lord ! 
 
 So spent He looked, so tired and sad, 
 I brought Him in to make Him glad. 
 
 Beside the fire I placed a chair, 
 Added more logs, to make all fair. 
 
 My crane I turned, my kettle hung. 
 My table brought right to His side, 
 
 The snowy cloth, with wheaten loaf. 
 The flowing milk, and golden jar 
 Of honey. 
 
 In that small room, 
 
 God's worlds made one. 
 
 Did my Lord sup with me ! 
 
 Later I sat — in Mary's place of old. 
 
 Looking into His face. 
 "My Lord," I said, "how oft have I been told 
 
 That Thou art Love ! 
 Where hast Thou been? What hast Thou seen? 
 
 What means this war?" 
 
 Then my Lord spoke. "My child," He said. 
 And tenderly His hand laid on my head, 
 
 "My child, I know 
 
 Thou canst not understand, 
 But what thou knowest not now 
 That shall thou know hereafter, 
 
 I come right from the trenches. 
 Where I stay 
 
 With my beloved, from day to day. 
 Telling my love, holding each suiTering child 
 
 In mine own arms. 
 And with each victory won, — I place the crown, 
 
 Then take him home. 
 
When safely placed. I turn again 
 
 To find his mother. 
 Of fights well fought, of faith kept strong, 
 Of victory won in a race full long, 
 
 I tell her. 
 Then in mine arms I take her, 
 
 Whispering relief, comforting her grief, 
 Then I go to another." 
 
 He paused, the lines of tenderness 
 
 Were chiselled deep. 
 I said, "Dear Lord, I know. 
 
 For Thou hast also watched with me, 
 Hast held me in Thine arms. 
 Hast healed, helped, comforted ; 
 It is because of this, that Thou art Love. 
 I ask again, whence comes this need? 
 Why is this war?" 
 
 It was the Christ of Mary's time 
 
 Who sat beside that hearth of mine; 
 The all-compelling, loving Christ, 
 
 Who looks in hearts, and finds them right. 
 Simply, He talked of things Divine, 
 
 Couched in the words of our own time ; 
 Of the sad hearts, of these sad days. 
 
 And how to help in many ways. 
 
 He told me life was just a school. 
 
 With many a hard and weary rule 
 And vexing lesson. 
 
 He said that souls were born above ; 
 
 Cared for by angels all in love. 
 
 Then sent to earth for education. 
 
 That each might fill his special station. 
 According to his merits here. 
 
 That lessons learned of faith, and hope, 
 
 Patience and love, would always cope, 
 With other problems. 
 
And that He found, beyond all others, 
 The best-loved teachers were called mothers. 
 
 There are different courses of study in schools, 
 Different classes, and varying rules. 
 And many kinds of children. 
 But each child has his very own place, 
 His hours of study, his time of grace. 
 Though the teachers differ, each one is needed ; 
 Though days are sorrowful, each one is heeded. 
 
 For this is the Father's plan : 
 That the children sent here for education 
 Should each be fitted to fill a station, 
 
 A happy and glorious station! 
 That lessons learned of faith, hope, love. 
 Should qualify for life above. 
 
 That God Himself brings the souls here, 
 
 Placing each one in loving care. 
 With some wise soul who came before. 
 Whom mortals know — who understands 
 The lessons to be learned. 
 
 With lessons learned, the school days done, 
 God comes again, and takes them home. 
 
 Dreams we forget ; they come and go, 
 
 Swift as the river's ebb and flow. 
 But visions are, of all God's work. 
 The most divine. 
 
 Line upon line, 
 Deep carving the great Master wrought 
 Upon my heart that night, and taught 
 
 The mystery of life below: 
 From whence we come, and where we go. 
 
 'Tis Love Supreme, 'tis Love Divine, 
 This love is yours, this love is mine. 
 No fear have I , all things are right, 
 Since I that vision sazv that night. 
 
 26 
 
ASSURANCE 
 
ASSURANCE. 
 "As a mother comforteth." 
 
 "Have I not cared for you well ?" 
 
 Said my Lord unto me, 
 As the days grew short 
 And the nights grew long 
 And the shrapnel whistled their dirge-like song. 
 
 "I have given you friends." 
 Said my Lord unto me, 
 
 "The people of God 
 
 Who tread the same road 
 And bear the same load." 
 
 "I gave you your home," 
 
 Said my Lord unto me, 
 "I demanded fair play. 
 None could take it away 
 When I said it should stay." 
 
 "I returned you your health," 
 Said my Lord unto me, 
 
 "You had tried all the others. 
 
 Asked for help, and all failed you, 
 
 Called to me and I saved you." 
 
 "I give you your food," 
 
 Said my Lord unto me, 
 
 "Like the manna of old, 
 
 Of which you've been told. 
 It all comes from your Lord." 
 
 "Then can you not trust," 
 
 Said my Lord unto me. 
 As the shrapnel's hurried across the sea. 
 
"Believe in My love, 
 In My power— in My care, 
 And give up all fear 
 For each coming year." 
 
 "Your place is safe here," 
 
 Said my Lord unto me, 
 "In my home full of life, 
 
 Free from sorrow and strife, 
 Your place is right here," said my Lord unto me, 
 As the shrapnel whispered from over the sea. 
 
 Written October the eighteenth of nineteen 
 hundred and seventeen, after reading of a 
 probable naval battle, and from a balcony 
 counting sixteen government defenders. 
 
ACTION 
 
ACTION. 
 
 Just to do the best you can, 
 
 Day by day ; 
 Leaning on the Master's plan, 
 
 Day by day ; 
 Resting on His promise true, 
 That He knows what's best for you, 
 
 Day by day. 
 
RESULTS 
 
RESULTS. 
 
 Light after darkness, 
 
 Sun after rain, 
 All that God doeth, 
 
 Bringeth in gain. 
 
 Seemingly wasteful, 
 A harvest of pain, 
 
 Really blissful, 
 
 God's laws made plain. 
 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
 llllllllllllll I 1 
 
 015 940 128 5 C^ 
 
 I 
 
 n