He handed her back the pass and slowly said:
"May God bless you—and speed the day when your people and mine shall be no longer enemies."
He turned again to his desk, and beside it stood a quiet woman dressed in black.
He bowed to her with easy grace:
"And how can I serve you, Madam?"
She smiled hopefully:
"You have children, Mr. President?"
A look of sorrow overspread the dark face.
"Yes," he said reverently, "I have two boys now. I had three, but God has just taken one of them."
"I had two," the mother responded. "Both of them went into the army to fight for their country and left me alone. One has been killed in battle. I tried to be brave about it. I said over and over again, 'the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, blessed is the name of the Lord!' But I had to give up. I'm all alone in my little place in the mountains of Pennsylvania and I can't endure it. I know they say I have no right to ask, but I want my last boy to come home. All night I lie there alone and cry. Can't you let me have my boy back? He's all I've got on earth—others have more. I have only this one. I'm just a woman—lonely, heartsick and afraid. They say I can't have him. But I've come to ask you. I've heard that you have a loving heart——"