Page:This side the trenches, with the American Red cross (IA thissidetrenches00desc).pdf/27

 complete without alcohol, and the soldier's wife soon learned to drink. Her old friends began to neglect her, and her husband, learning of her misconduct, said that he wanted never to see her again.

The Red Cross appealed successfully to the woman's love for her husband and her children. She wanted to do better and the Home Service worker helped her in her resolution. First of all, the family was advised to move to a new neighborhood where the mother would not be under the influence of her undesirable friends. The oldest son was appointed treasurer for the household and a Home Service visitor called upon the woman almost every day to show her how to manage and to strengthen her in her determination to stop drinking. When summer came the mother was sent to spend a few weeks with friends in a distant town who did not know about her trouble. She came back with a still firmer hold upon herself, and when, after much persuasion by the Red Cross, the husband returned from camp on a furlough and found his home as it had been before, he forgave and forgot the weakness which his wife had overcome.

The Home Service of the Red Cross is indeed needed in many instances not only to help women manage with a reduced income but also to give them guidance and counsel when they suddenly find themselves with more money than they have ever had before.

No wife or mother of a soldier or sailor needs to seek employment if, in order to take care of the children or for other reasons, she should be at home. When, because of unusual expenses the government allowance and the payments by the man are not enough to sup-