Because these women of France have sent their men forth to die, eyes dry, with stiff lips and head erect, do not think that they do not mourn for them.  When night casts her kindly mantle of darkness over all, when they are hidden from the eyes of the world, it is then that the proud heads droop and are bent upon their arms, as the women cry out in the bitterness of their souls for the men who have gone from them.  Yet they realise that behind them stands the greatest mother of all, Mother France, who sees coming towards her, from all frontiers, line on line of ambulances with their burden of suffering humanity, yet watches along other routes her sons going forth in thousands, laughter in their eyes, songs on their lips, ready and willing to die for her.  France draws around her her tattered and blood-stained robe, yet what matters the outer raiment?  Behind it shines forth her glorious, exultant soul, and she lifts up her head rejoicing and proclaims to the world that when she appealed, man, woman, and child—­the whole of the French nation—­answered to her Call.

* * * * * *

Transcriber’s Notes: 

   ’ was used for raised dots on all “’75’s”

   Page 70:  Closing quote added to poem. “...qui les occupe.”

   Page 92:  Period added to Mme.

   Page 98:  “Triaucourt” changed to “Triancourt.”

   Page 110:  Changed Debency to Debeney.