The Candle Left in the Window the Night the Men Came Home

It is 1918. The war is over. Mary lives in a small house in England. Her son, Thomas, is a soldier. Mary does not know if Thomas is alive. She waits every day. She looks at the road, but the road is empty. At night, the village is dark and quiet. Mary has an idea. She puts a candle in the window. The light is small but bright. It says: 'Come home.' Other women see the candle. They put candles in their windows too. Soon, the road is not dark.

Three days later, the men come. They are tired and thin. Thomas sees the lights. He sees his mother's window. He runs to the house. Mary opens the door and hugs him. The candle is still burning. He is home.