They did not talk about the war at all -- and they thought of nothing else . At last they gathered around the piano and sang the grand old hymn : `` Oh God , our help in ages past Our hope for years to come . Our shelter from the stormy blast And our eternal home . '' `` We all come back to God in these days of soul-sifting , '' said Gertrude to John Meredith . `` There have been many days in the past when I did n't believe in God -- not as God -- only as the impersonal Great First Cause of the scientists . I believe in Him now -- I have to -- there 's nothing else to fall back on but God -- humbly , starkly , unconditionally . '' '' ` Our help in ages past ' -- ` the same yesterday , to-day and for ever , ' '' said the minister gently . `` When we forget God -- He remembers us . '' There was no crowd at the Glen Station the next morning to see Walter off . It was becoming a commonplace for a khaki clad boy to board that early morning train after his last leave . Besides his own , only the Manse folk were there , and Mary Vance . Mary had sent her Miller off the week before , with a determined grin , and now considered herself entitled to give expert opinion on how such partings should be conducted . `` The main thing is to smile and act as if nothing was happening , '' she informed the Ingleside group . `` The boys all hate the sob act like poison . Miller told me I was n't to come near the station if I could n't keep from bawling . So I got through with my crying beforehand , and at the last I said to him , ` Good luck , Miller , and if you come back you 'll find I have n't changed any , and if you do n't come back I 'll always be proud you went , and in any case do n't fall in love with a French girl . ' Miller swore he would n't , but you never can tell about those fascinating foreign hussies . Anyhow , the last sight he had of me I was smiling to my limit . Gee , all the rest of the day my face felt as if it had been starched and ironed into a smile . '' In spite of Mary 's advice and example Mrs. Blythe , who had sent Jem off with a smile , could not quite manage one for Walter .
But XXXXX least no one cried .
Besides So about after at for from in of on