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My Dearest Mother:-
Things have been very tame for the last week. I found out by some means
that this was Sunday afternoon and know that you would probably be writing
to me so I'll do the same toward "you all". We have had a good rest and
been well fed up. The weather has grown to be warm again but we have our
nice cool cellar and if it were not for the flys (sic.) life would be very
enjoyable. The people are coming back to their homes in this town and it
is sad to watch them. We have been helping them to clean up. Not many men
return but mostly old women with one or more grandchildren. They usually
find about as much left of their former habitations as there is of the
Scottdale brewery. We will be going out again soon and have one more hitch
to do then we will
be taken back to some camp in the rear for rest and reorganization.
Lately we have had nothing to do but bathe, chase cuties, and lay around
talking of everything we could think of. One fellow in our section, Sergt.
Meridith, is a dandy scout. He is a veteran of 1898, has all the money he
needed, was attorney for the P.R.R.
[Penna Rail Road]
in Harrisburg and just came along
in the capacity of an observer. He can surely tell some interesting
stories and it is an education to be with him because his ideas on things
in general are excellent. We have some great talks and he does the talking
and I've learned a good bit of M. S. Quay and the days of the Capital
grafters.
It is hard to write when the war game is slack. I could tell you
everything, almost, that has happened but that wouldn't make interesting
reading. They ask us not to do it and being a good soldier I try to comply
with all requests. Has Grace been hearing from Ben often? I haven't
written to him or Gib. for some time. In fact you are the only one to whom
I have written lately. I sent Uncle Will a letter and that is about all.
Also I have taken care to place your letters in these new green envelopes
hoping you will get them in better time. Heretofore I have been several
letters in this envelope and addressing it to the base censor. That
entails them with the responsibility of opening the envelope and sealing
the one inside. I may not be able to write as often this way but I'm sure
you will get them sooner. I hate to think of all the letters I've written
you and you never got them. The only consolation is that it makes feel
good to sit down and write to you and don't much care if on one hears from
me so long as you do. The reason for that is because you love most of all
and when you hear I know all the rest that matter will.
Hope dad is getting lots of work and not suffering from the heat too much.
It is no doubt a bitter pill for him to swallow to have to work for the
guy he started to work, but think of the bad doses that are being taken
now. Oh! If you could only realize how lucky you are back in the old
U.S.A. I wish it were possible for everyone over there to see some of the
real phases of this war. These people have surely had some real sacrifices
to make. I know you are all making sacrifices too but nothing like the
French or English and I hope it ends before you have to.
Hump and Fratz and I were together for two evenings and enjoyed our second
reunion very much. We were in sort of dilapidated condition when we first
met Fratz and he just turned his supply of candy, cigarettes, etc. over to
us. Sorry I couldn't meet Florence's friend. I'm strong for "strawberry
blondes". I'll write you every day, mother, but what you get one letter
occasionally. I'm still well, get good eats, got money and sleep sound.
How's that? Tell dad to pass the kisses around for his soldier son and if
I'm lucky I how to see the old town by this time next year. Tons of love
from
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