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My Dear Sister:-
Have received your letters dated May 31, June 1st, 6th, 12th, also one
from Florence on the date last named. This A.M., due to the fact that we
are settled for a spell, I began answering mail. As has been my custom,
started with Mother because she loves me best of all I know. Work called
me away
[An advance observation post south of
Chateau-Thierry.]
and this P.M. when I returned to my
surprise and delight I found twelve letters awaiting me. Spent the rest of
the afternoon at home. Our mail has been held up for a short while and
even at that I have been hearing regularly from you. Keep the good work up
because tho we are far away your mail coming to us in less than a month.
Much quicker than they used to. And good reading they are, too. You surely
had a tough row, sis, but it take it from one who has heard many talk of
leaving home it is always best to only say goodbye once. The more it is
said the harder it is to say it, they say. And then you can rest assured
that you will see us both again so far as war is concerned. In other words
-We'll be back! I am as far front as I'll go now unless the Crown Prince
backs up, and he is in a fair road to doing that. Ben is in a better
branch of the service than any of us and it will be a long time before he
sees any action. When that time comes he will be stationed miles behind
the lines and always in better quarters. It is too bad that he and Ralph
were parted but then we all have to make new friends. Hump & I only see
each other now and then and I have not seen any of the other guys but
Fratz. Say, sis, you wouldn't know me. I'm tanned and mustached and in
addition to all this lost one of my front teeth which will aid me greatly
in making faces at the "Jerries ". You asked me how I liked my new abode.
That is a hard question to ans. Since landing in this country my abode has
ranged from quarters in palatial villas to stables and from stables to hen
houses and often we are as at present sheltered in "pup" tents in the
woods. I am soldering now and feeling better every day. We are in with the
French entirely now and can speak a little. If I could only tell you about
the things I’ve seen it would make a book. That is the way I write. Anyway
I am glad to know that you are all well. That little sentence in a letter
makes a world of difference to me. So when you write kindly give a little
bulletin of your health back there and then I can go on feeling that
things are as good as I left them. As for me, I'll tell you now that you
need not worry about me because I've no idea of willing any property as
yet. No, I mean debts. Say sis, tell mother to think no more about me and
the small amount of money I started off with. I had plenty and am now one
of the money magnates of the Company. Gee! I was glad to hear of my young
Sis doing the heavy before the Chamber of Commerce. Wouldn't she be some
looker to those old graybeards. I bet she enlists and here is one who says
his objections are withdrawn because she knows what she is doing and she
won't be switched. So the Independent is shooting legs off these days. You
can take it from me, don't believe the papers. Hope my good old dad is
still up and at‘em and that his trouble won't come back and bother him.
I'm writing with him in my thoughts every time and hope his son will some
day be the man he is. Tell mother not to worry about us boys because this
stuff is comparatively tame. Another rain coming must close. Love to all
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