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My Dear Sister-
Received your letter of June 17th last night. Surely am glad to hear from
you too. Had one not so far back that you had written on July 2nd. It
don't matter how we get our mail, just so it is a letter and we get to
break the seal. So Irene grabbed off a Leiut. Well, well. How could any
body agree with all her different ideas? This army must have doped all the
guys. You say the town has a few slackers. Also hear that J. D. Laughry
backed out. Another gutless wonder! Well the fight can be won without them
I guess, for what they lack we have.
It has been some exciting time for us the last week or so and now we are
enjoying a well earned rest. Sort of fell behind in my mail during that
time and am trying to catch up again. We didn't have time to think of
anything not even ourselves. Didn't wash or shave for about 10 days! Saw
some great sights, also some that made feel a little sick at times. I'll
tell you about them some day.
Had a letter from mother along with yours. Mother’s letters are wonderful.
So full of feeling and real sentiment that I can almost hear her talking.
I read them to Hump and he enjoys them almost as much as I do. I don't
think a fellow ever realizes a mothers love while he is at home every day,
but when he is fixed like we have been it seems to flash before one in an
hundred different ways. Sometimes while I am going about never thinking of
home a picture of mother will flash before me in some pose that I've seen
her in. Going about her work like the other day when I thot I couldn't go
another step I saw a picture of her. She was sitting on the bench on the
back porch picking berries or beans. Just as real to me as if I were there
in the kitchen looking at her. This may sound foolish but I dope it out
that maybe she was thinking of me just at that moment. See! Mental
Telepathy, you know. And dad too. Now and then I can close my eyes and see
him setting on the porch with his cap on one side or working in the mill.
Same way with all of you. It's great to be an imaginative soul. Sometimes
when you are alone and can't even write then pictures are all that you
have to keep you from getting the "rams" or blues. You know this is the
longest I was ever away from home so a little can be allowed me.
You can depend on it, sis, that we will soon all be together again of we
can only hand the Kaiser a few more like the last one. It did us all good
but it was hell while it lasted. A thousand different sounds at the same
time. Now and then a fellow would be worked up to a pitch where it would
seem if things didn't quiet down he would go nuts. Used to it now tho and
can sleep while they roar all around us. And they do roar day and night! I
pulled the string on one of the big ones this morning that sent them a
"souvenir”, as the French call it. Hope it killed a few Prussians. We see
some funny sights too. Every time a Yank gets a chance to make a show he
does it you know. Some few days ago we were lying along the road resting.
So tired nothing seemed to matter. The road was jammed with men, trucks,
guns, etc. Soon a detachment of artillery came by and riding the lead
horses were two fellows decked in high flat crowned derby hats while on
the gun seat sat two more, one had a ladies pink dress over his uniform
and the other a high silk hat on his head while he held a small parasol
over them both. It put pep into the whole crowd. Can you imagine a crew
like that hauling a big gun to the front? Probably they had rested in a
village and had dressed up for the parade.
In mothers letter I told her about meeting Ramsey and " Tinny" and the
bunch. Surely was glad to see them. I'm all by myself now so far as home
fellows are concerned. Hump & I see each other quite often tho. We have
been together now for three days.
Heard from Gibson and Ben again. Ben seems to be in good spirits and I'm
sure glad he is in the artillery because I've seen how close to the front
that branch will take him and it is a good piece away from where things
get hottest. Muir is in the same branch but don't seem pleased with
France. I am still in fine health but not any fatter than when I was home
altho they tell me I'm changed. Maybe the mustache I wear. Got a pretty
heavy growth this time.
Had almost forgotten about promising Elizabeth Miller those earrings so
will make a note of that. Did you get a present for the little Walter
girl? I told you about that in a previous letter you know. I was to have
an invitation from her.
Funny thing about Ben's letter was that he told me where he had been and
also where he is now. I'm writing to him and think I'll do the same thing.
We aren't so far apart and may meet some day some place. Hope so anyway.
So Wooster is still doing the heavy with the "goils". More power to him!
Too bad about Tom Mollison. I beat him to it on that score. (I never took
the overseas exam.) It was this way. When I got to the building at Upton
where they were giving them the once over, two lines had been formed. One
going into be examined and the other coming out after having taken it. I
inquired and found that they were only picking out the defective ones and
taking no record of the others so I fell in with the physically perfect. I
had been examined enough and was tired of it.
Too bad about "Bunny" Maloy wasn't it? I was within a few miles of his
grave and never knew it. He was a picture of rugged manhood last time I
saw him, that was the same time I met "Peck" Lee. Well, sis, I leave off
here and write to your hubby. Give my love to all and here's hoping we see
each other soon again.
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