Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France

Some where in France
#782373
7-23-17[sic]

Dear Mother:–

I had a little parade this p.m. to get a gass mask and that was all so I come out and had a read by my self, and thot I would write you a few lines before I go back to supper.

Say Mother I would not live write very long if it was not for the power of God working in my heart, I remember twice since last Aug. that I have done two things directly against Gods will just thru being a little tollerent with the temtation when it first came to me, if I had at once faced the temtation solid I would not have yealded, but that is where I will from now on watch and pray and be ever ready to throw off temtation at once and be ever watching for it when it comes. It is a dandy day still we done about two hour parade this am just enough to keep use used to the packs or harness. I was cleaned up for this a.m. inspection better than I ever appeared in army life before even the rust off of the top of the water bottle cork,

I don’t seem to have much to write about today but I will soon get a change of cenery that I will tell you all about.

There has been a good number of Avery eninges and Olivier plows go by here the last while so they must be going to do some farming on a new scale out here some where.

Bye bye Mother dear as ever your loving son
Laurie