Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France

#782373
Some where in France
8-28-17

Dear Mother:–

I was afraid I would never receive that parcel for it come when I was up the line and one of our boys was out at the place the mail was kept, he saw the parcel and told me it was there, but it did not come for 3 mails later so I thot some one had needed socks and taken it. but along it came tonight and I have taken back all that I said and felt about any one taking it. I don’t think that the boys would I will be disappointed if I ever find they do any way.

It is a dandy evening the sun shines the wind is going down and I feel just full of thankfullness for the joy of living and I feel like praising God for cleansing my life and making pure, true, and loving, willing to sacrifice if I could see a way to help others

there an’t much chance here the boys have every thing they need and the only thing I could do would be to send my money to buy tracts for the boys and it is hard to get money orders now or stamps or any thing to buy them with

I eat a lot of dope, but it does me no good. I am better and feel better on my three meals a day than several lunches on candy and cookies

Say Mother these socks are fine and the candy we surely enjoyed. your packages come thru in perfect shape always. I am afraid you picture always the awfull side of the army life remember Mother that the average time a soldier fights in France is 4% of his time here I have been in the line four days out of over 3 mo then maby hiney never locates your post once so your safe you might say. but it is interesting to see the hiney flares light things up You can see his flares for miles in day light. I just say this so you can have an idea of what power they are,

After I sat down here two boys across the table and I got talking on christianity. the one says he don’t beleave there is a god and he denies the word of God, well we talked along time after they left another lad got up and come over and said you are right I want to have a shake hands with you and then he went on his way. I was sitting with my back to the other tables I do not know how many of the boys that know me were listening to me, It is going to stay clear tonight and will I guess be cool.

So Mother I beleave that education is a curse to christianity in its extremity the ministers oh I am afraid so many of them fall so short and the boys are all watching them. If I ever get back I think I will just preach from studying the word of God at home enstead of going to college I am afraid of this worldly knowledge for I beleave it drives a man cold to God. I have no business talking to these college boys who have studied for year when I was neglecting my chance, but God gives me the words that make them lack for any thing to say, and they always have to give me a word of encouragement on parting for sticking up for whit I beleave, A tree had to blow down and fracture one of our boys sculls on sick parade this a.m. to give me a chance to preach you might say the word of God to as many as were in hearing of our conversation.

Well Mother dear bye bye as ever your loving son Laurie