Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France
#782373
S.W. in France
11-18-17
Dear Mother:–
We are having fine weather cloudy but warm just like England last year I wear a little pair of kid gloves all the time have had no others on at any time yet since I salvaged them I wore a pair I made a few times before that. I am in a Y.M.C.A. in a nice big city there is a boy playing the piano that can play. I had a good ride on a train not many hours since and am in rest billets at a good old farm the barn I am sleeping in is about 80 by 400 ft hay barn the people have eleven cows and some young heifers a bunch of pigs chickens etc.
After supper I got my belt on and started to come to town, I just missed a buss about 1/4 of a mile from the farm so I walked on slowly just enjoying life to the fullest thinking of home and all the loved ones and friends and neighbors old times in general. Pete Campbell said the other as we talked. that he remembered seeing me bring a threshing crew to church in my overalls and go up and sit in the front seat. I had forgotten all about that time but I wished that I had the same chance to night.
Well when I got close to town I met one of the boys who is given to drink quite heavy he had been down town to supper. we walked on in again and talked he said there was no Y so I thot I would go right home after I had walked the main street but a boy told use where the Y was so I told Abrams that I wanted to write so we parted, I will kick myself for a long time if he gets drunk for not taking him home but I like to get to a table to write I havent very often the chance,
2.30 P.M. 11-20-17
Well Mother I am as usual sitting in my alloted space in rest billets. This stop I am put upstairs in barn. I had a good ride in a motor this a.m. but I feel asleep so I have not a good idea about how far I road.
I am going out for a walk after a while and then again after supper I don't know if there is a good town close now or not. I care less, I am just happy and content at any thing in any place. I am surely going to appreciate to the fullest, life when away back from the line.
21st 5.40 P.M.
I had a good march this a.m. and this p.m. done nothing but walk around and took a good sleep for an hour or so.
After supper Bob Mc and I come to the house and asked if we could come in and sit at the table to write, the lady said wee, wee, and seems so nice the little boy talks tra bon so we get on fine, I gave him one of those shin plasters you sent me for a souvenir.
I would like to be able to talk good French if one could get the starte he would go ahead because he would keep talking every chance he met any one, I lent my pencil the a.m. to a lad to mark a roll of blankets and he did not give it back, so I had to borrow Bobs about two inches long.
It is misty today and nice and warm we walked along sweating a lot of the time.
I was watching two men and a little girl thresh beans today The horse they used was a 1500 lb chestnut a dandy. I like to see the big horses work they are so big fat and strong and slow they just lean against the collars as content as a cow lyes around in the pasture in a foot of grass.
[Page missing -- no signature. The following is dated right, but the page is misnumbered if it is part of the same letter.]
8.40 P.M. 22-11-17
Another home and a good one, upstairs in a home the people are fine mother father one boy 14 who's smart he talks good english he has been taught at school. we are in a nice city again so will enjoy our stay. I am on fire piquet for 24 hours that just keeps me from going down town. But no other duty unless fire bugal goes. They lost one boy, missing since Aug. 19th 1914 the other boy lost a leg below the knee. Where I was last night the father was called up on the mobilization and killed one month ago. Mothers brother a prisoner since 1916. One boy sixteen other eleven with the mother the boy 16 works on munitions
They have mine canaries the boys said "I see you are a farmer" when he saw me counting the birds. The one male sings fine. I like to here him.
I have my equipment all cleaned ready for parade tomorrow.
I am going to try to get started to talk French some of the boys that have been over longer than I can do very well now, a time like this where we have a chance to be in the house among the people.
We have had some great old arguments as we marched along, on all subjects, temerance, morality, war, and a dozen other things.
Well good night Mother dear as ever your loving son
Laurie
PS. I think I will get these pages started tomorrow.