Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France
#782373
S.W. in France
11-24-17
Dear Mother:–
I havent written any for two days I guess. I am sitting down stairs at the table the nice little stove is doing its duty, the electric light is overhead. The Mr of the house is helping the Mrs peal potatoes, five other of our boys are at different places in room. I got a new tunic today big enough for sweater and jerkin the Mrs is laughing and talking about me not filling it out plump. the Mr had it and my cap on a few minuets ago. The Mrs washes our mes tins each A.M. and as we get up each A.M. at 6 O.K. she sends the boy Marcel up stairs with a pitcher of coffee and cups for each one. We feel that we are more than lucky to be used in this way. we had a good bath today and change of every thing so we feel good and clean like new men. We wash at the back door have a wash dish and things quite handy.
I will not get my picture taken now but if I live I will try to send you a good one before spring I will have 14 days leave before april, will goo to Blighty Give me any infermation you can about where I might find Linisky costel I may look them up if I can The time will soon pass we will not realize it, you can't amagine how the time flies to me, it don't drag at all to me. I got your package tonight with cap in but did not open it yet. will go up and do that now, I will treat the boys at bed time I was for a walk around the city last night there is some fine stores, and fine look girls and wemen.
25th Sunday 2.30 P.M.
I have been out walking around for about two hours looking at things conditions and city, mine, every thing in general. I wish I could tell you how nice and at home the folks make use feel, they try to repeat everything over and over until we compre.
Some of the moral conditions are very bad here but I don't know the people don't know the difference so maby it is all the same.
Monday 4 P.M.
I have thirty minuits to wait untill supper is ready I am in an Estamenet they are about as plentiful here, all over as they used to be in the cities in America a few years ago, I just got a hair cut I wear my hair clipped most of the time but this time have started to let it grow out so I will be able to comb it when my leave comes in two or three months. I should have sent these letters today but I went to ranges early this a.m. and could not send them at noon as usual.
I done better shooting today I think than ever, I had a turn on M. Gun to We had dinner right out there I lay among some scrub in the twigs and grass while I ate my mulligan and biscuits and drank my tea. a hair cut costs 6¢ here with tonic that would cost you 50¢ out home. quite a difference in an old country an't there.
I was at church yesterday heard a good sermon in a big theater.
Well Mother I just got thru supper we all sat around the table together and talked The Mr and Mrs are learning to talk some English and we are learning to say a few words of French We have two school teachers who know quite a bit of French they help use out some.
I can't write I have to pay a certain amount of attention to what the boys are saying.
27th 9.30 a.m.
A rainy day so we are all in our room happy don't care how long it continues, we are unconsiderate for the boys up the line, we are so far away we never hear the guns unless we stop and pay special attention. I never do that. Off coarse you see the flashes of the guns like lighting in a distance. I don't beleave anyone can hear the sound of battle in England. It must be the anti air craft working and in there excitement they think it is the battle field in France.
The sleeping cap you sent me beats any thing I ever thot of and I will wear it under my steal cap to, I have an other I told you about in a previous letter.
I treated the boys and people here all a piece of candy and fruit cake, The packages are fine just any way you would like to mix them. The French people have very common food they don't go in much for candy, cake, cookies but they do have beer and cigarettes all the time the little boys smoke as soon as they get old enough to puff.
Well bye bye Mother dear as ever you loving son
Laurie