Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France

#782373
Some where France 
13-5-18

Dear Mother:– 

As I walked out over the hill to a place to write, I chose a hill covered with nice green grass about eight inches high over looking a French village that has a few trees mixed among the house, to the right a large bunch of cattle graze, I don't know but I amagine this bunch are refuge cattle because there is a pasture with 103 head of refuge horses in not far away. Then the distance to both right and left the villages some of these villages very nearly connect.

There are mines among the villages and you can see mine shafts sticking up away back in Heine land, at times I have seen the flashes of guns from among houses and etc,

We had a great time this P.M. it was co'y sports P.M, so a lot of us took part. I ran in the three leg race the 100 yd and the 220 yd but did not get but one second I only entered to support an interest and carry things along, if only the winners took part there would be no sports, but our platoon got the most points so we got a prise of 20 frank $10.00 (corrected later we lost by 5 points) Our Sergeant Choter and Mr Martin our platoon officer saved the day they are both fine on the run and other sports to. This is the the first time in my life I ever took an active part in these kind of sports, but last year I was in a platoon relay race, I also took part in the relay race today,

Well good night Mother dear I will have to spend an hour reading now before eight oclock.

as ever you loving son, Laurie.

16th  8 P.M.

Dear Mother I took a strole over to mine and had a good bath to night "No,"as you were" it was at a brewery and I surely enjoyed the good hot water and rub down after it, then on the road home I took a dubble of three minuites just for the good of my wind I was loaded down a little heavy, but that will only hold down your speed it is just as good for the wind.

We had a good day I shot on the ranges this A.M, this P.M, slept, I will have to close as ever

Laurie

[in margin] I am sitting on a bank facing the good old west the sun is slowly going behind a heavy haze. L.