Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France

#782373
Some where France
21-5-18

Dear Mother:–

I have spent the day on first aid class in the A,M, and some extended order drill this P,M. out on a nice field of grass that was not pastured off last year so when we lay down, it reminded me of the carpet of prairy wool in the west, but still there is some clover mixed among it that I like to search among for four leafed clovers, I went out on the hill tonight and read two articles in a post I got yesterday I don't know where it come from.

I was over around the transport lines just to go thru and among the horses it would be a treat to have a few months among horses again.

We are having the greatest summer weather that you could wish,

Well good night Mother dear as every loving son
Laurie

23rd

Well Mother I took quite a strole yesterday evening, but did not get the bath that I thot I would at a mine, So when I came back I bathed in a pond we have near the camp and went into the creep about four inches deep to finish off the wash. The water was warm and the sun had set so it seemed fine to be in it. We had our first aid class the A.M. in the shade of trees, The same yesterday, we surely enjoy and benefit by these, I wish I had been interested in this line in civilian life I could have easily acquired hints that would help me now,

There is a dust traveling down the road a lot like it does at home but seldom here. This country is surely beautiful, but it is an awful place in some ways for girls and boys to live in or to grow up in rather, I walked around a mine last night and there were girls there as small as Kathleen and they talk just as rough as any street urchen at home in our cities There seems no refinement in the girl more than the boy among these working class nothing is dirty to talk about they seem to have no such thought. They call all soldiers Jock.

Three Hindu boys came along and I showed them my snapps they seemed to like them, One a lance corporal was tickled to see Francis where he stood beside the barrel he tried to pat his head to show how he liked little folks.

24th 1.30 A.M.

Well Mother:– 

We are having a holiday today, but it started in to rain so we may not have much real sport,

Now my mind runs back to a ride on a train thru the night untill about day break and then detraining at a nice town or city on the coast of Old England, a year ago last night and this A.M, A walk of about a mile to barracks, where we had breakfast, spent several hours sleeping and writing, then about noon we crossed the channel for my first time.           

The day was nice you could see a long distance. I can yet see the harbor where we landed I remember the long hill we climbed up to camp where I slept my first night on French soil in tents.

Then the nineteen mile march the next day full marching order, a hot day, I beleave I can see the camp where we had dinner close to the road, tables were built we had tea bully beef and bread, at each town the girls would come out and sell us oranges and candy when they dropped out others would fall in and take there place.

I remember passing the large military cemetaries near the base, Later I walked thru them and watched for the graves of those I might know, but today manys the boy that marched with me then is lying there.

Well Mother supper is over and about an hour after supper McKeith and I ate a can of tomatoes and some crackers I ate a hot hard boiled egg to. I always eat more than I should if I am tempted.

Just a year ago tonight we left good old Whitley. and it has not been to bad a year at all. If the next on is no harder we will come out feeling good,   I had no idea or thought that I would be carrying on in a year the same way as when I started, but in a little better job. There an't any better job much in the co'y than my S. B. job off coarse when there is many casualties every one does all he can as long as he is lucky enough to not get hit.

I have a can of approcots for McKeith and 2 for breakfast,

I finished a good book tonight on the "Seven Sayings of Christ on the Cross,"  I surely got good out of it,

Reedman and I have read and studied together several times lately I beleave that we will hold our little meeting again this summer if we are spared to carry on.

We were talking about the boys that we used to meet with last summer and as to what was there fate, They are scattered from here to Canada and some have passed out.

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