The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1917-10-13

Dearest
This is the first opportunity l have
had to write you. 1t is hard work, but
| haven't any kick coming. l consid-
cred the sacrifice before l enlisted.
We were almost starved at first, but
things are better now. If you come
up, let me know when you are COM
ing. Don't worry, Mother. 1t is, you
know, the supreme sacrifice, and if |
am shot, remember that long ago l
! enlisted as a soldier of the cross.
, Should l die, l shall live and in the
years of eternity you will be proud of
the faith l put in works. Tell Edith
vas so sorry not to see her at the de-
pot to say good bye" and not to worry
over it.
My love to you all,
HARRY.
A number of letters and postals
during the stay at Sea Girt, but this is
the first one after leaving Sea Girt:
On Board Train, Sept. IS, 1917.
My dear Mother
We are between Baltimore and
Washington. We had a splendid
"send-off" at Sea Girt, and we surely
hated to leave such nice people. The
idulco llOlA lA6 NOuldu > octNlCe OdI-
teen, gave each soldier something to
eat in nice, clean paper bags. You
know, mamma, that was quite an I'M
dertaking, when about 1000 boys had
to be fed. Our Governor and General
Barber We're there, and most everyone
felt touched. Our friend, Mrs. G.,
came over in her car and brought me
a beautiful pair of pig-skin p~uttees.
l suppose they must have cost $500.
She has been so kind to me, mamma.
I've had dandy time at Sea Girt and
l feel fine, and l hope to return home
well and strong and happy. We are
in Pullmans and they are fine, three
men to a section. | slept in an upper
berth and had it all to myself. l slept
fine. We got up at $50. It's now al
most Z a. m. Don't worry about me,
mamma, just ask God to take care of
me and bring me safe back home
again. Tell Hugh Collins" to be a
good little boy and when l come home
l will bring him something nice. Love
to "Uncle Coo, Aunt Kate, Uncle Bill,
Aunt Ray and all the rest. We are
nearing Washington and l haven't
much time. l just want you to know
l I'M thinking of you, dear. Yours,
HARRY.
Postal card, mailed at Hamlet, N.
C.-Taken out for a hike. Don't wor-
ry, mother. I'm o. X. Yours, Harry.
First letter from Camp Mcclellan:
Oct. 4th, 1917.
Dearest Mother
I'm feeling fine, but am working
hard. We have taken off our uni
forms and donned blue over-alls, and
instead of soldiers we look like labor
| ers. We use pick and shovel and we
are building roads, chopping down
trees and digging bitches. 1t was a
sea of mud when we came. 1t is dry
ing up now. The mountains are beau
tiful and the air seems so pure. 1t is
lonesome here-so far from town. 1t
has many disadvantages. Mamma, if
you have a quilt to spare, send it to
me, as l am so cold at night. The
first night we were here we had to
sleep most anyway. l slept in sort of
a shed. Love to all. Don't worry,
mamma. I'm o. X. HARRY.
Second Letter from Camp McClel-
Ian:
10 r. H. F. A., Bat. D., Sunday Eve.
Dearest Mother
Your letter came to-day, and as u.s.
ual, l was glad to hear from you,
dearie. l was over to Admission this
a. m. to the Methodist Church there,
and a young lady invited me out to a
chicken dinner at her home. She is a
sweet little girl and has invited me to
come in at any time. Wasn't it lovely
in her, mamma. They have a beauti-