Daily Kennebec journal., 1917-12-22

to his mother from Somewhere in
France"
! Sunday.
My Dear Mother:
| have just returned to quarters from
the office, after making Jim read most
of his several letters from home, which
he received today. | surely do hope
to get a first hand letter from you
soon.
| We are now ,quartered and perma-
nently settled for the winter in a small
country village of France located on
the bank of a pretty little river. Our
little army Of six has one very large
room in one Of the many old stone
houses of the village. Our room has
two windows and closet, two old
fashioned bureaus. stove, table and
several chairs. We are surely very
comfortably settled for the winter, and
Mother, dear, for a truth you have not
the need to worry the least that am
suffering any hardships. The eats We
are getting are certainly Of the best,
and when you are sending me eat
ables send only things that will not
spoil, candy, milk chocolate, peanuts,
etc.
1 am feeling just fine and still weigh
nay 1S0> pounds. | am out of doors
practically all the time and never did
feel better in my life.
The little village which is now our
habitat is a typical quaint old village
with it's very old stone houses with
their red tile roofs; each house has a
small adjoining garden surrounded by
a siX-foot wall covered with vines.
like my work just fine and, Mother.
dear, this army life is going to be just
the thing for part of my education.
Only yesterday Jim and walked to
town near here where the second
maine is billeted. I saw Carl Aldrich,
Carl Nickerson, George Talbot and
Leigh Webber All the boys are we'll
and looking fine. l also saw a lot of
Colby men. and you can't realize how
good it seems to meet all these BOYS
somewhere in France" Did not see
Earle Hobbs and doc" Niles, but will
go over again soon.
! Monday
| Not five minutes ago Doc" brought
me in letter from you, the first
have received, dated Oct. 81, only
short note. You can't imagine how
glad 7 was to get some word from
you. This afternoon l again rode over
! to see the boys of the end Maine and
this time | saw Earle HOODS and doc"
Niles. Both are looking we'll. Earle
had just received letter from his
mother and two others.
! Every day now l meet some one
! from Maine | have known before. To-
night McQuillan and Phiibrick are
playing banjo and violin, both are
artists. They first play the Bowdoin
Beta song, but they are always very
thoughtful for me and they soon play
the Colby Alma Mater song 1t sure
| ly does sound good. our little orchestra
certainly helps a lot to pass away the
evening. So, Mother, you can we'll be-
lieve we are very comfortable. Only
tonight we had a feed in our room Of
eggs and toast, pickles and coffee. No
( fraternity banquet at the Augusta
House ever equalled it.
| The country around here reminds me
for all the world of New England
scenery. except that the roads are
wonderful real boulevards with trees
planted along each side at regular in
tervals. The native French are a most
hospitable people. ] have seen thou
sands of French soldiers in their neat
! light blue uniforms. They are splen-
did men. very polite and always give
you word Of good cheer. Some Of
the French officers in their elegant uni
forms, are the best looking men have
ever seem.
| Remember me to all my friends.
will write to them all in time. but
since I cannot send post cards I must
send letters and they take time. Please
send newspapers, magazines. etc. as
we are just hungry for news Of all
kinds. Urge everyone to write.
Address:
| Pvt. William H. Erbb.
! Headquarters Field Hospital Sec,
26th Division. American Elk. Forces,
| Via New York"