Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1918-02-13
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John A. Kelley, OF the New Hope sec
ton. from her son, then just return
ing from trip to Europe:
Aboard L. S. S., Jan. 7. 1918.
Dearest Mother: We arrived here
this morning at $40 and you know
! am glad. as It seems ages since |
was here. We were - days on our
way over and had it rough for the
last O days--so rough that we could
not eat on the tables, but il was not
one bit cold. When We arrived here
we found everything frozen up, float
ing ice everywhere. and it is sure
Going hard with us. We are still
out in the stream and don't know
when we go in the yards, but to-mor-
row, think. as we are out Of every
thing to eat; in fact, we did not
have enough all the way over. Had
TO eat hard bread most all Of the
time. but we did not mind as we
knew that we were going back to the
States. We hope to get mail to-
morrow. and YOU can imagine how
glad we will he. for it has been so
long since we heard from home.
| am doing fine and feel good I'm
fact | have gained about 10 pounds
since | went away. do hope that all
Of you are well and have had the best
OF health since went away. and that
everything has gone we'll with you
all the way through; that you got a
good price for all Of your farm pro-
duce, and that the harvest was as
great as YOU could wish for.
suppose you had the usual good
time Christine and that all Of the
boys got to come home. OF course.
spent happy one, though that looks
impossible to YOU, does 1t not? =
being away out on the "briny dcerm
and nothing but water everywhere:
but YOU know we all knew that We
were on our way to the United States.
and that was enough to make us all
happy, as we were so anxious to get
back
Well. | had the best Of luck, and
did not sec a single submarine. and
no trouble at all. Had good time
in all OF the ports that we went to.
and like them all fine; but the ones
in France are the best Of them all. |
went to 9OrtS in France, England.
Wales and ireland. and some OF the
towns were sure pretty, but none OF
them like the towns in dear old L..
S. \.
''l' Sou SNSt tuH vi ulN lcllcIS
hope SO any way. and | do hope that
YOU never worried any about me. 1t
Ia, OF course, needless for me to say
I that ii was dangerous for us. and all
OF that over there. but it, is not as
bad as YOU think: but YOU can believe
me when you hear me say that you
certainly can see the effects OF this
war on the people, and see it bad.
NJ il ~ "a I'm tn ho,
| some one come around every morn
inG and give you the loaf OF bread
that YOU are to eat all that day, dish
out the sugar to you, not let YOU burn
lights at night, not let YOU have your
| private car to ride in. and all Of that
kind or stuff, You can say that war
| Is h. Then. too, at every port you
go to YOU see all kinds OF criDplcs
| and sec the many mothers and wives
dressed in black. then YOU know
something Of what war is. Yet you
would be surprised to see just how
bravcly all Of them bear it. They
have smile on their faces all OF the
time and don't seem to mind it at all
when they tell you they have given
ono. two or three sons to the cause.
You can imagine how very glad I
was to see Chaplain NJ. o. Alexander
at Queenstown. Ireland. He looks
as we'll as usual and asked all kinds
Of questions about all Of you back
home, and seemed glad to see me.
lie said he wrote something on the
letter that | wrote You. know you,
too. were glad that got to see him.
Then at La Pallicc. France, ran
across J. b. Todd. boy from Wal
halla that knew well; sure was
glad to see him.
| made my rate on December 1st
and am now general store-keeper, Sd
class, (petty officer Sd class). now
Will have the crow on my arm. or
course that sounds foolish to you, but
1t means a whole lot to fellow in
the service. and am real proud Of
my promotion. as there have been
many boys that have gone through
the service and never made the rate
that skipped (seaman). All Of the
offircrs gave me their congratulate
tiOnS.
You must write me all OF the news
ana about all Of the folks, as you
must remember that | have been
away from civilization a long time
and do not know thing that has
been going on back home. Was But
Ter exempted from the draft? | do
hope so. am most scared to get my
mail for fear something has gone
wrong. ! do hope not. though. How
is fathers hearing this winter? Is 1t
cold there? They say this Is the
first time that the bay here has been
frozen over in 20 years. Pete and
Bcnnie Roy are in school. | suppose?
don't know yet what the chances
are for furlough. but Of course
will come if can. | hope so any
Nny cnulI foil ,n, lntc and lotc