The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-02-28
Sk0WHEGAN HIGH BOY
WRITES HOME
Son of Local Shoe Dealer Writes to
Former Employer

fOrmer employer
In the summer OF 1915, Cassimir
Bisson was chauffeur for the Patten
family. Besides driving and taking
care of the car. his duties included
work on the lawn, in the garden and
otherwise about the premises Cas-
would uncomplainingly pilot the ma
chine for days. without rest, if neees-
sary He took great pride in keep
ing it in perfect operating condition.
and spick and span as to appearance.
He did not eyince the same interest
In the agricultural part of his work,
and there did not seem to be the same
incentive for him to combat the weeds
with the dust in the tonneau of the
automobile. The garden had, at the
opening of the season. "a small patch
devoted to potatoes, and other plots
assigned for the development of corn,
beans, tomatoes and lettuce. One
after another all these agricultural
departments were Abandoned; first
the tomatoes went under, then ii
seemed hardly advisable to attempt TO
rescue the lettuce from the towering
weeds; the lady of the household gave
up everything patiently, but made a
20 ha in
formed that must be pulled thru at
all costs. 1t was royal battle.
which lasted all summer, and per
haps history will never record de
Cisive victory for either side. 1t Wa
short row, at the beginning, and
few hills were reIinquished at each
end. from week to week At harvest
time. there was a total of ten stalks
from which ears were finally gather
ed Cas- corn crop was a standing
joke With the family, and this 'chauf-
feur gardener" stood good deal of
guying with excellent good-natare
about i, This explanation is neces-
sary that the postscript to the follow
ing letter may be fully appreciated
Somewhere in France"
Dec. 23, 1917.
Dear Mrs Patten:
Your most welcome Xmas box
received a few days ago and | wish
to thank you very much for being so
king as to think of the boys Of 1917
over here in France. You surely must
have had an idea, what effect this new
experience would have upon us, es-
pecially, being so near Xmas and in
a strange land, where war has taken
the feeling of good cheer from nearly
every home. 1t surely put new feel
ing of cheerfulness into me and hope
that ! may have the chance to thank
you personally some day.
| was the first one to receive your
box but undoubtedly the rest of the
fellows will receive theirs in day
or two as mail is coming in very
fast now. We have all been quite
lucky so far in receiving mail, but
we are always looking for more be-
cause it seems that letter or parcel
is all that keeps us in touch with
civilization.
Everything has been going fine ever
since we landed here except that the
weather is getting colder, which
makes 1t little harder to get UP in
the morning, to go out and drill but
otherwise we are standing the strain
wonderfully and hope we can keep 1t
up.
We have been issued our steel he'll
NETS and gas masks, so you see we
are being prepared to meet the
"bosches" You would hardly reeog-
nize the boys of 1917" now when in
full dress"
Aeroplanes are as common as auto
mobiles here and most any time dur
ing the day, we can hear the hum OF
the engines as they sail high above
our heads
suppose it must be lonesome in
Skowhegan now with the class OF
1917" gone and you certainly must
miss Eunice 1t will surely be d more
experienced group at the next class
meeting.
| will close now wishing you all
Merry Xmas" and very Happy
New Year" although it will be rather
late when this letter reaches you.
Yours sincerely,
CAS-
', ,bo ,,r,, af5II proWiDp3