The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1918-06-20
ANOTHER SOLDIER LETTER
Edgar B. Kelly's Missive To His
Parents,

Edgar B. Kelley, of near Oakland. who
is now with the Expeditionary Forces in
England. has written the following let
ter to his parents in which he warns
against waste and the great necessity
of growing large crops to feed the world:
MY DEAR PARENTS AND ALL:-Will
write you a few lines this evening.
This leaves me o. k. and hope it finds
you the same. Well, | am Just now be-
ginning to get the letters you sent me.
| received the special delivery you sent
today. Gee. how glad l am, and how
happy it makes me to hear from home,
A person doesn't realize what home
is until he gets three or four thousand
miles away. l trust the day will soon
come when can be back with YOU and
Aenjoying the good things from the farm.
| If Just had some of mammals butter
and buckwheat cakes how | would en-
joy them. Did you make very much
syrup and sugar this season? Sugar
| and all sweets are very scarce over
here. Weare allowed to buy one pound
of sugar a week at the U. S. commits
| sary which costs four and one half
pence, or nine cents. 1t costs me on
an average of one dollar and twenty
| five cents day to live and board here.
although this provides me with a good
room and plenty to eat. :
We-have certainly been working very
hard the past week. We work every
night up until ten o'clock or later, but
at last we have caught up so 1t won't be
so bad now.
How are you getting along with your
spring work? Fine, hope, for we GER
talniy use all the farmers can raise this
year. so do put out all you can and be
sure and take care of it. put it out
good, etc. Sincerely you can't realize
how precious food is and how much it
means to the world and boys over here.
Indeed. papa, you can't have the least
idea how the world is suffering over
here. but if you was over here for one
month YOU would go back to the farm
and then not let single grain of the
crops go to waste. Now. l believe it is
up to we Americans to finish this war,
and in order to do so it is necessary for
the people at home to supply US. |
have no fear but we can do this and
come through victorious, but we must
have the people at home to back us.
We have been suffering in a severe
battle the past two weeks. | must say
that Sherman spoke the truth when he
made the statement that war was
hell. " say hell is credit to this, for
if there is hell it is a place where
each man or woman will suffer his or
her sin, but in this case an innocent
man is compelled to take the life of his
brother. 1t is a sad thing indeed to
witness this war. | sincerely believe
that America entered this war because
she had to and we that are here doing
our bit believe we are fighting for the
cause of God, humanity and America,
and we are willing to give our lives for
peace. This, hope will soon come.
Mother, | am boarding with a very
nice family, and the madam treats me
so nice. 1t is the nearest to home |
have struck since | enlisted. She is
writing few lines to you in this letter.
AS it is late | will close. Now don't
worry about me for | am O. k. With
love and best wishes to one and all.
Your loving son.
EDGAR r KELLEY