Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1918-08-23
LETTERS FROM SOLDIER BOYS
In the field, France, June IL, 1918.
Dear Frank and Iva:

Dear Frank and Iva:
Your joint letter, series 8, dated
Marchk26th and April 7th reached
me April 2S; the packet of clipping
on May 18th. Am always so pleased
to hear from you and your letters
are so interesting that always
want to get busy and answer them
right away but there iare so many
to write to that am not at liberty
to carry out tmy good intentions,
Apprecite the clippings that you
send and thank you very much.
Always pass them along to the |. P.
boys and they share their news with
me.
Just received a letter from Ruth
written in!Stratford, May 18th. She
writes that mother thinks Kenneth
is the cutest little son out All we'll
at home as you probably know; Ruth
and Clara are enjoying the beautiful
Stratford spring weather. Makes
me lonesome to think of what | am
missing but yet | suppose that my
lot could be worse than sojouring
in France. I'll say so anyhow.
No doubt you are all glad that
the severe winter is over. 1t must
have been tough on the railroad
boys. Was sorry to learn that Con-
ductor Merrill and Brakeman Gar
dner had met with fatal accidents.
The G. I. boys over here are all
fine. Bunnie Olson has been out in
the sun so much that his face looks
like a newly painted caboose. Talk
about your service fags-his map
has them all stopped.
Presume that you followed the big
spring push with unusual interest.
We were treated to some very
boisterous entertainment and business
was exceptionally good for me.
Our operations necessi tated
considerable moving about and
we are now qualified to- COM
pete with the best circus outfits on
the globe when it comes to moving
and giving quick performance in
another location. Our last move
was a Gem and our present location
the best that has been selected since
we arrived in France. In the
course of the different moves passed
through some beautiful country and
noticed any number of little towns
nesting among the hills and trees
that would be willing to settle down
in forxin life. The gardens attract
ed my attention; the French certain
ly do know how to make things
grow and everything is so we'll ar
ranged. Not a foot of land is vast
ed. Wild flowers here are very much
the same as in the New England
states, buttercups and daises were
plentiful as early as March. The
season seems to be about eight weeks
ahead of ours at home.
Oh yes, went bathing in the ocean
several times during the month of
May. The water was great and
you can probably imagine the joy |
experienced after having been
nearly nine months in shell torn
territory.
Do you read any of the different
articles concerning the part that
the U. S. is taking in this
great game? If you can get Scri-
bner's magazine for April this year
an article written by Winston
Churchill, A traveller of the War"
will be of interest to you, also
Solemn looking BIokes" in the
Christmas number of the Century
magazine. Let me know if you
are successful in securing these
magazines and what you thinks of
the articles in question. | used to
enjoy reading such articles before |
entered the service but somehow
did not take the same interest in
them that | do now.
Wonder if you recall that | enlist
ed over year ago? How time does
fly, it really does not seem long since
| sent you a card from Portland
Union Station saying that | had
joined up with Uncle Sans Yanks,
and yet it seems as if | had always
lived in France. | figured on two
years of overseas service as a
| ,,,iriinun and still think NV ul1acS q