New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1918-02-13
QUIT Worrying
ABOUT THE EATS
This Is Message From American
Soldier With Ezpeditionary Force

Two letters have been received by
Mr.. and Mrs. F.. G.. Bradley of 4S
Harrison street from their son, Leon
Bradley, who is now stationed In
France with the American expedi-
tonary forces. Young Bradley is well
known by many OF the young people
Of the town, having played center on
the High school football team during
the year 1916. Before his enlistment
in the service he was an active mem
Der of one of the Scout Troops. The
letter follows:
"101st Machine Gun battalion, Co. c.,
Somewhere in France,
Dec. "a, 1917.
Dear Folks:
This being Christmas eve, and as
l have not as yet received the box
YOU spoke Of, I am going to celebrate
the occasion by simply writing home.
Next to reading couple of letters
fl ON home, that gives me the most
pleasure of anything. One thing that
keeps me cheerful is the hope that
there is a chance of a boxor two wan
dering in later when the other fol-,
lows are gone. For heavens sake.
quit worrying about the eats here.
We are we'll taken care of in quantity
and quality. and we have a reason
able variety. I told you Of our
Thanksgiving dinner. Our Christmas
dinner Will. [ think, surpass that.
probably can tell you tomorrow when
J finish this. 7 have to go on guard
COW every three days. [ was relieved
this afternoon, but while on guard,
saw twenty-five aeroplanes in the air
at once, they certainly looked pretty
i,o IoI
like a small crowd of bees. Another
beautiful sight I saw was a little diff
ferenr from anything at home. Yes
terday there was a very heavy fog in
the morning. it was also very cold
and snappy. Before noon the fog
had settled on everything and frozen
there. The trees were white with it
and it chung even to the spider webs.
It really was beautiful looking from
the town up into the mountains The
son Of the landlady has just come in
to visit and, as the sergeant who
usually talks with him is out, it is up
to me as second interpreter of the
billet to keep him interested. He is
home from the front on a ten day
furlough, so I expect to gain some in
formation from him"
"wednesday, Dec. 26.
To-day I have quite a little time to
write, because the rest of the COM
pany has gone over to the range for
all day. l do not have to drill on
account of having to take charge of
the bugting school, as at Mantle. We
finished rather early SO [ have the
rest of the day to myself except that
I must go on guard again this noon,
and will again be free at drill period,
know you want to know how my
Christmas was spent, as badly as [
want to hear Of yours. so / will try
and give an account of it. as it hap
pened. In the first place reveille was
sounded an hour later than usual. We
then fell in for mess where it was
announced that there would be exer-
cises in front of headquarters. Upon
going there I saw a big Christmas
tree set up in the courtyard and
trimmed with flags of all the nations
except for some undesirables, and
stars and some tinsel There was
snow on the ground and it was a
picture Soon the crowd collected
officers soldiers and civilians, for it
was not soldiers good time alone,
it was to be municipal. The program
commenced with a speech by Major
Howard. 1t was a fine speech 10
those who understood it, for it was
delivered to the townspeople IN ex-
ceIlent French. Second was speech
read by the Honorable Mayor of the
village. this was also in French
"a chorus of the fellows of our
companies sang some of our Amer-
can songs and ballads Then the viii
Ia scI1oolnaster came forward with
his scholars who ranged from four
or five to eleven years, about eighteen
of them They gave a recitation
which was fine. For the most part
they spoke as one child at once with
surprising earnestness and express