Mansfield mirror. (Mansfield, Wright County, Mo.) 1908-1957, 1918-06-13
From Jess Ross

From Jess Ross
In France, on active service in
the Field, May II, 1918.
Mrs. May Ross and all at home.
Mansfield, Missouri.
My darling Mother:-Now
don't get scared because I write
two letters this week, there is
several good reasons could men.
tion, but to make it short I'll
just say l neglected you a little
long one time and to make that
up and again in clear conscience,
III just write today, but really
the real reason is I'm not on
duty just now having finished
my turn at guard and having a
few minutes to look wise l SOU
andered a bigger part of a franc
in a writing pad and the best
way to see if it is good is by the
simple process of trying it out.
and as home happened to loom
up in my memory then it is you
who is going to have a letter out
of this tablet. Not that my tent
or the eats remind me of home,
but the gloomy atmosphere of a
drizzly foggy day in a tent slight
ly cold mot cold just chilly and
a little lonesome, with a diet of
stewed mutton for dinner to be
ate on the ground where it would
get properly cold before l had
my potatoes freed Of their fati.
que jackets, I believe those few
facts furnish a big enough con-
trast with home to make one
remember especially if they dis.
like mutton as I do, with a home
like I havv, a mother who looks
exactly to my taste and things
to my liking; I'm not g%rumbling,
l only mentioned the fact be
cause I want to arbitrate and
compromise with you so l can
have the big norris rocker to
sit in. and then spend my time
in eating and sitting in the chair
not to get up at reveille in
The morning and can have my
light burning as long ash Want
let it burn, all l Am supposed
do is just be boss, under these
conditions which I am sure are
good ones, I'll come home i'm
nediately when things are all
light with the Huns again. In
camps, and going about
crashes, l have seen some of
france; it surely is a beautiful
with many places of in.
although for reasons given
~ censors cant tell of them,
out one place especially holds
ny fancy, it is an old cathredal
luge in structure, with a lot of
anne and interest attached as
t is an old relic of France, beau.
iful in architect and masonry
work, of course I won't bring it
ZONE for a souvenir, ha. ha, but
o quit Joking with these things
nd many other ones to consider
have made a very simple con.
;lusion with very little medita.
ion, that home is first, just for
he fun of it l will as a little more
n details, why I think of home
10 often; no, that would be too
lard, and too much writing to
worry you with, I can think of
,ome without a sad thought. for
When I was home on that ridicu
Gus short week end pass and
lid you good bye, I planned a
title trick as you know to keep
lou from crying and you smiled;
possibly you don't think 1 know
What that smile costyou, l could
zee very easy that you wasn't at
ii In a notion to smile, but now
when I think of home where I
IAN remember it, that smile is
worth more to me than you have
he slightest idea, I am where it'd
Doesn't take any hunting to see
grief, but a smile is valuable.
Well, so much for that or else
you will think I'm home sick,
when / am nothing of the kinl,
only mentioned that to show
you I have d better sense of ap.
probation, one can always ap.
,reciate any thing better after
;ata,tropheo or sad parting brings
me to a quick and more accurate