The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1918-07-14

and Mrs. J. r: Henderson, of Molino, |
was one OF the first to answer the call
of his country, enlisting May 20. 1917, |
with the Twelfth Field Artillery, and
is now Somewhere in France doing
his bit. He writes that soldier life
in France is simply great" and a
late letter received by his mother was
as follows:
A Soldier to His Mother.
Mothers Day. May IL, 1918, France.
My Dear, Precious Mother-This is
the day that has been set aside as
Mothers Day" but to me every day
is for mother. / am not wearing a
flower in the lapel of my coat for
my uniforf has no lapel, but. deaS
moth. l am wearing a flower of low
on my heart for you. I do hope this
will find you and all the loved ones
at home we'll and happy. / am feel
ing fine. The fact that we have had
two or three days of nice warm sun
shine is enough to max eany one feel
happy. In this country. We have had
some very bad weather but have been
provided for well in every way for
same by Uncle Sam, so we have no
room to complain. It IS much warm
er and the surrounding country is
very beautiful All the trees are
green, mowers iii III DlOCul anu the
birds singing sweetIy. The whole
world seems to be in tune with God,
the creator of all things beautiful.
When we go for ride on our horses
In the afternoon we can see the poor
farmers behind their ox-drawn plows
preparing their small pieces of ground
for planting and sometimes two or
three women with their Sunbonnets
and Bingham aprons are hoeing. Yes,
everything seems calm and peaceful
until the roaring OF cannons are
heard, or the bursting Of bombs from
an air battle overhead, and the regi-
ments of soldiers hiking on the road
on their way to the front. There is
something to always remind us OF this
awful war. 1t is forced upon ones
mind to the fullest extent, but never
worry, dear mother,~-for there is a
bright side to everything and this
war cannot last forever. What if the
war does last long time. or does not,
II after IL is all over mothers and the
highest things OF life are all safe and
sound and all can be together again.
I will be proud, dear mother, and in
deed, you will be proud of me, too
to think that did my part to help win
war fought for the same principals
that Christ himself died for. What a
harvest the kaiser will have to reap.
for you know the Bible says "as
We sow, so shall We reap" so just be
brave. dear mother. for my faith, the
same as yours. is in God, and it can
not fail
Mother the other day I went with
a special friend of fine who had to
deliver a special message In a small
town a few miles away, now used as a
military headquarters. but was be-
fore the war flourishing little ham
let. II was glorious day and we
reached our destination after about
two hours ride. We passed through
several villages that had been bonn
barded. The main road Is lined on
both sides with apple trees all in
bloom You will notice a bloom that
tore off on my way back to camp
that / pressed. On our way back to
camp we witnessed two air battles.
which were very interesting. and with
great satisfaction a large German OBJ
servation balloon was brought down.
While in town, mother. found place
where a Franch woman is keeping a
little store Very little was to be had
but did manage to get the enclosed
handkerchief and card for YOU. Both
together cost in French money four
francs and a half, which would be IN
our money about seventy cents Let
me know, mother. IL you receive them
o. K.
I have been patiently waiting for
letter saving that YOU had received
my first letter from France but have
so far been disappointed. 1 am ex-
pecting one very soon.
Mother give all my Sunday school
friends my best wishes and tell them
h; ~ oil D0-
member me to Mr.. and Mrs. Barga-
mer.
Will now close with my heart full