Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-12-05
OUR BOY
OUR COUn1RY'S SERVICE
Bordeaux. Nov. 8, 1918.

6OTOC0uAs sNOSs q A0Ao.
DeAr folks:
started on 4 new month and who
knows but 1t may be the last Not
quite 20 good as that am afraid but
1t don't look now as though 1t would
be long before we could count the
months and then I am afraid time
will 90 very slowly. bet the papers
In the U. S. A. sell. like hot cakes
now and everyone must be feeling
great and very proud of the boys over
here.
We are more than booming the
game and time fairly flies. l am very
busy nights and / sleep all the fore
noon and sometimes a part of the
afternoon. but at present such nice
weather has been too much Of an en-
ticement for long walks and believe
me. ! am taking advantage of it.
Several weeks age while out for a
walk I encountered woman in the
act OF trying to catch COW. She
seemed to be having difficulties and
so 1 took a hand and between us we
caught the beast. Naturally the
woman was very thankful and in
sisted on my coming in and trying a
glass of her tres bien vim rouge"
which translates very good red
wine," and it was fine. In the house
was an aged gentlemen $50 former
seq captain who had touched the
shores of America and visited our
larger seaports. and with his little
English and my broken French we
gotoaiong fairly well, and as I hap
pened to have an American cigar he
warmed up to me right away. So for
two or three times since I have made
a point Of calling on him and Offering
my cigars and last Monday he and
his housekeeper, the woman who in
vited me in. gave me an invite to
chicken dinner which was going to
come off Friday. So Friday I landed
at his ''maison" in time to see the
process of cooking the fowl. and say.
it's great! No stoves over here, just
plain fire places with On apparatus
suspended from the ceiling to the
floor, beside the fireplace and worked
with pulleys and big weight and fly
wheel. and long rod extending the
length OF the fireplace and through
the middle OF the chicken. After the
weight Is pulled to the ceiling they
start the ny wheel and the chicken
revolves Just fast enough so it doesn't
have a chance to burn and large
platter is placed under it to catch the
lard which is rubbed on the bird. 1t
took an hour to roast it and with the
turnfps. onions and beets it was great
even without the dressing The first
course consisted Of soup mostly
bread with onions ground up fine;
next was some roast beef with bread
and butter and wine: then came the
carving. Some feed! The folks and
I enjoyed it more than words can ex-
plain and they were very careful to
see that I got enough. They have a
large hog nearly ready for the butch
er and then they claim they will give
me real feed-not such a bad life?
have been intending to go see Jer-
~ all the week but every day has
seemed to have something waiting for
me. baseball. etc. We are going to
have regul1 game some day during
the week.
How Is Dad and his horses Are
they busy as ever? And you, dear
mother are you getting well and
when shall I get letter written by
you? ! have missed them something
awful and If it hadn't been for sis
ter's letters I should have gone wild
got one from her the other day
with the clippings telling me OF the
deaths Of Stat Stanley, Bearce and
John Ryan. Poor John, it's a shame
for such nice fellow to go like that
I also got Emma's letter and only
hope she stays with you until the arm
and yourself are all to the good.
Say, Ma, what do you mean by Civ
ing away my early boyhocd orAnks u
Ruby? ] guess I will have to talk TO
you. Now l think l have written one
long letter and in closing will say
that ! am the best evey and feeling
great, only l" ngins for home and YOU
all and won't I be >the happy boy
when I bound in at that kitchen door!
Heaps of love to all,
Neal