The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1918-01-21
PRIVATE BROCK GETTING FAT.
Barre Boy Increases Size of Trousers with
Every New Pair.

A letter full of cheer has been receive,
by Mr.. and Mrs. f. G. Brock from thei
son. Dean Brock, with the American ex
peditionary forces in France. As follows
Dec. 81, 1917
Dear Folks: just line to say that
am all O. X, and hope you are the same
Well, / guess now / am fixed so | car
write pretty often, SO you can get let
Ter more often. have not received the DO,
that my sweater is in yet; it must b.
going all over France, but / think | viii
get it now before long
Christmas eve | received O box will
six cans of tobacco, a fruit cake and
some chocolate bars. Don't know who il
was from yet. 1t came in tin can. We
are getting anywhere from four to six
bags of mail day, so probably before
New Years ! will receive some more
boxes. Well, last night | got three let
tiers from yon, telling about Stub Ged-
DIES, and | hope he will make good at
West Point. ! also got one from Mr..
'ieddes, so you can tell him | received it
and was glad TO hear that Stub" was
going to West Point. | also got one from
sister, and tell her and brother | will
write them in a week. / got the pictures
she sent me all o. X.
Well, we had some time here Christ
mas, now believe me. We had big
Christmas tree in the cook house, all
lighted up with candles, and the room
was decorated with red, white and blue
paper. We each had Christmas present
from the company. | got five nice hand
kerchiefs, and, believe me, | was glad TO
get them, and, as ] say, | also got the
box, We got our captain an oyercoat for
present.
Well, last Saturday some of the boys
and | went to little town, and bought
me some spirals. Those are the leggins
hat you wind around the legs. They
cost IL francs; that is about So in our
money. Then we went into baker shop
and the six of us all bought a pie. 1t
was squash pie, and, believe me, it was
good, and we all bought some walnuts
and dates and chocolate bars. A choco-
late bar here costs sic. Well, after we
had done all the shopping we wanted to,
we went into a French cafe and had
supper, consisting of bread, butter. wine,
apple pie, French fried potatoes and
steak. all for four francs apiece, which is
soc in our money. They sell lots of wine
here to the boys, but it is too sour for
me, so don't worry about my drinking
France up.
Well, | hope everything in Barre is
o. X. Remember me TO the people. If II
were you, folks, | would lock up the
house and go south with the rest. Well,
] have just thought of my box again,
and | remember the address now that
was on the box, so it must have come
from you. The cake was in fine condi- |
tion, and it was mighty good, too
Well. we are having good old Yer !
mont snowstorm now. 1t has showed |
about four inches so far and is still
showing. | have all I want to eat, so
don't think | am starving, We have
oatmeal and karo, bread aud coffee, and
sometimes we have rice with karo and
believe me, it is good. The next morning
we have bacon and potatoes, and then we
start over again. For dinner we usually
have mashed potato roast beef, bread
and coffee, and for supper we have baked
beans, canned peaches or hash corned
beef, so you see | can't be very hungry.
| am so fat that every time | get pair
Of breeches or a coat / have to get a
size larger, and ii is all ] can do to get
my overcoat on.
Well, | guess this is all for this week,
20 will close, wishing you all a happy
New Year. Dean.
Co. A, l0lst Machine Gun Battalion,
18th Division, A. f. +.