Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-08-01
When the Mail Comes In
(By Walter s. Ball., in Providence
[Rt IL Journal.)

(By Walter s. Bail, in Providence
lRt IL J%ournal.)
With the American Forces, July %.
"A private enters the billet with sus-
picious haste.
Mail coming, sargeant! he says.
Good! Now, fellows, let's hustle It
along to the boys"
Somebody leaned out Of a window,
to see the supply wagon from down
below turning the corner.
Here she comes!i he warned.
Out through the blllets and along
the company streets. so-called. the
word ran. mostly in undertakes. !.
"Bill's brought UP the mail wagon"
"Hooray!"
Its about time!"
Jaw, hell! Bet I don't draw a thing.
Didn't last time" ss
"The mor reason for getting some
thing this trip. Cheer up"
Everybody goes on about his work.
But there is q suppressed atmosphere
of excitement suddenly thrown around
the whole place.
Each man lets his body go ahead
with the accustomed duties. But his
mind is doubtless occupied with stirred
thoughts Of all the friends at home
who ought to have been writing him
letter is an event and two letters are
a festival the question grows keen as
the men wait for the distribution.
The heavy bags are taken to the
mail s~ergeant's room, and there he
and his assistants sort it quickly.
Letters first, of course. Unluckily
this mail, while heavy. is mor heavy
with papers than with letters. These
are soon divided into piles. and then
sub-divided.
Another for Joyce"
down that way? TAKE these to joyce"
HE was over here this afternoon.
Got to send these to H 1 by the team
tonight"
Church"
up at M 2. Guess we can catch the
wagon for that
What time the wagon going up?"
Half a n hour or 50. We've got
time"
Say, Henry, tell Vic we've got let
tors for him to take. Don't let him get
away without 'em."
the mails in"
He knows the mail's in. So does ev-
erybody else around the little settle
ment. Presently anxious faces begin to
peer in through the door. The pile Of
letters is sorted. and Bill can get his.
and take this one " to Jack. If
you're going his way" adds the clerk.
"'.SuAe! Any others?"
mo! What you kicking about?
You've got two" i
Speedily letters find their owners.
Owners who are actually holding the
line at the moment will get theirs lat
er, by team. A few must be forwarded.
Here's n for Rig. How the -"
rupts the sergeant. It'll forward it"
And this one for -'
TN get down to tho hospital in a
day or 30. He'll be darned glad to get
1t, believe me-"
Then the papers and packages are
dumped U and sorted, and the whole
camp has its mail. Two letters reach
one lucky man from the hands Of a
friend just at the moment when mill
tary duty won't lot him stop to read
them. He looks eagerly at the post
marks and handwriting, tucks them
into his pocket and goes on with his
task, chuckling.
Down the long corridor Of curious
essS AAAOSA tSASH.ou lIA0lI VV1 DE- BIZ OH
the edges. reading letters. Reading
and re-reading. Outside, on stone steps
or leaning against trees, or on prtmi-
tive benches. other men are reading
letters Reading and re-reading.
Down the street the mess call
sounds. A few men begin to respond.
The.others keep on reading. ana re-
reading.
'-Thas;s the way!" observedsthe mail
sergeant, whose work was nnishsd Tor
the moment Men win leavs the mes
limo 70 set LISTERS any any In the
week Any day when letters come"
ne added.. And you might tell the
folks hack home that tho day when
LISTERS cone II SOME day"
The meas sergeant 10 lenient With
on tho evening Of this day.
After the letters come the paperx
And here. oh Joy! NJ can. equAIiss TO
sorne Axtsnt the MATHS eccentrtcities.
H----- rot no letter.. sa
"Rotteni mail aerySce.. hAtayn md
ret1res into the middle Of atsnrouch
that has wave gas stopped for density
and v~indictfvenes8. 20 far q he g con.
esrnsd. the wisels dashed buAnsss can
But suddsAIy,s ~ 80 stehts 81 I to
rniIiAr PsWspApsr Wrapper. 4
He stops, wAlts q moment while shA
Eawa1l0yS his disappointment dsridee
,tha& thsrefs shp6rs nsv1 Al 1890
fhAns lsttsrskny day-Whdeh II ar
itinctiy untrue. but the 49, conscles
h%tn-AnA calls - M it,ekisr nsish.
-, =, Th1s ) J.uraa, yop.ys Isl