Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1918-07-26
From A. R. Gum
June %, 1918.

My Dear Mother,
| wrote you when
I was down in Bordeaux, but on
account of the envelope return ad
dress it was returned to me when |
was in Northen France. | have
seen quite a bit of France and it is
the prettiest country and the best
land | have ever travelled through.
Only few acres of poor land in
weeks travel. This is the first Sun
day for a month that | haven't
b, en- travelling. | was at Green
Hill church this morning but not
the kind we have in Highland
Heard a good sermon bya chaplain
from another Battalion; our chap
lain is in the hospital somewhere;
he has been sick for nearly month
As yet | have never been On 81 elk
call and this eve | eel like three
year old Good health in the army
is something to i'e thaukful for, far
more than on the outside. Nearly
every one of Our Go. is very hearty
all good eaters There goes a
bunch of empty cans now.
We are now in d beautiful coun-
try, very fertile, great grain raising
section. and he finest grass country
Crabbottom hasn't a thing on this
part for grass, and it is far ahead
for grain, sltho it is much cooler
here than it * there. The middle
Of tn week was in Northern France,
.h t also is grass and gr.iu
S cti,n The southern par is ali
for grapes; and they grew &c 7Nr-
lection A stake to each vine an"
the vines no more than our toma.
toes when staked.
Hoover had a Sunday Soho i
book today from Doe Hill, Text,
Nov hast Christ risen from the
dead " l have seen him nailed to
The eros, three times today. Some
of the finest Catholic Cemeteries
through this country ever saw
I have never seen anything !lk~
it in the U. S A. The church
bell ringing this morning
sure did make ME think OF home
sweet home. Be it ever 50 humble
there is no place like home. Attic
| am o. X. here, and if | never
return you will know I went down
playing the game for you and my
country, and ! will have seen my
part Of the country. Have seen
all kinds of ships and flying mach
ines since I left the States. All
kinds are around here. Saw John
Slaven few days ago, the first
time since | left the States, al d
Hoover saw one of his home town
boys. They were up at the station
about 8 miles from here. Just
| behind our home is a field with the
finest kind of short horn cows.
Lots of cattle in this section, very
few in the southern part. Saw
more this mornig when [ was on
walk than | had since | have been
! in France. The mode of living
here is not like it is in the U, S. A.
at all, Saw a lot of fine horses
today. In my travels I have seen
lots of shepherds. No fences
through this csuntry hardly at all,
mostly hedges. There are fine
roads running in all directions.
Stone or concrete buildings. 1t is
all very different from our country:
l have gotten quite a bit of mail
but ! write it all myself. ! am
hoping to hear from you soon. Had
a pay day yesterday, 10 francs;
will get quite a bit more next pay
day. Quite a few changes taken
place in our company just at this
time. Mother, don't worry about
me for a minute; since | left | have
often thought Mother and ny
folks are worrying about me, and
] am alright all the time.
Hoping you all are enjoying the
best of health, with love to all,
| am your son,