Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-05-21
BOYS MEET
IN STRANGE LANDS;
WORLD NOT 50 BIG
WILL BRADFORD AND HAROLD
BUFFERS HAPPEN ACROSS ONE
ANOTHER IN FRANCE-WRiTE
OF CHANCE MEETING.

TWO b0ss from Ottawa raised to-
selher. and who have attended to same
Schoeis, but who enlisted in different
branches Of the service in dilleren,
sections Of the country; and went to
France ~ intervals of several months
apart. met recently one evening in a
town where ;he I 5. Forces are bill.
Iited Somewhere N france. 70 say
/ these boys We're aappy at the meeting
would be putting il mildly for when
fellow has enlisted and been stationed
lOr months in a,strange country with
Il Company OF men who weren't known
to each other one year ago, to run
ONO an old friend from home. is one
Of the best things that ever can hap
pen 10 man
The Ottawa boys who met in France
were William A. Bradford. oldest son
OF Mr. and Mrs. $. B. Bradford who
IS in France with the Signal Corps Of
he American Expeditionary Forces.
and Harold Buffers only Son al Mr..
and Mrs, A. +, Buffers.
The story of the meeting is briefly
told in letter William Bradford wrote
to his mother:
France. April 2Sth, 1918
Dearest Mother
How is everybody and everything at
! home? Haven't received any mail at
all as yet but still have hopes. GER
tainly hope .ha, some comes through
! pretty soon now as ! am anxious for
some news from home
! In the letter ! wrote to David last
week said that | wrote 70 you sun.
! day the 9th but meant the 2Sth.
| You will notice that numbered this
letter No /, so that when yolt answer
| you can say that You received my let.
ter numbered SO and 50. and in that
way can tell YOU how my mail is
coming thru
Last Wednesday night as was com.
! ing along from mess talking to Hale
! heard some one say, We'll I'll be
--------------.- il there aint old Bill Brad
! ford" ! looked around and saw II was
| Harold Buffers Believe me Il was
sure good to see someone from home
| al bp
than have We cButters and myself)
went mp town that night and talked
things over. He gave me a lot of
news about Ottawa that didn't know,
as he has received some mail He and
/ Gay have become separated You
know they came over together II Is
rather peculiar, but of the number
! of fellows from Ottawa who are here
/ he is the first fellow from home that
I | have met and he says that ! am the
/ first that he has met We had dandy
/ time talking over old times We are
/ going On a sight seeing tour this af-
ternoon, (if j. don't rain.D Dad might
call Mr. Buffers. or YOU call Mrs. But
'crs and tell them thai the world isn't
| so big after all when two fellows from
| little old Ottawa meet somewhere
| IN France" Tell them TOO that he is
looking tinc and is apparently in good
health
Yesterday was the first time in two
weeks believe shat the sun shown
out for more than a. hour never
| saw such weather When ! get back
puddle | will think Of France How
is the weather at home? ! suppose II
| is about the same there as over here
as | see by the papers where q lot of
the base ball games are called OF, on
account of the RAIN How are the
War Saving Stamps collections com.
ing along.
Have you heard from Buck lately
Hone he is getting along all o. X.
am mailing this in hopes that it
might reach you by Sunday May 18th.
lMothers Day. but guess there isn't
much chance for any luck, Hope thai
win be back home for Mothers Day
next Year. aud If | am we will sure
put on Il party,
Well mother have to 90 to work
SO will have to close VIII drop a
li.tlc note 10 the girls during the week,
hope this finds You all IN good health.
4 am feeling fine. Hoping to get some
mail from home during the next week
am.
Your loving son
Bull.