The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-03-22
George E. Black Writes Inter-
estingly From Somewhere
In France"
Brave Yankee Boys at Battle
Front Live Lives That
Are Clean
Fearless, True, With Patriotic
Devotion To Home and
Country
GEORGE f. BLACK
From Thursdays Daily.

GEORGE f. BLACK
From Thursdays Daily.
Somewhere in France, January %,
ueA9s pug sIellsI InoJ-Glu9Ml peq I
'eou!s IeAe Esnq GIeA u9eq eAeq pug
Su!uIom GBpunS lu9m!SeI eql o. HoeQ
4oS :IepoN 4ssIgeQ fN-SI6T
boxes waiting for me. / travelled on
the French railroads just six days
getting here, so you can see l was
some distance from the regiment. We
are not at the same place we were
when l left l like this place much
better, but do not know how long we
will be here. We are having fine
weather, just like spring, but we will
have some more cold snaps. l re-
ceived box from Floss, one from the
church, one from Jones cigar store,
one from Mr.. Covington, your box with
the gloves, etc., and also the one with
doll and clothes for poor children, and
one box from some lady in Denver,
Colo, who saw letter of mine some
where. Oh! yes, today, l got a box
from Billie and also one from Hazel
Hawkins. l surely was remembered
and l feel happy as a kid. The big
box of which you spoke has not
showed up yet. I got three letters
from Billie, six from Hazel and I
guess the rest from home and / nave
read them all over several times.
was looking forward to those letters
when l was away.
Don got a room and saved me a bed
and had the room all fixed up when I
came. He sure is fine fellow. He
got seventeen boxes for Christmas,
but l think | will catch up with him.
/ gave the doll and clothes to two
poor children and they were tickled.
The little girl has the doll with her
all the time and it created quite a
sensation. All the people of the town
examined it. l told the kids it was
from their godmother in America. Now
every time they see me they take hold
of my hand and tell me in French
that / am a kind American soldier
1t feels more like Christmas to me
now. l am we'll and ali the fellows
tell me 1 am fat and looking better
than when l left I guess the sea ali
agreed with me. l saw "DoOg" and
"Swanie" the day I arrived here and
they are looking fine. "Swanie" is
getting very heavy, he is now the bu-
gler for his company. have not seer
"Twit" He is not in this town but
am going to see him tomorrow.
Last night an infantry band from
nearby town came over to the Y
M. C. A. and gave concert and it was
fine. 1t did seem good to hear ar
American band again. This is a fine
town and I hope we stay for a while
But I guess we will be up and goins
soon. You should see me with my
helmet, or iron hat and two gas
masks and other equipment / am 60
ing to send you some pictures soon
1 am going to read all your letters
tomorrow again and answer all YOU
questions that / can. Will close fol
now much love to all, Your son
George.
February 5, 191S.-Dearest Mother
All alone in nv billet. Don has gon'
out for walk and I thought I hat
better write home. This has beer
a splendid day although bit chilly
/ didn't have very much to do toda,
so went over my equipment and go
it into shape so when the word come
to go after them I will be ready.
Sunday was such a nice day I hatet
to stay inside. and "Twit" was her.
all day so did not really have chanc
to write Sunday or rather Saturda
night "Twit" came over and stage,
all night we sat up quite late talkin
over old times. Sunday morning w
got up rather late and took shove
bath and a walk Had fine dinner
roast beef, mashed potatoes, an
gravy, creamed carrots. bread, coffe
and apple pie. After dinner we play
ed football for a while, ran races. ett
Then Sergeant Durffee, one of m
friends, "Twit" and l went out t
"Twit's" camp and had rabbit sup
per. He had a French lady COO
supper for u.s. We had rabbit. Frenc
fried potatoes, peas. big bowl c
fresh milk, bread, jelly and cherr
pie. so you see Sunday I feed prett
we'll. Durffee and / came back rath
er late Don was out visiting wit
some friends from his home. I hop
"Twit'' gets into headquarters. He &c
a letter from home saying tina
Charlie Schwanenberg was home fo
Christmas. Of course we wished W
how lucky he was to be able to g
home. I see George and "Doog" ever
day and had a long talk with "Doog
this afternoon.
1 suppose it. is very cold back hom
1t is more like spring here now.
guess missed the coolest weathe
bv being on the sea coast for awhil
The boys say it was pretty cold an
some snow in December and earl
January. I haven't had any mail fC
over week now and / suppose 1t wi
all come in bunch again. / surel
am glad I got that fine box frol
home. l am well stocked up on to
bacco and other things now, especial
ly clothing Those socks are fine
have pair of them on now. l hay
received that large box from you an
the tin box with inner soles, etc.. an
the box of toys. Have any Other
been sent, that is enough only We
wondering If any had been lost.