The weekly times-record. (Valley City, N.D.) 1912-1922, 1919-01-02
BAARSTAD 4.
WRITESLETTER

Somewhere" Monday, Nov. rs '18.
Dearest Folks-The last letter I
wrote to you was written in France
! and that was week or more ago, but
this letter is. being written in Luxem-
burg. For the last two weeks we
have been so busy moving that have
not had time to write, until now, when
we are at stop for a short time at
least. Did you ever hear of that little
cosmopolitan country called Luxem-
burg which is so small that you can
hardly find it on the map? Well, l
hardly knew it existed until I came
into it an dthen I surely was surpris-
ed. Coming from France we passed
into Luxembourg and then through
the city Of Luxembourg. Every where
flags were flying and people cheering
us as we passed, and all along the road
was continuous stream of refugees
and French prisoners who had just
been freed and were making their way
as best they could, back to their ma
tive land. Coming through the city of
Luxembourg we surely were warmly
received. Old men, women and little
children all were frantic with joy and
the town was decorated as for grand
fete only much more so than you can
imagine. Talk about beautiful seen
cry. They surely do have it here along
with beautiful buildings and the best
roads have ever seen. We are now
located in a small town about Is Kill
ometers from Luxembourg and I do
not know how long we shall be here.
It seems that we are headed toward
the Rhine river and perhaps some
time you may receive a letter from
me in which I tell you how, II gaze
upon the Rhine river as l write" OF
course you must not take that too ser
iously for it may not come true but
anyway that is the general idea we
now have. Believe me many things
have happened and happened rapidly
while we have been at the front. First
we were in the Chateau hiery drive
and then we came to the Verdun front
and we are still on that front only per-
haps little beyond that. While we
were on the Chateau-Thiery front l
cot up as far as Fismes and saw the
Vesle river, but previous to that we
sure saw some excitement. About a
week after l transferred to this or
ganization we were at The front and
| was on a detachment stringing some
wire and during that time we were I'M
der shell fire. A few nights later and
for several following night the Boche
airplanes were dropping bombs all
around us, and turning their machine
guns on US. After that it was one
round of excitement. At another time
few of us were seeking protection
in an old French mill while the shells
dropped over and all around us for
two hours and half and at ten second
intervals. Yes we were lucky, al
though none of them dropped any
closer than so feet from us. Since
then | have had them drop within a
few feet of me and do nothing more
than scare me almost to death. r Yet
it is funny sensation and there are
thousands of other things could tell
YOU but it would require days to tell
YOU about them all. A few days ago
received a bunch of Times-R Records
and just now | received announcer
bunch. It certainly does seem good
to read the home town news again
after not having seen soul l know
for over four months and it may be
that long again until l see some one
I know. I have written to lots OF the
fellows over here also but have not
heard from any of them for two
months or more. Adry wrote to me
not long ago and from the way ne
wrote he had seen great deal OF ex-
citement although since then ne has
gone through the worst OF the war l
know. I await a letter from him every
dav telling me how he is and where
he is. but that day is ever prolonged
It seems. Little did Miss Nelson
! know to what advantake the German
which she so ardently drilled into me
for two wears. would be to me. We
sure have a great time speaking Ger
man for we are liable to get some
French and English and several other
languages mixed up with it. But l
an, picking it up quite fast and can at
least understand most OF it even II l
cannot so readily reply. You wonder,
dear folks l know, why | have not
made more of myself i nthls army.
Well, do not know why, only perhaps
I have been too much the onlooker and
have not stuck to one thing. But l
guess beng a private is not so bad,
and when I get out of the army then |
shall work after having had wonder
full experience. I received the maya
zines Mabel sent me and shall begin
to read them as soon as l write this
etter. It surely is good of you to send
me those things and believe me l APP
preciate them. Well now must close
and it is time for me to wish you all
a Merry Christmas and Happy New
year. Give my regards to every one
know. please. Lovingly,
PAUL