Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1919-02-27


pig. am well at present. When did
you see my two sweet babies? Which
one do you think is the prettiest and
which one do you think favors me the
most What are uncle and cousin
doing now? Are you having a good
time going to school? Write and tell
me what grade you are in and. who
your teacher is.
Be a pretty baby and write brother
often. / like to hear from you. My
paper is scarce and / am going to
make this Letter short. A few lines
to uncle and aunt.
It is a great pleasure for me to
sit down and write my friends back
home few lines. / proud of the fact
that 1 am we'll and in good health
and trust this will find the people at
home well. Guess the weather is
very cold in the states at the present
time? We are having splendid wea-
Their here now. The sun has been
shining for two or three days-some-
thing unusual for France. 1t rains
most every day, but not very hard.
There is some fine land over here
but like American soil best. The
French people have peculiar ways of
doing their work. They are many
years behind the American people. /
had been about some before came to
France, have seen many amusing
things and meny different nationali-
ties, but have never found anything
just like home. / would advise any
one if they have a good home and do
ing well not to ever leave it. Of
on an occasion like this, it is defer
ent. Everybody ought to be patriot
ic; but l will admit that there wasn't
q boy anywhere who hated to leave
his people any worse than / did. 1t
was the hardest proposition | ever
went up against, but still I felt it
was my duty to come and do my part
in winning the war. Army life is
quite different from civilian life. The
army is good for any one. Of course
in time of war there is going to be
some hardships to go through with.
/ feel that it has made a better, Drawer
boy of me. 1t is a great schooling
for any one. l haven't experienced
the hardships that some have who
went to the front Of all my hard
ships it was the day l kissed my wife
and had to go away. Now that sad
day is gone and l feel like / am COM
ing home before long. 1t wasn't my
self, alone, but thousands have done
the same thing. 1t took that to lick
the Huns. 1t is an honor to each and
every man to do all for his country
he possibly can. Now the war IS
over and we are coming home. 1t was
all sorrow and tears but now its all
happiness and cheers. 1t was hard for
us all to leave our loved ones at
home, but it was a square deal to US
all. Suppose every American had re-
fused to help France out of her trou-
BILE. 1t would have been only short
time until Germany would have been
in America slaughtering our people
as they did other nations. 1t should
make the blood of any true American
boil to think of the internal Ger
mans trying to take our soil. l feel
like it has been an honor to me to
leave my dear ones and sail across the
briny pond to do my bit in saving
our homes. There is the Stacker
who shuned the war. He ought to be
behind the prison walls. They had 1t
good and easy while the boys at the
front had it snappy and breezy; but
now the Joke will change. The slack
err will have to drop the rains. I'm
glad to say that / am no Stacker and
I'll never be. 1t wont be any trou-
BILE to tell a Stacker from man who
has been patriotic. / would hate to
he standing around on the corner OF
some place and the people pointing
me out saying, "there is the fellow
who is unfair and got around the
war" have been to several places
in France. Now l am back where
first landed. Hope when make
the next move, I'll sail for the states.
There are a good many OF the boys
leaving here most every day gong
home. / am glad to see them get
to go home even if / don't get to go.
Had rather see the ones who nave
been here a good while and have gone
through the hardslnps get to go home
first. would like to come home the
best in the world. Would be de-
LIGHTED to come. but I'll patiently
await my turn.
/ must say this for the Y. M. c.
A. anr Red Cross. They are both a
blessing to the soldiers in France
The Y. M. C. A. furnishes writing ma
! terial; also they amuse the boys IN
some lively way every night. And
the Red Cross has done its part IN
many different ways. All that they do
in the states and in France is highly
appreciated by the boys over here.
haven't written this letter because !
am a soldier. As a soldier, haven't
I done much more IN winning the war
than the Stacker. The only difference
: is / have shown a willingness and the
4 slackers haven't The intention of this
letter is to let the people know that
/ haven't forgotten them and / still
close my Letter as / haven't made a
very good success of it. Hoping to
plant my footsteps on old Smith coun-
ty soil soon, l am with best wishes
/ to all, HERBERT CRA1GHEAD
Germany, January z, 1919
Dear Mother:-Will try tonight to
/ answer your dear letter received a
few DAYS ago. Sure was glad to hear
that you all were we'll. Wonder how
Won are getting along now, fine