Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-04-16

EBy Sergeant Lester siIbaugh. "A Co. 6. Reg,
Somewhere on the Rhine. December ILL
My Dearest Mother; received your most
welcome letter written November l4tk, and as
you know, IL was more than welcome | am
very glad you are all well, and also that Err
nest likes camp life IN the army, although
] hardly think that he means it. | am still
guarding the Rhine. and am comfortably
located in good quarters, and all Of the real
hardships are over. l was very sorry to hear
that A6oiph Sollom killed, and about
Clarence, but such is the toll of war, and /
have run the same risks myself, many times,
but It seems as though ! was always lucky
No the kaiser did not get '-eold feet, but
he simply wah beat, and beaten bad. In cur
last drive, drove TIE Huns IS miles so it
was about time for him to quit. Yes, | am
sure there were many happy mothers wien
they heard Of the aTmistice, and we were also
a happy bunch over here, and had a few eeie-
brati5ns Of our own, and even the Dutehmen
hope that RAY will get along good, for he
md that Sas very dangerous. IL would
be size n you could have sent me some candy
when you sent TO Ernest, bat | am getting
80 used to doing without that | do not mind.
! will be glad 10 get Christmas package, and
! nope that get home in time for Easter
have received very little Of my mail yet, and
j cannot understand what has become of il
Today is the 21st, and only four days
until Christmas. and am due 10 spend Christ
mas IN Germany, instead Of home as promis-
ed, but 1t viii be happy Christmas anyway.
War is and millions Of people going
10 be happy. ] sent you a dandy pillow top
safely for ] paid IS marks for it. aDov.
SI2 IN American money. Things are very
high here. For instance, shoes for child
costs SIS per pair Coffee 81 per pound and
everything is rationed out TO the people.
! could tell you about my wound but It is
long story so ! will wait until l come home.
| was burned by mustard gas, and | guess
you can easily find out the effects of it, for
IL Is the worst they have, but / all o. X.
now 1t may please You TO know that have
been promoted TO Sergeant, your boy viii
come home a non-cOmmissioned officer. l sent
some pictures in my last letter and ] hope you
receive them. Tell Ernest to write once in
while. Time to go to work must close
until next time. Would like some news from
Elmer.
December 29.-Two of your most welcome
letters received. and l surely glad to get
them, and one especially for it came on
Christmas day, and also my Christmas pack
age and l cannot begin TO tell you how l
appreciated the things that IL contained.
thank you very much for it all. and l surely
hope you will receive the present | sent. l
am glad you receiving all of my mail,
for you will at least know that am fne and
i shall always hope that you | will tell
you how | spent Christmas. / am billeted
in German house, and the people very
nice, and they did everything TO make it a
pleasant Christmas for And | must say
that we had everything fine. and the only
thing lacking was our own people. They had
a fine Christmas tree which I helped decorate
and a fine dinner for The Mrs. made us
each great plate of cookies. and gave us
each small picture of the town are in, and
a small bottle of perfume. SO you see, / did
not fare SO badly after all. although it was
far from what We would have had at home.
You say Ernest has left Camp Shelby. and
suppose he will be home by the time you get
this, for ! understand all troops called re-
Gently will be mustered out. There is some
rumor that may start home February End,
but d. not put much faith in it. We are
very comfortably located and getting along
fine and the only kick any one could have. or
rather, wish, is to get home soon.
/ am going to send another helmet home.
you look for It. | also have another
souvenir. which | will bring home with me.
so you can have some fun guessing what it is.