Carthage courier. (Carthage, Tenn.) 1913-current, 1919-02-06

Mr.. and Mrs. J. w. Massey of Rid.
dleton received the following letter
from their SON, Hilton, who is now in
Germany.
December 9Th, 1913
Dear home people:-As have been
able to get a little paper win write
you again. have written you sever
al times, but if they are treated like
the ones you have written me you
haven't received many of them. /
haven't received any mail or heard
from home anyway since I left the
states, so you know I'm getting anx-
ious to hear from you. We have been
moving so much guess my mail
couldn't keep up. But l guess it will
be sent to me later. We have been
at this place over week and good
many letters have been brought to
the old men of the company, but the
new ones haven't received any yet. l
would like to know what has happened
back home since / left, and what you
are doing this Christmas. / guess
the young people are having a good
time, and the boys are hunting. Wish
could be with them. There is not
much Christmas over here. Snow is
on the ground four inches deep, and
the children are having a good time
snow balling and sleigh riding. /
didn't do anything yesterday but sit
drilled this morning, and believe me
we sure knocked the snow. We would
have to fall fiat then run piece and
fall again. guess it seems funny to
you people to hear of anyone going
through Christmas without money to
spend. But we boys are doing that
very thing, as we haven't had a pay
day since we left the states five
months) but / think we will get paid
pretty soon as the 9th machine gun
company that is staying in this town
with US gets paid this evening. There
hasn't been much to buy except what
was in the "Y'', and its been scarce
on this trip. There has been plenty
of beer and wine over here to buy all
the time, but that didn't appeal to
me, as you know / use neither, and
never had to buy any tobacco like the
other boys. So my money lasted till
about a month ago, as | only used it
to buy candy and cookies and some
times Jam from the "Y" We ali
crave something sweet. Did old San
ia find you? / thought he had missed
me, but we had a little entertainment
last night by some of the boys of our
company, music, negro songs plays
and boxing. And the "Y" gave each
of US a package of cookies and box
of smoking tobacco and Cigarettes, so
/ snapped my tobacco and cigarettes
for cookies and sweetened up little.
l sure would like to get hold of your
good old cream cakes and a dish of
fruit, mixed gelatine with whipped
cream. Believe me / could certainly
ruin them. Well, guess good many
of the boys have crossed again, going
back to the states, especially those
who were wounded. / don't know
where any of the old boys I ever
knew are. Some may be dead, some
/ at home, some in France, and some
of them may be over here in Germany.
/ You all know more about what is go
/ ing on than do, as we seldom get a
paper, and when we do it is months
| old. So you know more about the
/ doings of Uncle Sammy" than l.
We have no idea when we will leave
over here but expect it viii be some
time yet. We never know what we
are going to do till we get orders, and
never know when to believe anything
we hear. AS / have only one sheet of
paper will have to close here so don't
worry about me for am well and do
ing fine, and trying to live the life
I you always taught me. Hoping to see
you all soon.
Lovingly your son and brother,
HILTON.