The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1919-02-14
LETTERS FROM BOYS
In THE ARMY CAMPS


Raymond:
Briey Metm, December 25, 1918
1910 p. M.-.Dearest Mother: Just
Simply have to write a few lines with
my new pen and express my heart
felt joy. / am the happiest kid in the
army today. Last evening about five
o'clock came the box and your letter
of November "a. opened the letter
and read it and had the paper off the
box when | saw Theo's card with the
cowboy on says Hands up don't open
until December 25." Ha Ha then took
it up and put it under my bed with
out opening il. That WAS the only
thing that held me from opening il
then. Well since had to work until
II p. m, it wasn't SO bad. | was
just wishing it would snow little
to snow about 8 p. M. and it's snow
ing a little this afternoon. Then at
1880 p. m. went to midnight mass,
taking my friend along as he was anx
iOus to SEE it too. II was beautiful and
glorious They had high mass. Two
men with horns played "Silent Night,
Holy Night and it was simply won
derful. Their they also played and
sang "Vene Creator" which put me in
mind of home They had Holy Com
munion but since there only were
French priests l couldn't get to con
fession. was disappointed at that.
Lots of standing room. 1t was sure
wonderful with the snow falling on
the ancient buildings and everyone
was filled with joy. From chu1 we
went to the room and my friend
having opened his box already l open
ed mine and found all the things, we
lit the candle that was in it and i
looked it over. The watch and foun-
tain pen are two presents / had wish
ed for most ard are going to be very
useful / thank Rose and you both
very much. The shaving soap, book
paste ard thread were also needed.
all that candy? Ha Ha. That will
last long time, Thanks to Theo. He
put iE so much to get me sick. Tell
Theo. I'll do my best. We started din
ner in our mess hall and we enjoyed
a pretty good meal, but of course not
like good old mothers cooking. How
are all you folks? Hope you all en-
joyed a joyful Christmas too. Well
/ think I'll answer your letter now. res
mother as / said before it will be sew
eral months before we get to going.
Maybe the last, but don't think it
will be over three or four months any
xxrox oxyh I MI f0n
yet since they postponed the peace
conference to June IL. Julian is go
ing south? Well that suits me as l
was figuring a bit on it myself. Think
we. will be able to get positions with
the w. II in the sp,sth think told
you ir my last Lottery had letter
from Mrs. Grimm Everything is .fGe
with them. They are waiting FOR me
and they are hoping to see me back
again. Well mother if the cigars you
put in those magazines are not taken
out by force l think they will reach
me. Someone else maybe likes to
smoke too. Ha Ha. MY sweater is
still in good shape yet and wristlets
are of no use anyway so don't bother
yourself Am glad to hear that the fiji
is about over That's a dangerous
thing. Well mother guess I've given
you all the news now. l think I'll get
to work. Hope this finds you all well
and happy. prayed for all in church
last night. With lots of love and best
wishes to all, AS ever your loving son,
Raymond.
Briey Metm. December %, 1915
Dearest Mother: Just received your
letter OF November IS and also two
railroad magazines, the Leslie's and
Colombiad and the two little cigars.
Gee, was sure glad to receive them
Now l will have beaucoup
Qots) of reading matter for a while.
Your letter was also very interest
ing I'll admit. The photos were very
fine. Rose is getting better looking
cverytime get picture of her. Don't
tell her said so. The baby sure looks
good ard tell Jack he's to be COM
plimented. l was afraid the cigars
would be gone, but they were all
right. Am smoking one now
on you all. | am getting my mail from
two directions now. Received your
two of November and 10 last Thurs
day forwarded from A. p. o. TIA which
came through Ligny up here. This
other mail comes from Chaumont Chg
A. P. o. 7G6. think there is still some
mail at A. p. o. TIA which is now at
Barsuraube near Chaumont. 1t takes
quite a while for mail TO come from
there to Ligny and then up here. My
self and friend wired the sergeant at
GHQ as soon as we came up here TO
forward all our mail up to this place so
its coming up in fine shape. Am still
missing quite a little from other
sources you know. Was receiving
mail nearly every week from Austin
when l was at Ligny but haven't had
one Stree coming here. ] can't figure
it out, Think. someone else has got
ten in the way. / should worry. Am
glad to hear you received a late letter.
see you still addressed it to GHQ A.
p. o. 706 yet. Am glad you did as it's
much faster. You car address them to
A. p. o. 731 now. Maybe you have
already which is o X. 731 is Neuf-
chateau, our advanced headquarters.
and they always know where we are in
case we move. Mail has been receiv-
ing pretty good service for me the
last month or so and hope it keeps
it up. see by your letter that Al has
my old A. p. o. number He must be
around Chaumont now. l don't think
will ever get back there any more.
See he is in the air service. He will
be going home pretty soon If not al