TRANSCRIBED FROM THE COLUMBIA BANNER FEBRUARY 13, 1918 P. 1
A.E.F. France.
Jan. 8, 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Duke Emerson,
Dear Bud and Sis:
Shall write you this afternoon as I have nothing else to do to day. This leaves me well and doing fine.
How is every body in your little town? Wish I could walk the streets one more time and see all the good faces.
Listen! I received two of my Xmas packages yesterday that you, mama and other members of the family sent, and believe me I was certainly proud to get them. Everything was so nice and useful. Was just what I needed. I put a pair of the socks on right off the reel. The cake was simply delicious. The best I ever ate in my life and the other boys said the same about it. Was as fresh and good as it was when baked. I had to divide it among a bunch of them. Cut it into fourteen pieces and they all gave three cheers for you. We are as same as one family. What one gets the others share a part of it. Corporal Womack said he is looking for the one who baked the cake, I told him she was married but there were two more at home that could cook just as good. I thank you all very much for the good things you sent, makes me feel good to receive anything from home. I did not get paid in time to send you all a present but will remember you later.
I don’t draw much salary now. Twenty dollars goes each month for liberty bonds. I took out four bonds at fifty dollars each and will buy more when I can. There’s nothing here to spend money for thats any good. So if I ever do get back will have something to start on.
I have not received my tobacco yet, but I’m looking for it every day. We will get tobacco this evening from the smokers of U. S. A. although I have plenty on hand now, about 4 pounds of chewing and ten sacks of Bull Durham, besides what we get tonight.
We have had some very disagreeable weather. Have had snow for a month and the temperature has been as low as 15 degrees below zero. We are pretty well clothed for it except gloves. Can’t get any here that is any good without paying eight or ten dollars for them and I don’t feel able to pay that much after buying Liberty bonds.
We got wet yesterday and my over coat is frozen stiff as a poker, but we stayed in bed nearly all day today. We have our good times just the same. Wish I could bury up in one of mama’s goose hair beds once more.
You asked me how I like France. I don’t like it all. There’s no place like “Dixie Land” and when I get back there I’ll stay. As bad as I dislike Texas and Arizona I would rather live either place than here, but I have to be contented with what comes. This is a healthy country to have as much rain and snow as we have. It either rains or snows nearly all the time. One good thing about France it is a fine grain and fruit country, but there is no corn raised in this section.
This is no good place to live but it is a fine place fors tourist. Have such good roads. The houses are nearly all built ancient style and of rock or brick. They are not scattered here like they are in your country, mostly villages here and in every village there is a church. The majority of people are Catholics and seem to be very religious people. Have mass every morning and evening. Some are the best people I ever associated with. I can’t talk French much yet but learn bye and bye.
How is little Thurston? Tell him to send “Duby” one of his pictures. Have almost forgot how he looks. As you all are so anxious for a photo of myself shall have some made as soon as I can find a photographer. They are scarce here like most everything else except wine and liquor. There’s plenty of it.
Has Joe been called out for service yet? Hope he hasn’t for he is needed at home. One in France at a time is enough.
When have you seen papa and mama? Send them this letter for fear they won’t get theirs, and tell them not to worry about me for this has to be done. And some of us will get back I know. I’m not the only one with who has a father and mother behind. Hoping some day we shall all meet again to part no more. We will go back to the front again soon, I truly hope we will all get back safe and sound.
How is Mrs. McMath and family? Give them my best regards and tell them to hurry and answer my letter, I received a letter from Myrtle the last of Nov. She writes a good newsy letter and is as mean and jolly as usual. Had a letter from Birdie Park last Sunday also one from from Eunice Baker of Stamps. Surely was tickled to get them. Wish I could get letters every day. Makes me feel more at home.
What is Sam and Van Emerson doing now? Tell them to write to me sometime and give Mr. and Mrs. Emerson my best love.
Well Vera wish I could write just what I want to but can’t so I will close and write some to mama. Thanking you again, I am as ever,
Your far away bud,
Henry L. Dennis.
NOTES: Henry Lafayette Dennis was born on September 1, 1892 in Magnolia, Arkansas and died on September 9, 1968 in Texarkana, Texas. He is buried in the Waldo Cemetery in Waldo, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Cpl. serving in Co. L of the 18th Regiment Infantry in World War
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT
A.E.F. France.
Jan. 8, 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Duke Emerson,
Dear Bud and Sis:
Shall write you this afternoon as I have nothing else to do to day. This leaves me well and doing fine.
How is every body in your little town? Wish I could walk the streets one more time and see all the good faces.
Listen! I received two of my Xmas packages yesterday that you, mama and other members of the family sent, and believe me I was certainly proud to get them. Everything was so nice and useful. Was just what I needed. I put a pair of the socks on right off the reel. The cake was simply delicious. The best I ever ate in my life and the other boys said the same about it. Was as fresh and good as it was when baked. I had to divide it among a bunch of them. Cut it into fourteen pieces and they all gave three cheers for you. We are as same as one family. What one gets the others share a part of it. Corporal Womack said he is looking for the one who baked the cake, I told him she was married but there were two more at home that could cook just as good. I thank you all very much for the good things you sent, makes me feel good to receive anything from home. I did not get paid in time to send you all a present but will remember you later.
I don’t draw much salary now. Twenty dollars goes each month for liberty bonds. I took out four bonds at fifty dollars each and will buy more when I can. There’s nothing here to spend money for thats any good. So if I ever do get back will have something to start on.
I have not received my tobacco yet, but I’m looking for it every day. We will get tobacco this evening from the smokers of U. S. A. although I have plenty on hand now, about 4 pounds of chewing and ten sacks of Bull Durham, besides what we get tonight.
We have had some very disagreeable weather. Have had snow for a month and the temperature has been as low as 15 degrees below zero. We are pretty well clothed for it except gloves. Can’t get any here that is any good without paying eight or ten dollars for them and I don’t feel able to pay that much after buying Liberty bonds.
We got wet yesterday and my over coat is frozen stiff as a poker, but we stayed in bed nearly all day today. We have our good times just the same. Wish I could bury up in one of mama’s goose hair beds once more.
You asked me how I like France. I don’t like it all. There’s no place like “Dixie Land” and when I get back there I’ll stay. As bad as I dislike Texas and Arizona I would rather live either place than here, but I have to be contented with what comes. This is a healthy country to have as much rain and snow as we have. It either rains or snows nearly all the time. One good thing about France it is a fine grain and fruit country, but there is no corn raised in this section.
This is no good place to live but it is a fine place fors tourist. Have such good roads. The houses are nearly all built ancient style and of rock or brick. They are not scattered here like they are in your country, mostly villages here and in every village there is a church. The majority of people are Catholics and seem to be very religious people. Have mass every morning and evening. Some are the best people I ever associated with. I can’t talk French much yet but learn bye and bye.
How is little Thurston? Tell him to send “Duby” one of his pictures. Have almost forgot how he looks. As you all are so anxious for a photo of myself shall have some made as soon as I can find a photographer. They are scarce here like most everything else except wine and liquor. There’s plenty of it.
Has Joe been called out for service yet? Hope he hasn’t for he is needed at home. One in France at a time is enough.
When have you seen papa and mama? Send them this letter for fear they won’t get theirs, and tell them not to worry about me for this has to be done. And some of us will get back I know. I’m not the only one with who has a father and mother behind. Hoping some day we shall all meet again to part no more. We will go back to the front again soon, I truly hope we will all get back safe and sound.
How is Mrs. McMath and family? Give them my best regards and tell them to hurry and answer my letter, I received a letter from Myrtle the last of Nov. She writes a good newsy letter and is as mean and jolly as usual. Had a letter from Birdie Park last Sunday also one from from Eunice Baker of Stamps. Surely was tickled to get them. Wish I could get letters every day. Makes me feel more at home.
What is Sam and Van Emerson doing now? Tell them to write to me sometime and give Mr. and Mrs. Emerson my best love.
Well Vera wish I could write just what I want to but can’t so I will close and write some to mama. Thanking you again, I am as ever,
Your far away bud,
Henry L. Dennis.
NOTES: Henry Lafayette Dennis was born on September 1, 1892 in Magnolia, Arkansas and died on September 9, 1968 in Texarkana, Texas. He is buried in the Waldo Cemetery in Waldo, Arkansas. His military headstone identifies him as a Cpl. serving in Co. L of the 18th Regiment Infantry in World War
TRANSCRIBED BY CAROLYN YANCEY KENT