TRANSCRIBED FROM THE MALVERN TIMES JOURNAL FEBRUARY 6, 1919 P. 1
Dec. 29, 1018.
To the Times-Journal:
Dear Editor.
Well, as I have not written to my home paper since my arrival in France, I thought I would drop it a few lines this long, cold, snowy, rainy, wet day.
I guess everybody had a jolly good time Christmas. I certainly did. I received a Christmas present on Christmas evening; it was a dandy, too, believe me. I had a case of the old-time Arkansas mumps, and the funny part was the hospital boys all had turkey. I happened to be on light diet and only received the juice. Ho, ho. Ha, ha!
Well, I oft’times think of old Hot Spring county people, it being my home county, and believe me, if I ever get back in Hot Spring county you may say I have come home to live.
I guess you all have heard of sunny France, have you not? I have heard of it, too, but haven’t seen any sunshine in France yet. It rains seven days out of a week. This is a lovely country---mud six inches deep.
Say, boys, if you want to have a time join the army and come to France. You will have a time, and it will be to get back home.
We have nice ways to go over here. We have hobnail express to travel in. Also, we have nice fristclass trains to ride---they are what you people ship cattle in. How tough! The French people are all nice to us. We only guess they are, because we do not understand what they say to us, so we get by like a bunch of deaf and dumb people; we talk mostly on our hands, so if any of you merchants happen to see a boy come in acting like he is crazy, just say he has learned to talk French.
We boys have some fun at night. We sit around the fire; some one will start a good subject, and someone will say, “I wish I were home;” another will say, “I wish I had a piece of pie.”
Well, I wish you all a happy New Year.
Best Wishes.
Yours truly,
AUSTIN ORR,
Of Donaldson.
114th Inf., Co. H, A. E. F.,; A. P. O. 765, France.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY KAREN PITTMAN
Dec. 29, 1018.
To the Times-Journal:
Dear Editor.
Well, as I have not written to my home paper since my arrival in France, I thought I would drop it a few lines this long, cold, snowy, rainy, wet day.
I guess everybody had a jolly good time Christmas. I certainly did. I received a Christmas present on Christmas evening; it was a dandy, too, believe me. I had a case of the old-time Arkansas mumps, and the funny part was the hospital boys all had turkey. I happened to be on light diet and only received the juice. Ho, ho. Ha, ha!
Well, I oft’times think of old Hot Spring county people, it being my home county, and believe me, if I ever get back in Hot Spring county you may say I have come home to live.
I guess you all have heard of sunny France, have you not? I have heard of it, too, but haven’t seen any sunshine in France yet. It rains seven days out of a week. This is a lovely country---mud six inches deep.
Say, boys, if you want to have a time join the army and come to France. You will have a time, and it will be to get back home.
We have nice ways to go over here. We have hobnail express to travel in. Also, we have nice fristclass trains to ride---they are what you people ship cattle in. How tough! The French people are all nice to us. We only guess they are, because we do not understand what they say to us, so we get by like a bunch of deaf and dumb people; we talk mostly on our hands, so if any of you merchants happen to see a boy come in acting like he is crazy, just say he has learned to talk French.
We boys have some fun at night. We sit around the fire; some one will start a good subject, and someone will say, “I wish I were home;” another will say, “I wish I had a piece of pie.”
Well, I wish you all a happy New Year.
Best Wishes.
Yours truly,
AUSTIN ORR,
Of Donaldson.
114th Inf., Co. H, A. E. F.,; A. P. O. 765, France.
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY KAREN PITTMAN