TRANSCRIBED FROM THE DEQUEEN BEE DECEMBER 6, 1918 P. 2
Somewhere in France, Oct. 24
Dear Cousin Mamie:
When I say that yours and Lugilla’s letters were welcome, that doesn’t half tell you how glad I was to get them and tahey were cheering letters too, with something in them. From the way they were addressed you meant for me to read them in Camp Dis, but I beat you one number there. Yef! One rainy day last week the mail came in from the states, and we were one happy buch when the mail is being called off. I got six letters that day which put new pep in me.
Yours and your sister’s were among them, the rest bring being from home. Ma tells me that all the boys she’s got are in the army now. My two younger brothers went a few weeks back.
I certainly would like to fall in here and tell you something about this life, but I believe it would take all the pencils and paper in France to do the job up right, so will lay off of that. But will say that they have got some war over here and no mistake, and I know now why you don’t get your mail regular from over here. Most of the time you can’t get either paper, pencil or envelope, and when one is lucky enough to have those tools, there is no place to write. It’s either that or yo haven’t got time. If a soldier had to furnish stamps, I don’t know where he would get off. Thanks to the bird that stopped that stamp business.
We got paid yesterday, the first in some time, and it was in French money. Believe me they certainly have got some funny looking “dough” in this country. A guy can have a pocket full of “dough” and be broke when he purchases a cigar. I saw a paper last week and it says that the Germans are on the run, but in all this mud I’ll bet they can’t put on much speed. I’ve been wading in mud for about ten days and the natives here say it will be six months before it I’ll quit. I hate to believe anything like that, but being a new comer I can’t argue with them. Yep! I’d like to see you dressed in overalls, they are pretty good, aren’t they? If you are going to do boy’s work. You haven’t got anything on me. I’m working, too, and pretty hard at that; doing practically the same work that I was before entering the army. Are very well satisfied too, under the circumstances, but there’s just one thing that would really satisfy me now, and that’s too see the whole thing end up.
Since being in France have seen quite a few German prisoners. I found one that could talk “Mex.” While on the train I asked him what he thought of the mix-up. Didn’t have to talk to that bird long to find out that he had had enough. Well, Mamie I’m running a race with the candle tonight to see which one calls it a day first, and from the looks of things, believe I’ll have to get a wiggle on me. So answer this as soon as possible, and if you write a hundred pages it will be that much better and I’ll answer Luglila’s letter just as soon as can.
No, I don’t think you stopped Orville by writing long letters. There must be something else the matter with him, because Ma says it has been some time since she heard from him, and as for myself I’ve nearly learned to warble French since hearing from that bird.
Have talked with some of the boys who have been up to the front and they tell tales that jar my back teeth, but all that stuff has come too late. They can’t scare me now. I’ve gone too far and if a “Hun” ever gets this guy he had got to do some.
Well he’ll have to go a few rounds I’m not kidding anybody, as scarce as writing paper is in this locality. I hate to end the letter on this side of the sheet. I believe I’ll just put something on the other side, too. Don’t know when I’ll get a chance to write again.
Next time you see old Ben Wolford give him my best regards. It’s been a damn long time since I saw him, if I ever did. But have heard of him often while being around home. Mama was talked of him often. If he is in anyway like old Tom Wolford, his brother, and my dad. I’ve got a pretty good line on him. Yeh! I believe I’d know him.
This sure is some country alright, and if its inhabitants are willing to fight for it, the people in a real country, American certainly have got something to go a few rounds for.
Well hoping you and the folks are all well and enjoying life. I will stop this. From your cousin,
Pvt. Tom H. Wolford,
Am. E.F. Forces
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON
Somewhere in France, Oct. 24
Dear Cousin Mamie:
When I say that yours and Lugilla’s letters were welcome, that doesn’t half tell you how glad I was to get them and tahey were cheering letters too, with something in them. From the way they were addressed you meant for me to read them in Camp Dis, but I beat you one number there. Yef! One rainy day last week the mail came in from the states, and we were one happy buch when the mail is being called off. I got six letters that day which put new pep in me.
Yours and your sister’s were among them, the rest bring being from home. Ma tells me that all the boys she’s got are in the army now. My two younger brothers went a few weeks back.
I certainly would like to fall in here and tell you something about this life, but I believe it would take all the pencils and paper in France to do the job up right, so will lay off of that. But will say that they have got some war over here and no mistake, and I know now why you don’t get your mail regular from over here. Most of the time you can’t get either paper, pencil or envelope, and when one is lucky enough to have those tools, there is no place to write. It’s either that or yo haven’t got time. If a soldier had to furnish stamps, I don’t know where he would get off. Thanks to the bird that stopped that stamp business.
We got paid yesterday, the first in some time, and it was in French money. Believe me they certainly have got some funny looking “dough” in this country. A guy can have a pocket full of “dough” and be broke when he purchases a cigar. I saw a paper last week and it says that the Germans are on the run, but in all this mud I’ll bet they can’t put on much speed. I’ve been wading in mud for about ten days and the natives here say it will be six months before it I’ll quit. I hate to believe anything like that, but being a new comer I can’t argue with them. Yep! I’d like to see you dressed in overalls, they are pretty good, aren’t they? If you are going to do boy’s work. You haven’t got anything on me. I’m working, too, and pretty hard at that; doing practically the same work that I was before entering the army. Are very well satisfied too, under the circumstances, but there’s just one thing that would really satisfy me now, and that’s too see the whole thing end up.
Since being in France have seen quite a few German prisoners. I found one that could talk “Mex.” While on the train I asked him what he thought of the mix-up. Didn’t have to talk to that bird long to find out that he had had enough. Well, Mamie I’m running a race with the candle tonight to see which one calls it a day first, and from the looks of things, believe I’ll have to get a wiggle on me. So answer this as soon as possible, and if you write a hundred pages it will be that much better and I’ll answer Luglila’s letter just as soon as can.
No, I don’t think you stopped Orville by writing long letters. There must be something else the matter with him, because Ma says it has been some time since she heard from him, and as for myself I’ve nearly learned to warble French since hearing from that bird.
Have talked with some of the boys who have been up to the front and they tell tales that jar my back teeth, but all that stuff has come too late. They can’t scare me now. I’ve gone too far and if a “Hun” ever gets this guy he had got to do some.
Well he’ll have to go a few rounds I’m not kidding anybody, as scarce as writing paper is in this locality. I hate to end the letter on this side of the sheet. I believe I’ll just put something on the other side, too. Don’t know when I’ll get a chance to write again.
Next time you see old Ben Wolford give him my best regards. It’s been a damn long time since I saw him, if I ever did. But have heard of him often while being around home. Mama was talked of him often. If he is in anyway like old Tom Wolford, his brother, and my dad. I’ve got a pretty good line on him. Yeh! I believe I’d know him.
This sure is some country alright, and if its inhabitants are willing to fight for it, the people in a real country, American certainly have got something to go a few rounds for.
Well hoping you and the folks are all well and enjoying life. I will stop this. From your cousin,
Pvt. Tom H. Wolford,
Am. E.F. Forces
NOTES:
TRANSCRIBED BY MIKE POLSTON