Letter 96
Vandiers,
France
6:30
P. M.
Dec.
1st 1918
To My Dear Sweetheart,
Sunday
once more, but it’s nearly gone. I could not let Sunday slip by without telling
you that my love still burns deep in my heart. I am still enjoying myself and
feeling fine except I have a cold, which most of the fellows have. For the weather is damp and chilly at times.
I haven’t received any mail since last Sunday dear, so you will just have to
take what may come to my mind. I’m still working on the railroad, but our work
is coming to and end. I saw Geo. last Friday.
They came to help us out with our work. I
wanted him to come and visit with me, but he could not find time to. He is feeling fine, but did I tell you I received
a letter from Mrs. Blood? She said she had seen you. Now don’t you think I’m trying to tell an
untruth, but she said you have her beat
for looks. She thought you were very
nice. Well dear, she hasn’t anything on
me, for I think that myself, in fact I know it to be true.
Well we
heard a great many reports as what we are going to do this winter. One is that we will be home before Christmas, and the other is that we have been assigned
to the army of occupation, and will go to Luxemburg. It surely will be some
trip. We have had a much better chance
than most of the other men in this Division. We (Engr’s) are the only ones that
have had a chance to see the recent fighting trenches of the Allies and Germany
on and near Metz. Some of the infantry
were in the trenches near a Elbach, but they were quiet compared to there, for
there are really tremendous trenches and dugouts.
Some of
the civilians are coming back now. There
is one whom I pass daily. I am going to
miss him. He found a German cap in his
home. He picked it up through it out
into the road and said ‘Boche Paw Bon!” meaning, “German, no good!”
This
instance brings to mind another which I experienced last night when going to
mess. The same man). It was dark, and as I came up beside him, I
said good evening to him in French. He returned the same, but dear, if you
could have heard the manner in which he gave it you would have felt the same as
I did. For he seemed to be in need. His
voice seemed to be longing for something.
But he seem to want to make life
more pleasant, and he did that which goes to help one feel better.
On my way down
to mess I told the fellow that he must be hungry, so when I came back I found
him sitting on the doorstep. I asked him
if he wished some supper. He did not dare
to say yes, but I gave him part of my dinner anyway. He thanked me very kindly and kissed me on my
hand, he surely was toughed all over. I surely feel sorry for those who are
returning to find everything they loved and owned stolen or broken to pieces.
Today
I’ve been to church, that is, what once was a church. Now all the windows are broken and the one
side has been blown to pieces. The seats are covered with pieces of plaster and
rock. It surely was something to be remembered. The Chaplin took as his subject
the Apostle of Paul to the Ephesians, which is your father’s favorite.
I
suppose you are all rejoicing over the birthday of Lady Norine, for she is one
year old today. I’m not there to kiss her so you do it for me? Do you remember where I was a year ago when
that took place? Well dear, if I were home now I surely would go and see her,
for she must feel blue to have never met me.
Well
dear sweetheart if anyone ever had true love burning in their soul, I have. For I seem to get closer to you every day,
and I long for the time when I’ll be permitted to return home to you. You have
often mentioned the beautiful pictures of the future for just us two. Well dear, I surely can picture such things
myself and often dreamed about them. The last two nights I dreamed I was home
but to my surprise, when I awoke I felt cheated to find myself in France. May
God ever guide and protect you is the blessing and loving wished of your
waiting sweetheart.
XXXXXX
Your
loving soldier boy, Henry
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