Letter 111
Mauves, France
February
10, 1919
My Darling Sweetheart, Yes I’m a day late in writing to you this week, but if you are the same as me you would be satisfied no matter what day I wrote. But there are always reasons for delay and I do not care to mention them, but remember they are only minor ones.
We finished our barn Saturday night. Then we waited around all day yesterday for the order to go home. Last Wednesday morning it started to snow a little. Thursday morning it had begun in more proper shape, for the snow was coming from every direction. It snowed all day. At night it cleared off and gave us a good cold night. We did not care how cold it got as long as we were in bed sleeping and the blankets keeping us warm. But along about six thirty in the morning, then is when we hate to get up and fall into our clothes. But there was one part, our shoes, that we did not fall into so easily, for to our surprise, they were like our socks … frozen to the floor. How could we expect anything else? For we were all out in the storm, but we were still surprised farther when we found a nice soft cushion inside of our shoes(frost and ice). Did I hear you say, I’ll bet you enjoyed it, well I’ll tell you the truth they did seem a little uncomfortable. It taught us another lesson: never leave your shoes out in the open, so now we wrap them up and put them under our pillows.
You know dear, we are learning untold lessons “Over Here.” Say, next time you have a snow storm, just take your mess kit and go stand on the north side of your house and eat your meal. Before going inside, take a little walk down to the barn and see if there is plenty of hay to make a bed, then after that, go to the house. Are you cold? You are not much different from me, and that is just a taste of what we have here. Only we don’t have any warm fire to plant ourselves by. Now don’t think my lot is hard. For it is easy now, but had a person told me a year ago I would be doing what I am doing, I could not have believed him. And what is more, it looks impossible. Well dear sweetheart, such is life in the Army. The only way to do it is to look on the bright side and say there is a brighter day coming soon.
I have not received any mail for two weeks but I am waiting in hopes there will be some before long. I have not seen Geo. for over two weeks. I suppose he is O.K. One thing they have here is a Y where we can spend our evenings. They have boxing, wrestling, movies, or vaudevilles. I surely enjoy them, yet every place you go it is cold, or seems that way.
I received my January pay last Friday. How many more pays we get over here I don’t know, but I hope not many. I’ve been able as of late to get all the candy and cookies I want. Last Thursday night as I stood waiting for the performance to start, a face came into view that I thought I knew. He stood near me, and I watched him closely. I heard him say he was from Davis County, Utah. At that, I knew him! I nudged him and said, “How are you?” He looked at me for a minute and said, “I don’t know you.” I was able to tell him when he left Utah and who he volunteered with. So I finally I told him his name: Glen Angles. He was with the 119th F.A. which was with the 32 Division, but now with the 88th division. He has been over here since last June. I met his brother at Boulder, Colorado. He is the only one I’ve met from home. He received some more recent mail from home than I, and told me of the death of Mila Rampton, Eliot Earl, and a White boy. We had quite a chat together. It surely did feel fine to talk with someone from home. But he is not like those who have been reared in dear old Bountiful. I saw him yesterday for a few minutes. I want to see him again tonight and get a little more news of home, for I know the artillery received mail today.
Well dear, it is almost mess time and I’m getting cold sitting here, for there isn’t much fire. From the looks of things, I’ll not received word of when the marriage will take place, but I hope to know soon. I hope they have an enjoyable time. Have the men from the 140th gotten home yet?
The only thing left for us to do is to be patient and put our trust in God, for He is ruler of the universe. Keep a smile on your face, and before you know it, I’ll be back to you and my loved ones before you know it. Did you receive the pictures and cards and the parcel? I sent them from Aix Les Bains. You must have received them by now. Excuse my mistakes, for I haven’t time to reread this. Tell Mary and Irvin’s family hello.
Well sweetheart, give my love and best regards to all, and tell them all is well. May the guiding Spirit of God always be near you and keep you for me is the love and prayer I send to my waiting sweetheart.
Corp. H. D. Call
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