Letter 112
Feb. 23, 1919
Mauvages,
France
My Dear
Sweetheart,
Sunday once more, and still I find
myself located in this small village of peasants. They live a simple life and carry on the
necessary duties of life the same, even if there are many American soldiers
here. Today being Sunday I’ve spent a great deal of my time here at the Y. I wrote
to Mother this morning, and this
afternoon I have set apart time for you dear; I must devote at least two hours
of time weekly to you, and all the more if I can get it.
Now don’t think because I only write once a
week I don’t think of you, for I do. There is always a time each day, when I leave
this country and I find myself back there with you, dear, yet there seems to be
something lacking. I can’t feel that
soothing touch of your hand, but I can get that God-sent love you send to me
daily. For it beams on my face always. You have often mentioned, dear, that you were
writing too much. That is impossible! For you must remember that it is all I have
to satisfy my craving soul.
Were it
not for those messages I love and receive now and then, life here would be a
misery, and oh so lonesome. They are the
only things I look forward to, except for the day I’m informed that we are to
leave for Dear Old U.S. My mind has
changed a great deal since coming over here. I surely feel proud to think you have been so
patriotic in doing what you can for those “over here,” even though you hadn’t a
brother over here. Another thing, you
have carried yourself with the heart of any soldier.
I’m
sure you have had times when you thought that everything had gone wrong, and
there was not even an opening to be seen.
These hardships you have taken upon yourself and you have not even
complained, but instead, thanked God that He would give you strength to
withstand it. And now that I am on my
last mile and you can see my homecoming in sight, just keep that same good
spirit, courage, and love around you and be cheerful until that grand day of
our meeting. Now dear, don’t think for a
minute that I didn’t have faith in you doing it. You have reached my ideas gloriously and you
have gone far beyond. It makes me feel I
was just a common soldier doing my part, but if need be, would give my life for
the freedom of humanity. Thus my faith has been made stronger and my ideals set
to a much higher standard of life. My
only desires are that we may both live to accomplish them in this life.
You
talked about William Fisher wanting an orphan about 18 years old. I surely would like a little boy about 6
years old. I don’t agree with him
wanting such an old one. Treo Jensen has
gone to the hospital with a gathering in his ear.
Well dear, I can’t
say you have forgotten me, for last Tuesday morning I received a love message
from you. Mail came in Monday
night. I waited for my name to be
called, but there was nothing for me. I
surely felt as though there must have been some mistake, and there was! I always
try to look on the bright side of life, so after mess, I went to find
George. I finally succeeded in doing
so. It was the first time in four
weeks. He was the same old George. We had a nice chat together, talking about
home and we read each other’s letters.
I’m sure you don’t object. Do
you? Bessie seems to be about the
same. I sometimes think she is a wee bit
cold with George. She should remember he
doesn’t feel disposed to write as he feels.
I’m sure you understand me in regards to the same in writing; but
remember dear, read between the lines.
We
returned back to Mauvages in a rain storm Tuesday. We did not get very wet for we had our
raincoats. We got here by 4:20 just in
time for mess. I went to the Y and saw
“On to Berlin” played by the 119th Field Artillery. The next day we finished our barrack and
since then we have been waiting for orders. They seem to have trouble in
locating a place for them. I was very
much surprised yesterday. We were told
that we were to put them on a three acre lot near the town, but owing to a few
owners not signing for permission, it was stopped. There were only 36 owners. No wonder they don’t have any fences.
Since
Wednesday, I have seen three plays and vaudeville. Thursday night, the 113th
Engineers went, then Friday night we saw “The Clover Leaf.” Last night, the Nelson Trio gave us a fine musical
entertainment singing some of the most popular songs. One of the ladies played several pieces on
her violin. They also demonstrated some
of the modern dances. To tell the truth
dear, I sure wished I were home. I had
the blues before the performance but I still felt much better after. Of late we have been able to obtain a little
“Hershey.” It surely tastes much
different from this French kind.
Well
I suppose Ward and Mable are married by now. It surely will seem funny. Well, I thought of them just the same. So David got home Jan. 24th. Lucky kid.
I suppose the papers were filled with the great things they did “over
here.” Well dear, keep a smile on your
face and think of our meeting sometime.
Bye bye. May you ever have the
Spirit of God around you continually, and grant unto us the desires of our
hearts.
With
love, Henry X X X
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