March 12, 1919
Mauvages,
France
To the One I
Love,
Do I hear you say, “Something must be
wrong?” No, dear, I’m the same dear
sweetheart writing to the one I hold so dearly to my heart. Tonight being Wednesday and no amusement, I
thought of you, dear, back there with the sparkling eyes. My mind has traveled back there many times
since our last Friday. You know why,
dear? It’s because you stand so close to
me and yet I can’t touch you. But it
makes me feel better just to be allowed to go back to you in my mind. Oh what a cold world this would be if
imagination were to be taken from us.
This week so far has been one of
joy. For we have had a few hours of
sunshine. The mud is beginning to dry,
the trees beginning to bud, and a few of the spring flowers are in bloom. Really, dear, things look like spring. I’m afraid I’ll get the spring fever
myself. If I don’t, it will be a new
thing. We are just finishing up with the
last barrack. When we get that done, I
think we will go back to the company for there is something waiting for us
there. No, not letters, but inoculations again. I surely dread them, but I
think I can stand it, if others can. I
hope it is the last one.
I haven’t received any more mail since
last Friday, but we are looking for some any day now. Now don’t laugh, for I’m going to tell you
something. Last night I went to the
YMCA. I went to the counter. To my surprise, they had some real American
gum. I asked them how much for 6
packages (1 franc). Did I buy a franc’s
worth? I say, I did. Now, don’t think I won’t appreciate that
which you send, for I do. So the results are, I am chewing all the time
now. I am going to save some for George.
Well dear, everything is going
fine. Even to the number they are
sending home. For they are increasing
every day. I see by the paper tonight
that the “Peace Terms” will be ready to submit to Germany by March 20th. Well, the sooner Germany hears her fate, the
better. For the sooner peace is signed,
the sooner we will get home. We hear
rumors every day as what we’re going to do.
You asked if we were in
the army of occupation. Not at present,
no. But I surely wish we were, for I
would like very much to see some more of Germany. Now dear, don’t think I don’t
wish to get home, for you know how I feel, but this is my idea if we have to
stay here. I would rather be somewhere
else than here, although we are being treated as well as we can expect. But what I want is to see things that will be
of value to me in the future. I would
like to be studying French history. But
I am away from the school they have at the company. So I’m being left out.
You have often asked me to tell
about conditions. There are a few things
I have mentioned before, but there are things going on near me every day which
almost makes my blood run cold to hear them.
Profanity is so common among the fellows that I have come to the
conclusion that they really don’t know what they are saying. I hear a man use the name of God repeated
several different times in succession to the top of his voice. If you should
say something to him he would only laugh and sneer back at you, like he was the
only living man around. He is the kind of man that can’t recognize things which
are better and uplifting to mankind.
I often have talks with the men on morality. There are some that side in with me and
others, but there are others who uphold their lifestyle. They continually say they can’t have a good
time unless they are drunk and at the houses of sin. Their idea of man’s creation is limited. They seem to have no love for their parents
and that dear sweetheart girl that they claim that they have back home. The
only excuse they give is, well, I told her to go and have a great time,
too. If they are not doing it, it’s
their fault. They don’t believe that
there are true, pure, clean women living.
I told them they either avert their eyes or don’t know what they are
talking about. For I have one at home,
and that is not all. There are hundreds
of them.
Going back to the subject, after the
fellows have been out on one of their wild tares, they come back and tell of
their experiences. After they have had
their pleasures, as they call it, they begin to run down those women, as if
they happened to be disappointed a little.
In most cases, they are. Why should
they talk about her as if they do, for they don’t stop to think that they have
been just as low as she has? But she,
only, is held as a past time. If such
persons who indulge in such immoral past times would only keep it to
themselves, it would not be so bad for those who are trying to live a clean,
pure life.
At present, I am sleeping with a
Catholic. He appears to me to be a very
nice fellow; good, pure, clean ideas of life.
He was a married man who lost his wife and baby. When the men come telling their funny tales,
as they think they are, it makes him speak up to them. He is one of few words, but straight at the
point. They try to tell him things,
which he knows to be untrue. Well, by
coming in contact which such things it proves to me the real value of the true
teachings I received from my dear parents, which I thank God for. The blessing I ask of him is that he will
give me faith, courage, and strength for the trials and temptations that are
continually being placed before me. I
have my weaknesses, I know. I should be
more like the Bible says, “Let him who be without sin cast the first
stone.”
I am trying to be, as my dear mother
said before I came away, “Though you may never say a word in regards to the
gospel, let your actions have the true worth of your teachings.”
Well darling, it is getting late,
and the night goes so quickly, I must say goodnight. May God grant to us life, love, and
protection through life and love. I sent this letter from the bottom of my
heart, to the one I hold so dearly in my heart.
May He hasten the day of our glorious meeting when we shall be united,
and we will have life, love, and be happy through coming years.
Yours eternally, Henry X O X O X
Corp. H.D. Call, Co.
A. #313
American Expeditiary Forces in France, APO 795
P.S. Give my love to all. By the time you get this, spring will be
there. I am going to send a little poem
made at random. I wrote this one day when it was raining. It has not much to it, but, it kind of gives
the idea of our past, present and future times.
You may add the last two or three verses if you like.
With love, Henry. Good night,
dear.
“My Sweetheart” Mar. 3, 1919
Time
was when we were young and free
We
did not value each other’s love
But
Time has changed that, you see
So
why were we like wooing doves
Time
was when we were longing for
Longing
for each other’s company
But
time has changed that
Then
I was always before thee
Time
was when we were happy together
Casting
sunshine upon each’s soul
But
time has changed that for no other
Than
to prove ourselves in fact
Time
was when we were gloomy and dark
Longing
for each other’s tender caresses
But
time is changing that like sunshine for a lark
For
the time is near for spring and daisies
Time
will be when we are knowing
Of
those stored away kisses
Then
time will be forgotten unknowing
Those
lost evenings of NO joys.
Corp. H. D. Call
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