Camp Devens, Mass
Thursday Night

Dear Brother:-

I guess our darling mother has been pretty sick, Win, but I got a letter from her tonight, and she says she is ever so much better now. I wrote to the Doctor the first of the week and told him to watch out very closely for mother, and go up to see her as often as necessary, and not hesitate even if mother said she was all right. I got a letter back from the doctor and he said she was getting along all right, no need for worry now at all, and that her fever was all gone. I have written mother and told her to remain in the house until one of us got home unless an unusually nice day came around. I got a letter from Charles today and he is keeping watch out, and Mrs. Bacon, the Harts and Mrs Williams are doing everything for mother. So I guess Win everything is all right now, but mother had a mighty close call from having pneumonia. She got her cold in chuurch on the Sunday I was home, before Thanksgiving. I've told her to stay away from church cold Sundays hereafter. The place is so poorly heated.

Well, Win, your brother is now a Sergeant. Yes sir! I'm now wearing three stripes instead of two. I was appointed Corporal December 1st and Sergeant December 11th. I'm happer than a bed bug. Lookout! You'll have to salute your "kid" brother soon, if I keep going up. I have charge of sixteen men now and half of this morning I had a platoon out on the drill-field drilling them. When there is fatigue work to do for my section, I simply oversee it and am not compelled to lift my hand, but I do, to keep from freezing to death, with the thermometer now actually twelve below zero, mornings around here.

I'm afraid I won't be able to see Lieutenant Jenkins before I get home Christmas, if we're fortunate in getting out, as our quarantine won't be lifted until a week from tomorrow (Friday).

We had a demonstration this afternoon in the use of our 44 automatic Colts which all non-commissioned offerciers are to carry. All non-coms also are mounted continually on a cavalry horse. Can you imagine me with a "seven-shooter" by my side. I'll get there yet, you can bet. I'll be a man soon.

Everyone here is giving to the Halifax fund. It surely was awful, almost unbelievable.

I am thinking very strongly of selling my shares in the Grafton Bank, and give the money to mother, so she won't have to do any extra work. I guess the money amounts to nearly two hundred dollars. I am not going to do anything about it until I get home, though.

I am wondering how you are getting along with that landscape gardening examination? I hope you got an A.

Am glad you and Carly went to the movies at Bangor last Saturday night for a change. As to you giving mother something for Christmas, I think she would rather you had not give her anything this year. My $50.00 will be sufficient, I guess.

Well, I guess I'll close for this time. I am fine now, and don't worry now about mother for she's getting along finely. Lots of love to you from

Your Brother
Mort

Enclosed find a few views of our doings gere at camp, Ha-ha!

[Assuming the Halifax fund refers to the Halifax Explosion that happened on December 6, 1917.]

Letters