Somewhere in France
November 1st, 1918.

My dear Brother:-

I have neglected writing you for several days until I am fairly ashamed of myself, enough so, I daresay to make me hasten without any more delay to write you. For two weeks I failed to write the dear mother and my dear Dot, the first time I was neglectful since leaving the States. But really I was so mighty busy Win, that I did not write any one for over two weeks. Since last I wrote you we have moved again and are now nestled in the valley of two very high hills, settled in a French chateau. In the valley flows a small river. The fields are a beautiful green and on the hillsides are herds of cows, sheep, pigs and flocks of hens. It all presents a very restful country home and we are immensely contented, and shall hate terribly to leave here. We are having lots of nice, good eats and I am feeling winderfully well and I think I am gaining weight daily. I am jolly well happy that I am over here now, notwithstanding I longing of times to be home. I feel myself very luky and fortunate to be in the A.E.F. membership, and I'm looking forward with great expectations to soon witness that glad day of victory,

This past week, in two days, I received eighteen letters, and I had a great old time reading them all. This noon I received one from mother dear and she says she is feeling finely. I am so glad, and I only hope she continues to keep so. I am very contented to know you will write me once a week if possible, but I cannot promise the same, Win in return, for sometimes it is hardly impossible to even think of writing, although I try my hardest to write mother and Doris regularly. I write very little lately.

I am not a bit surprised to learn that you were mighty uncomfortable while you were undergoing the process of inoculation. I, myself, with my second "jab", if you recall, had quite a fever.

Mother has not said if she has begun receiving your allotment as yet. I do hope she will get it all right, and not have the trouble over it that I had with mine. I suppose by the time you receive this letter, you will surely have got your first months pay, at least, if not more. Perhaps already you are out in Ohio. I hope you do get out there, and that everything works out the way you want it to.

So you are or were attached to the medical corps in New York State camp and on night duty in the Infirmary. Well, I should really think you would like that work and I hope you do, if you are still at it. If you are at Syracuse for Thanksgiving time, I suppose you will try and get a couple ot three days off and go home, won't you? It would make mother real happy. Any way, do try and get a few days off Christmas and go home.

There are all sorts of comical jokes cracked and poems written "over here" concerning those little 9x4x3 Red Cross boxes which the home folks can send us this Christmas. I sent mother the shipping label which must go on the package, which they gave is over here. So I am waiting and wondering what I will get. I told mother I wanted some Baker's Chocolate anyway, for I'm dying with the want of it. Ha-ha! sweet-tooth, as mother calls me!

I hope you have been able to visit Syracuse city by now. There are some lads here in the Train from Syracuse. They think the city is some Burg, So! how do you find it?

I have not seen Malcom Burnham since we landed in England although I hear he is very near us. By-the-way, when you write me again you might insert Ken Burnham's address in your letter, and if I have time I will drop Ken a few lines. I have just located some of the boys I knew in some companues at Camp Devens.

Monday November 4th

Once again, I make a stab at finishing this letter to you, this being my third whack at it. I have just received a letter from you dated October 11th this noon and one from mother,

It did me good to learn mother had heard from me, but I hope she gets all the letters I have written her. Gee! you, too, are having your share of quarantine all right, but I do hope you're all O.K now.

Yes, Walter Tillotson left for this country long before I left the States, However, I trust he is still alive and will be returned to his mother soon, if by chance those Huns have him prisoner,

Am glad you have got your O.D's. all right, and now can keep warm as it must be pretty chilly in the States by now. Over here they do not have very severe witers; when it snows, it melts almost at once.

Well, Win, I had better stop for this time and write mother her letter. I am in the best of health and hope you are the same. I was alarmed and surprised to hear that Raymond Piper and Frances Clarridge were engaged. Well, with my best love to you Win from

Your loving brother
Mort

Letters


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