Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France
#782373
S.W. in France
3-10-17
[should be 2-10-17, according to next letter]
Dear Mother:–
I received a letter from Mrs R, D, English today she wrote a very nice letter in answer to one I wrote her some time ago I am in the same little funk hole as when I wrote my last letter and am feeling fine the weather is still ideal. We do enough each night to get the kinks out of our back and to keep up our appetites.
As we were lined up for supper rations some thing made me think of those soda biscuits you used to make, or maby they were baking powder, but I don't remember thinking of them for a year I guess I often think of new potatoes and milk gravy, I remember we had new potatoes the last time I was home, tomato soup and lots of the good things you used to make, I am getting less use for meat every day I live, I did not have to enlist to starte this but each year I care less for meat, My you can't half amagine how I would value a meal at home if it was only your bread and butter, I some times think like this for a few minuits after I get a letter from home or when I write, but I never get home sick, I never have felt that way since I was home the last time, My life seems set apart to be out here and if you knew the real joy there is in my heart as I live among the boys you would not worry at all, there is no reason why you should Mother, If death should part use ever why death is as simple eating out here, I beleave I pass the dead boys with a greater peace at heart than ever. I have no fear in the world, only Gods will be done, As I walk with some men and a shell burst, they say those are the kind I hate well I don't they all look alike to me, I won't run into one and comit suicide neither will I dei from being scared to death or from any strain why I used to worry 100 times more about my sins before I started to live a christian life than I ever will about heinies shells, I worry about nothing the machine gun fire goes by like little birds in the air and if you have a chance you get down if you don't you never care a bit, the thots of these things multiply so much to the real thing. I know if a boy gets wounder bad it is hard but we will take those things with a smile there is no one who should bear a part of that than I so I don't shudder at the thot, and death I would just as soon go under as live, I am going to give my life in service any way so what ever God sees fit is agreeable to me, I cherrish life less each day and thots of the loved ones at home more.
Boys stay out here all lengths of times, there is one right here now 18 months men live right thru others never get through one trip it seems strange how God deals with boys, I beleave more and more each day that he only calls the individual the same he as in civilian life he rules almighily.
I will copy a few lines of Mrs Englishes letter My dear boy, it does not surprise me that you are such an earnest christian with your early training and such a mother. Although there are many that are situated the same who fail to grasp the truths in there youth.
I saw two ducks one night in there way south west, there was some water in hearing distance of no mans land one night as waited on duty I could hear the call of the Terns the same birds we used to bother in the slews at home when we were kids, we would wade out to there nests, Clive used to be able to beat me walking when we were kids I wonder if he could go thru the life easier than I now. I havent seen any one that takes it as smooth yet, taking every side, I just an't scared of any thing there is to do I can do it that amounts to so much to know that I used to wonder if I could stand up to this or that but I am thru the mill now and have taken every thing with a smile and when you are filled with the sperit that comes from God it makes you such a different man to what your natural nature does.
Well good bye Mother dear as ever your loving son Laurie
[margin] If you have any snap of me and a poney will you send one I left mine in England. L.