1918 April 13

4/13/1918

Dearest ones,

Am still a school boy & getting along OK – only it is rather stupid work & makes me very sleepy.

Well I lost my bunker last night – so am all alone now. Abry & the other two chaps in my Co. were sent away to another place. – Now I have a nice room all to myself – stove – electric lights etc. I do all my own housework – split wood – carry water & dump dirty water – it is lots of fun. We have a bully shower bath in the next block.

There was a company of Eng. Stationed here once & the Non Coms. got busy & built a house built the furniture, fire place & everything else – it is very attractive – has a thatched roof & the sides are made of home made adobe (straw & clay) the interior is rustic – whole trees for beams & big rocks for fire place. The chair seats & backs are woven of reeds & branches.

Big time at the Y last night but I missed it, Band concert & a speech by Sir somebody or something – my head ached – so I went to bed.

Have decided to wear my glasses again – haven’t had them on since leaving the U.S. just a month ago. But this paper work is hard on the eyes.

Am getting fatter all the time – weighed 138 yesterday in my lightest clothes & no overcoat – when I joined I weighted 120 1/2. So you see we feed pretty well – my breakfasts alone would be enough to feed me all day in the past. Must go now. I love you dear & am very lonely for you & baby – Bless her. I do Jack

4/13/1918 (typed)

Dearest,

This is the second letter I have started to you today and I doubt very much if this one is finished tonight. Have been roaming around getting information which I will write up tomorrow instead of tonight: Tomorrow is Sunday and I will have to keep pretty busy in order to beat old Mr. Blue Devil, we do not have to work on sun. but I have laid out a program for myself which includes house cleaning and a complete rearrangement of my quarters; have copped enough white cotton flannel to make a pair of curtains and tonight after dark I hope to be able to hock a broom from someone, as my floor is getting pretty thick.

The rain has stopped and it looks very much as if we would have a nice Sunday for a change; the average is about five rainy days each week and the mud is a fright; our quarters are about two miles from here and nothing but deep slimy, gooey mud to walk on; Don’t be surprised if I come home with web feet – I do Love Jack