hut but it was broad daylight so
you couldnt tell of course.

Its still cold. I wish thed hurry up and issue those gas masks. Theyd
come in handy these cold nights. The sargent told me that I was goin to
do interior guard tonight. I guess Im lucky to get indoor work
this wether.

[Illustration: "I BEEN MADE AN OFFICER"]

[Illustration: "SOMEBODIED SET A TRUNK ON THE TURKY"]

You never saw such a place for roomors. These are army roomors. They
havnt got nothin to do with the kind your mother used to take in. We
here that were going next week an that were not goin at all but were
goin to be used to guard the Chicago stock yards. Then we here that all
the mounted men are goin to be dismounted an all the dismounted men are
goin to be mounted. An that the rest of us are goin to be made cooks. An
we here that all non coms are goin to be abolished. Its awful hard to
tell what is goin on.

I got your Thanksgivin box two days ago. It was only ten days late. I
guess the post office must have made some mistake. Things is usually
later than that. It was in good shape except that the insides had been
squoze out of the mince pie and somebodied set a trunk on the turky. Of
course I divided it up with my squad. Big hearted. Thats me all over. Im
awful popular with my men. They offen say they wish Id be made a Major
or somethin. My men ate up all the stuff. All I saved for my self was
the white meat an half a mince pie. It certainly tastes good in the
field. Of course we aint in nobodies field. Thats a military expreshun.
I cant explain it.

I got to quit now an post a guard. At the same time Ill post this letter
to you. Thats a joke Mable. Im sorry this letter cant be longer but as a
man rises in the army he gets less an less time to hisself. Olive oil.

Yours faithlessly,
_Bill_.

_Mon Cherry Mable:_

Thats the way the French begin there love letters. Its perfectly proper.
I would have rote you sooner but me an my fountin pens been froze for a
week. Washington will never know how lucky he was that he got assigned
to valley Forge instead of here. It got us out of drill for a couple of
days. Thats somethin. I guess Id rather freeze than drill. Its awful
when they make you do both though.

Two of my men has gone home on furlos. Me bein corperal I took all there
blankets. The men didnt like it but I got a squad of men to look out for
an my first duty is to keep fit. Duty first. Thats me all over. I got so