Letter dated from October 6, 1918

Transcription:
Page 1:
“St Leonard
ON ACTIVE SERVICE
WITH THE
AMERICAN EXPEDITIONARY FORCE
Oct 6th 1918
AMERICAN Y.M.C.A

Dear Folks:
I need your Welcome letter this
morning It being the first one I need
coming directly across. You were speaking
of me finding Frank I have seen him
and have had several letters from him
I dont think he is so very far
from me. I wrote him a letter last
Sun EVE. I am out in the country
sitting on a log writing this. *illegiable*
tell father not to wear out his shoe
souls going to the post office that we
are both in the best of heatlh and
getting plenty to eat. I had a letter from
Hazel Eaton one day last week stateing
the news about the Wilkman boy take
ing poison. This is sure some country
all the land divided in small fields
as they are called over here and the fences”

Page 2:
“are all of something that looks
like hedge. I believe there people would
go crazy if they had a nice house
and buggy they use a two wheeled
cart and a donkey. Some of the very
wealthiest have a four wheeled buggy
but nothing like they have in the
states. There are an awful lot of widows
here about eight out of every ten are
are wearing mourning. You people seve
had some day there on Old letters.
Tomorrow is a big day here as it
is Market day which they hold on the
first monday of each month. We all
set our watchs back one hour this
morning I supose the same thing
happened in the states. I wrote Ida
a letter last week I need two from
her both the same day and they
were written about ten or fifteen days
of art. I am very glad that Irvin
Dow wrote you I told him to
but did not have time to write”

Page 3:
“your adress down from him and though
maybe he might forget. I sure hated
to leave him behind. I realy dont
think that you need worry about
Lee seeing any service for I dont
think this is going to last very
long. I had a letter some time ago
from Lulu and Roy but it was for
warded from the fact. If you see
Ida Belsly tell her to have one of
those fried cheese sandwiches ready
for me when I get back. Hottaid
think she will remmeber the joke
Most every man or boy that
goes by here has a fishing pole
and I never seen any of them
have a fish any bigger than my
finger. I have a small name card
that I am going to send you that
a french man made for me he cut
the flower in the card with his
pocket knife. These people that
do drive horses or mules over”

Page 4:
“here have a few sleigh bells on
them I have never found out the
idea. There are between fifty and
seventy five kids go to a school
near our quarters and they all wear
wooden shoes with hole nails in
and take it from me they make
some noise they have school
just the same on saturday
as any other day. Well I suppose
I had better quit for this time
as I am about out of paper.
As ever your son
James

Corpl. James H Stivers
Hdq co. 72 Arty C.A.C.
American Exped. Forces
France

OK
*unknown*
Lieut. U.S.A.