P.S.  Hows your big brother been makin out?

P.P.S.  Thank you very much fer bustin that dog fer me.  I have a pig with a hole in it and if I ern enuf money next weak I will send it to you.

P.P.P.S.  Who is that Mr. le Cure you talk so much about?

18 rue d’Autancourt.  April 16.

Dear Monsieur James: 

When I go to school the week past I see the flag of Amerique floating well high!  And all the world is content because you come to aid us terminate by a peace victorious this war so terrible, and be like one brother for the triumph of the Justice, and the Liberty, and the Humanity.  That is what the mistress of school explicate to us, and we love and honor the Amerique like the great sister Republique, and then she tell us get up and learn chant the song of the Banner of Stars.  Perhaps you have hear it?  It begin:  “Oh, dites, voyez-vous aux lueurs du matin” etc.  The mistress write it all on the tables black,[14] and we copy in lieu of the exercise of grammar, and it make us all joyful.  But all that make me think so much of you, that I cannot empeche[15] myself even if you are no more my godfather, to pin the little flag American that you give me, on my heart, that save you from the death by the hoopincoff when I attach it to the candle of the Ste. Vierge.  And then, pending the recreation of mid-day, I go home and the factor bring your letter!  And when I return at school I effort myself so strong to read your letter, that I cannot make like it must[16] my chart geographic.  But I promise Isabelle Gaveau, the little girl of the merchant of shoes, that if she will to aid me, I will lend her my pretty handkerchief new, for go to church the morning of Easter.  So we be all content and I have very much the time to reflect and respond at your letter.

Dear Monsieur James, I comprehend that you want I continue be your dear godchild.  I demand to Maman what I do, and she say:  “Take the silver, and make no more infantile foolishness.  Only one onion cost five sous now, and the life is very hard, but Amerique have the great heart to help us and give us the hand, and we work all the two for the Patrie.”  So, dear godfather, we be not mad at ourselves any more, and I promise I make no more the fib, and you make no more the cranky, is it not?  I must to make many progress in American for when you come I reckon you come like the dickuns, like yellin thunder, with the skin’em alive Red-skins and the hot dogs!

Dear benefactor, what is it the hot dogs?  My great sister say it is a species of machine-gun American.

It is very funny your Papa make the wicked dream!  You have the very beautiful family.  Me too.  Great brother Jules is already the corporal and he is like the Chevalier Bayard without fear and without reproach.  One day, he tell me, a great eclat d’obus take off his hat, and he pick it off the ground and say:  “Ho Fritz!  I wanted not be so polite and salute you!” And my great brother tell me many things important on the war.  But I write them not, because the censure would scold me; perhaps put me in prison.