back of me laugh and mock at me, but the mistress say it is right; the sign of the cross is good for the flag too.  And when the flag is pass we arise and say hurrah also, and one soldier American regard me with a smile.  Then I take my courage with two hands and cast away the roses on him, and he catch and kiss me with his hand, and put the roses in his coat.  His name is Teddy and I love him much.  I know because he come see me, because I write my name (with two es) and adresse tied to the roses.  My Maman was very much surprise when she see Monsieur Teddy come and ring to the door.  He is very well elevated and very beautiful.  He has buckled hairs[18] and a line on one side and his figure is razed.[19] His uniform is the color of the ground; it is not so much pretty as the French Poilus who are the color of the sky.  And his hat is tied, like a bonnet of old woman, with a shoe-lace in the back.  But I love him all of same.  He take me on his knees and say:  “Parlez vous francais” and he begin to recite the verb “avoir,” because he know nothing more of French.  And so I say I know very well the American and I talk at him and he laugh very strong.  And he give me a piece of bonbon very droll.  It is mint but it is like elastic; I eat a great number of pieces because I want not to offence him, and Teddy all of a hit become very much frightened:  “What,” he say, “You did swallow the chewing gum!” And I say:  “Naturally I swallow the bonbon!” And Teddy say a bad English word and run away without his hat and he come back with a bottle of ipecac and I will not take because I know what it make do.  And poor Teddy was very much desolated; he come every day to get of my news, and to-day he bring the bonbons French that we swallow.  To-day he ask me will I be his little adopted girl the year next when you have finish with me and I say, “Mebbe I will.”  And he say, “Bully for you, you’re a peach!” I make him write because it is the American and not in the dictionary.

Goodbye, dear godfather,
Your affeckshunate godchild,
Andree Leblanc.

P.S.  I am surprise you ask who is M. le Cure.  Only the pagans have not knowledge of him.  Are you one pagan?  I think you say that to make laugh.  It is very bad to mock yourself of M. le Cure.

[17] entertain (entretenir) to support. [18] Buckled hairs (cheveux boucles) curly hair. [19] His figure is razed (sa figure est rasee) his face is shaved.

To Mr. James P. Jackson Jr. 
Dear Sir: 

Due to the great confusion and delay existing in the mails at the present time, we have not until now been able to repair our error concerning your godchild.  We take pleasure in announcing that we are now in a position to supply you with a boy as formerly requested.

As to the little girl, we can no doubt provide for her until other arrangements can be made.  Elderly gentlemen, we find, are particularly fond of adopting little girls.