afternoon from the Supply sargent.  An I showed it to him tucked inside my shirt where noone could get it away from me without some tussel, you bet, Mable.  But it seems that you got to keep on drawin it all the time.  Then later I here footsteps.  I was expectin the relief so I was right on the job.  An a man come up and I poked my pistol right in his face an says Halt.  Who goes there?  And he says Officer of the day.  An bein disappointed as who wouldnt be I says Oh hell.  I thought it was the relief.  An he objected to that.  The relief, Mable—­but whats the use you wouldnt understand it.

Theres some mistake up north Mable about the way were built, Mable.  Its kind of depresin to think that you could forget about us so quick.  Everyones gettin sweters without sleeves and gloves without fingers.  We still got everything we started with Mable.  Why not sox without feet and pants without legs.  If your makin these things for after the war I think your anticipatin a little.  Besides its depresin for the fellos to be reminded all the time.  Its like givin a fello a life membership to the Old Soldiers home to cheer him up when he sails.  I was sayin the other day that if the fellos at Washington ever get onto this theyll be issuin soleles shoes and shirtles sleves.

Its gettin awful cold.  No wonder this is a healthy place.  All the germs is froze.  I guess there idea of the hardenin proces is to freeze a fello stiff.  The Captin said the other day we was gettin in tents of trainin.  Thats all right but Id kind of like to see those steam heated barraks.  Youve red about those fellos that go swimmin in the ice in winter.  I guess thed like our shouer baths.  They say Cleanliness is next to Godliness, Mable.  I say its next to impossible.

I started this letter almost a weak ago.  I just found it in my bakin can.  They call it a bakin can but its too small to bake nothin.  I keep my soap in it.  I got some news for you.  The regiment is to be dismantled.  The Captin called me over this mornin and asked me where Id like to be transferred.  I said home if it was the same to him.  So there goin to send me to the artillery.  This is a very dangerous and useful limb of the servus, Mable.  I dont kno my address.  Just write me care of the General.

I got the red muffler that your mother sent me.  Give her my love just the same

     yours relentlessly,
          Bill.

[Illustration:  “I just found it in my bakin can”]

Dere Mable: 

I havnt rote for some time I had such sore feet lately.  When they broke up our regiment and sent me over to the artillery I thought I was goin to quit usin my feet.  That was just another roomor.

Thanks for the box of stuff you sent me.  I guess the brakeman must have used it for a chair all the way.  It was pretty well baled but that dont matter.  And thanks for the fudge too.  That was fudge wasnt it, Mable?  And the sox.  They dont fit but I can use them for somethin.  A good soldier never throws nothin away.  An thank your mother for the half pair of gloves she sent me.  I put them away.  Maybe sometime shell get a chance to nit the other half.  Or if I ever get all my fingers shot off theyll come in very handy.