France March 8/17

Dear Mary & kiddies

We have been marching for two days & will tomorrow my sore side hurts bad yet have thoes stickey straps on yet which do not help it any. was not able to march well yesterday & got called out over it. we will go in again soon. are in a different town for two nights. what do you think about things now. We had some warm days but it changed cold again last night. the mud is drying some with the wind was some dryer the last three days we were in. I do not know many days, but I think seven or ten out some very good families around here they make money selling coffee & eats there bread is not pure white.

have not any letter from you lately Feb 4th was your last it has been delayed, moving so often. will move a few times before we get in again. will this ever end. does not look like it your papers give more news. I may get a letter from you tonight also a parcel will help some while we are out. lots of soft coal mines around here & a fire feels good. but we do not get any time will show you if one is better than another.

March 9th

will you tell Mother the kidds do not want to be kept in to tight. well it is four months & four days now in this plat. am in sixteen now think will get along as well. we moved to another town again this morning in a driving snow storm. did not get a letter from home last night will hope it comes to night

Father has a very good way to put the time in. I get anxious to get at something like life Clare has a very good thing also farmers are good customers for some articals. do you get along good enough with your money things are getting so high now it is clearing now. it may make it stay warm from now it is just what we need to be at all bearable we will need our pay bad enough before we get it this time. I shook my pen & made these spots. ink has been frozen & does not feed very well. it is very little use writing twice a week delivered like this. if the boxes come now will be O.K will be in next town a few days Tell the kiddies will rember they make some of it excuse this spoted page

Is Jacks birthday this month

the man is here to take the letters so bye bye

X X X X X X X X

Yours

Roy