France
December 22, 1916

Dear Violet,

Received your letter and Bruce's three nights ago while standing to in the front line patiently for Fritz to blow up a mine. It is needless to say how glad I was to get them as I have been looking for letters and those Christmas for a long time now. I guess when they come they will be all in a bunch surely I will get a box to night. In your letter you say don't get my feet wet and don't stay up late at night. I never do either just get wet up to my knees and stay up from sunset till day break. This last trip in was certainly tough. It was the side of the war you never read about in story books. I also had a letter from Aunt E. I have one peach of a cold and cough just now. Bruce in his letters was telling me he thought of enlisting and asked me to write and tell him what I thought of it. I had intended to write him a special letter but as this is all the paper I have and only one envelope I will tell what I think about it in here. Tell him he is too young to last long out here and that one from our family is plenty and not to dare enlist even as a bugler. I would tell about this in stronger lingo only am afraid of the censor. Before going in the line this last trip I wrote to mother but did not get a chance to post it until yesterday so she will be wondering why I do not write. I will write her again shortly. When you send another box put in some raisins or figs and a little honey if you can get it. I will close now hoping to get a box or two to-night. Keep an eye on Bruce.

Love to all,
Jay