Just like the other mornin he calls me over an says, “Smith, my orderlies sick.  You can shine my boots this mornin.”  He said it like Id been beggin him to for a month.  An then he says, “Smith you can lite the fire in my stove.”  He had me thinkin he was doin me favors.  He said I might put some oil on his boots if I wished.  I says that would be a great treat an I wished he wouldnt be so kind or the fellos would think he was playin favorites.  I guess he didnt here me Mable cause hed just gone out.  I said it anyway.  I didnt care if he wasnt there.  Spunky.  Thats me all over.

[Illustration:  “I POURED SOME OIL OUT OF HIS LAMP”]

I couldnt find no oil for his boots anywhere, Mable, so I poured some out of his lamp.  An then I dont think that suited him.  Queer fello the Captin.

I keep herein more about this fello Broggins.  I suppose he belongs to the Home Guards an wares his uniform round in the evenin.  An I suppose he has an American flag on his ritin paper.  It dont mean nothin in my life.  I aint goin to put up no arguments or get nasty like most fellos would.  Dignity.  Thats me all over, Mable.  Let me tell you though if I ever come home and find him shinin his elbos on the top of your baby grand Ill kick him down the front steps if I only have one leg to do it with.

Im ritin this in the Y.M.C.A. in the afternoon cause Im goin on guard tonite.  I dont see why they dont make it a permenant detail and be done with it.  Someone said the top sargents a man of one idea.  I guess Im the idea.  I didnt go out to drill this afternoon.  I didnt say nothin to the Sargent though cause sargents have an idea that if they dont get a lot of fellos to go out to drill with them they dont look popular.  I got to go new sos to get in my tent before they come from drill.

     As ever
          on guard,
               Bill.

Dere Mable:

I would have rote sooner but I had such a cold I couldnt say nothin for most a weak.

Well Mable, we et all the food like the cook said but we aint in France yet.  I guess he aint got as many brains as he said he had.  Everyone is sore at him cause we didnt kick at none of his food for more than a weak thinkin that when wed et it all wed go away.  He thinks its funny an says “Do youse guys think this war is a Cooks tour?” I hate fellos what tries to get out of things by bein smart.

Everythings covered with mud includin me.  I seem to attract mud like I was a maggot, Mable.  Yesterday I spent all the afternoon shinin up for guard sos to be the Colonels orderly.  Then I step out of the tent and flui.  The Sargent says, “Smith dont you know enuff not to go on guard lookin like that?”

I even got mud in my hair.  Max Glucos says when he combs his its like rakin out a garden.  From what I seen of him though I dont see how he found out.

[Illustration:  “I EVEN GOT MUD IN MY HAIR”]