y, "_We've_ got a parcel."

Then came our first Christmas in the trenches, or rather in France. We
were out at the support billets on Christmas Day, and after working all
night we were much disgusted when our Sergeant came in where we were
sleeping and told us we had to go up to the lines with some supplies.
However, they gave us an issue of rum, and we started out. We had made
our trip and were on the road back when a sniper caught sight of us.
There was water in the communication trench, and my chum and I got out
and walked on top; pretty soon a bullet passed between us but we did
not pay any attention, we thought it must be an accident, but a few
seconds later, another hit just ahead of us and we realized that we
were the "centre of attraction," so we made a bound for the trench;
just as we lit, another bullet struck just behind us, so we came pretty
near getting a Christmas box from Fritz. We found that we had to take
over the trenches that night, so there was not much fuss made over our
Christmas dinner, but we had a little extra spread.

However, when New Year's came we were at rest billet, and our beloved
Colonel had planned a big dinner for us. It was served in an old
schoolhouse and we had roast turkey, plum pudding, and almost
everything you could mention, and the Colonel himself came in and
carved the turkey for us. All that week on rest we had a glorious
time, our parcels had arrived from home and every one was feeling happy.

Nothing of any importance happened in the next few weeks, things were
pretty quiet on the line; of course it was raining most of the time and
we were up to our knees in mud and water. We were four months without
seeing the sun, and we were beginning to think that Fritzie had gotten
his range and blown him out. Then too we were crawling with vermin,
and even when we got a clean outfit of clothes in a few hours they
would be just as bad as ever. Being wet all the time, and having to
put up with the discomfort of vermin and rats, were harder on us than
the dangers of actual fighting. The part of the line where we were had
superior artillery positions and observation posts, and any time
Fritzie opened up, our artillery soon silenced him. It used to be a
case of "You let me alone, and I'll let you alone." The trenches were
in awful shape in spite of the continuous working parties, each rain
made them a little worse. We used to get our rum every morning, and I
want to say a wor