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