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  • Friday, January 18, 1918

    Had breakfast at 7. Col. was there and playing and talking a while we decided to stay at Headquarters for a day so got busy. Did some mending and got some things out of my trunk. Adj. B. told me to take a locker and put my extra clothes in it, so I did, and then Fred took it upstairs to the attic for storage. Then we packed and wrapped figs all day until dinner time.

    There was Mrs. Capt. Riley, Cadet Ruth Russel, Cadet Florence Tirkington, Cadet L. Young Fred Stillwell, Capt. Charles, Dan Andrews, Adj. Hamond, and Carl.

    That was the party. Had a pleasant evening talking about the different camps and how things were going until bedtime, then we all retired.

  • Wednesday, January 16, 1918

    Left Marson.

    Had breakfast at eight and got in a bus. It was crowded with six people and luggage. The lady who drove the horses was named Margaret. We had a nice slow ride to Bonville looking at the trees and hills and brooks. The day was like a spring day. We looked over the hills and could see a path that led to the place where Caesar had his trenches and fought his battles so many years ago. And where our boys of the 26th have their practice grounds. And the French have their up-to-date trenches. The next is Meaux where we have some more of the 26th. Then we came to the water town and it looked like water town, here we saw some more of our dear boys. The next was Doundrecourt where we had a stope and the other people unloaded, then on to our stope, Longauex. The lady only went to the second house, a wine shop, so we put out things in and went to the Military Headquarters and waited to see Maj. Pach. He told us to wait a few days and promised we ccould have the hut.

    The Lt. took us to our room. It was a very pleasant one with all kinds of homemade rugs on the floor.

    Went to see the Col. and started to walk but met a bus wagon and got on and rode over the roads to the joy of our lives, meeting so many of the boys and, oh how they laughed and shook their finger at us. When we got to the edge of the village we got off to go to the house. The Col. was not there so we had some lunch, two peaches and bread and butter. Then we went to buy some shoes and had a fine time trying to make the woman understand, but I got a pair. Started home and met Margaret the coach girl and wrote a note to Howard at Marso and told him that perhaps he would be there for a week, and sent by Margaret. Met some M.P. who I had met in one of the camps at Montiers. Then went home and had supper and a pleasant evening and went to bed. So goes a day of tramping or hiking.

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  • Sunday, January 6, 1918

    Some of the boys came home, but they were sick.

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  • Saturday, January 5, 1918

    Very quiet because all the troops are away on maneuvers.

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  • Friday, January 4, 1918

    Got to the hut and found a friend had a good fire and we soon had breakfast. Then we cleared up. Then the boy came and brought our chow and we had him stay. We had tea, and he said it was the best he had had since he left the States.

    We decided to go to Bonville where Maj. Ackeson is. We put some donuts and gum and fudge in a box and went on the hike. It was about one mile and a quarter. The roads were snowy and the sun was just peeping over the hills, and everything was nice as we left Marson. We could hear the bells from both Bonville and Marson telling the hour. On our way we met Capt. Davis and he asked us if we were real Americans and if we were married and if we were going to the front. We told him we expected to go to the front. We had a fine time at the hospitals, prayed and sang and the boys enjoyed our visit. Maj. took us to see the village. It was like all the others. We met one of the Lieut. and he said we would have a cold walk. We did. When we got home it was chow time. Had chow and went to bed tired and happy because of God, home, and goodness.

  • Thursday, January 3, 1918

    Had breakfast then Carles and Howard went for a trip to Nancy. We made fudge and donuts, and it took much of the day, as four was all that could be cooked at a time. We got them finished and Adj. took some to the hospital. Cocoa and fudge. They were very glad to get them.

    We had one of the boys from Co. M. bring our chow. He was the bugler; his name is Cuts and his Mother is a Dr. in Dakota. He is a fine man. He had chow with us and he and Adj. tried to play on the cornets. He used Howard’s. I kept the fire going. It was very cold but a great evening.

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  • Wednesday, January 2, 1918

    All but fifty of the boys left for practice to be gone for five days. So we got busy and cleaned up. We scrubbed the tables and benches and cleaned up generally. In the afternoon Carles came and with him was Ens. Perrince, but best of all he had seven boxes from the U.S.A. for me. Two from Col. Tania from Adgie and one from Headquarters and four from Mrs. Anderson. They were all filled with good things. Cookies and candy. Tea and coffee and gum. Oh my, what a treat for all. The tea was the most appreciated. We all enjoyed it.

    The men have all gone away to maneuvers and so we decided to visit the hospital. We thought that homemade treats would go good in the hospital, so I made a box with some of the things that Mrs. A. sent. There were about ten men in the hospital. All were lying on cots without sheets or pillows. They used their coats for pillows. They had all their clothes on. There was no fire and it was very cold. But our prayers and singing and good things and the American ladies made a bright cloud in the day for them.

    Man should always pray and faint not.

    Then we went home and it was chow time. Carles and Howard went and brought some deep sea fish and we had supper. Then we wrote letters and tried to keep warm till bedtime. Went home at nine and to bed. I was very glad I had been to see the Mothers’ boys and had tried to cheer them.

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  • Tuesday, January 1, 1918

    The men had a free day, and it kept one busy at the counter. We made fudge and molasses candy and it was good to see some of the Mother’s boys enjoy themselves, perhaps for the last day dated Jan. 1.

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  • Sunday, December 30, 1917

    In the morning we had chats with the men and had a very pleasant time. Meeting at night was fine. The men were a picture, and if it was on canvas would be famous. One held a candle while two had a book and they sang; and they could sing. The hall was dotted over with candles, and at the tables were men who had come over here to give their lives for right and justice. Twenty asked for prayers.

  • Saturday, December 29, 1917

    A cold day and we had a very good time cleaning and fixing the hut. Especially interesting was making fudge in a two quart pan, the boys eat while it is hot. In the night we had cocoa and there was a big rush to get the first cup, just like a lot of children. The most fun is making the fudge in the small pan and hearing the boys saying, “My turn,” and, “I’m next.” “It’s real homemade!” It was great.

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