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  • Wednesday, October 17, 1917

    The Adj. Starberd and Col. and Capt. Renton are here on business. We had a fine time getting them some dinner. They brought my coat.

                Just been trying to sweep. Went to buy a broom but didn’t know what it is called in French. Went to one store and showed them the handle but they were out, went to a another and got one. A broom in French is a “baille.” Wanted to get some cabbage but couldn’t let them know what I wanted. Finely we went to a lady and she gave us two heads of lettuce and cabbage, some onions and carrots and told us to come any time. Then the whole family came to visit us at the tent. One woman has a little girl named Mary Louisa. Her father was killed at Bar-le-duc in a raid by the Germans. The village is about 31 miles from here.

    One beautiful day. The sun was warm and a real bright day. As Ens. and I walked up the street we were led by some French ducks, five in number. They marched ahead like good French soldiers. Saw some bombs the Germans had dropped on a nearby village. They had raided it all day. We could see and hear the shooting quite plain.

                A French lady came to visit us and brought two apples. Some more French soldiers went by. The hut is going fine. This is the close of a pretty day.

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  • Tuesday, October 16, 1917

    This was a lovely day, only rather cold. In the morning we made a fire and got hot water and washed dishes. Watched some French soldiers pass on their way to the lines to relieve the men already there. About fifty head of horses came in and there were some in very bad shape.

    In the afternoon we watched the court martial of the men who were fighting and getting into mischief and some were sentenced to seven days in prison on bread and water and no bedding.

    One of the French ladies saw Ens. trying to break wood and brought a knife and chopping block made of an old tree. It was very handy and did good service with Ens. help.

    It rained a little and the prettiest rainbow came out.

    The scenery back of it was made more beautiful by the shadow. It the best I ever saw.

    The soldiers who were put on punishment are allowed five ounces of bread and water a day and solidarity confinement.

    We had Hebrews (8-13) for dinner today.

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  • Monday, October 15, 1917

    After breakfast, Ens. and I took a walk through the village into the country. Saw some fine scenery and an old-fashioned separator and got some flowers. Arrived home in time for dinner very tired and muddy. After dinner went and got Madam Callo and daughters and took them to our tent; showed them pictures and treated them to fudge.. We went for a walk and had a very interesting time; got home in time for supper.

    A man came to our tent and got saved. He seemed to be a real good case.

    Some of the men got drunk in the kitchen and had a terrible fight and one is in the guard house.

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  • Sunday, October 14, 1917

    The river has overflowed its banks and all the low ground is flooded. The water looks fine flowing through the trees.

    Twenty French soldiers and Capt. Mires of the U.S. went hunting in the forest and shot a wild hog. He was a big one. The one who fires the shot that kills the hog gets the head. They divide the carcass. This is the way the French spend their Sundays. The French government pays so much for each hog killed as they damage the crops.

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  • Saturday, October 13, 1917

    Saw a wedding today. The bride was dressed all in white. They all walked to the courthouse and back to the church. The bride leaning on the father’s arm and the groom walked with the mother. All the friends and relatives followed. There was a small baby and many children. The priest led the procession, but the real leader waved a large feather and carried a hatchet.

    It rained and was very cold. We made fudge and the men worked on the hut.

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  • Friday, October 12, 1917

    Last night was a terrible night. The cannons roared and they shook the house. It rained a hard cold rain, and today it just poured and the wind blew. It was an awful day. All we could do was try to keep sweet. The lady in whose house we stay fixed a box to send to her husband. His name is Madon Clair and they have two girls, very smart and sweetly polite children.

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  • Thursday, October 11, 1917

    Today they took a lot of horses to the front. They expect to have about nine hundred here and many more men.

                We are about 45 miles from the firing line and we can hear the guns and the raids at about 25 miles. I am real blue and I am sick but will soon feel alright.

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  • Wednesday, October 10, 1917

    At six we heard Reveille and the six fifteen call (mess) and the six thirty call (first fatigue).

                We got up and coffee, bread, and butter at the house. Then went to the Post Office. Such a time we had getting our mail. At least we got it. I received a letter from Mrs. Estill and was very happy. Estill was just reading about the time when they imprisoned people of our religion. In 1773 and now in 1917 we are here trying to bring hope and comfort to our people in France.

                You would laugh if you saw us trying to keep warm outside the tent. I have all my clothes on that I can get, my face and my hands are blue, and I can hardly talk. I wash the dishes, Ens. wipes, and Cova he puts them in the tent. Really it looks like finishing right. The big tent is down and everything is wet. The men are cold and so are we. Life isn’t all it seems. God’s smile is with us and He will deliver our frames, for today is a good one, no temptations save those common to man and they are all in the Guide.

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  • Tuesday, October 9, 1917

    Still raining and cold as ever so Staff told us to have our breakfast at home, so we did. At dinner it was safer as the men were a little better.

                They have a very nice dog and he has made friends with us.

                This morning a man was found dead in the guard house. They think he drank too much.

                Last night four hundred horses got out and some wandered 18 miles away. One got under a house and they had to dig it out.

                It rained all day so we sewed and wrote and talked and mailed our letters. You can mail only on Tues. and Thurs.

                The place looks terrible. The tent is down and it’s raining and cold.

                There was a funeral this morning. The bell tolled all the morning. The funerals are strange here. The priest walks in front saying a prayer, all dressed in a robe that looks like a large curtain. The women carry the coffin, which is a rough box. The whole village comes out all dressed in deep black and heavy veils. They carry the body to the cemetery, and all the time the bells ring and prayers are said. It takes all the morning.

                This place is very much like you read about. There are about six hundred soldiers here. They are volunteers from the regulars and belong to the Ammunition Train. They supply the men at the front with ammunition and supplies.

                It rained so hard that Adj. Case took a basket and brought our chow to the tent. We put two towels on a table and had a real supper in style and enjoyed it very much.

                At six we went to our rooms and by the light of a candle and, sitting on a box, we sewed till eight. Went to bed. It rained all night and was very windy, but we slept.

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  • Monday, October 8, 1917

                It snowed all day and was very cold. We had breakfast at the ladies. Coffee and bread, the regular French meal. Another bad day. The tent blew down so we stayed in our room and wrote letters. Hemmed some tablecloths and napkins. Went to lunch and supper. Wrote some more by the light of a candle. Got our hot water bottle ready (the French lady must talk about some more) and went to bed early.

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