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A Group of Interesting Letters From Our Soldier Boys. Stobo Prescott Writes His Sis ter, Mrs. Ben Rubenstein. . France, -? September, 15, 193 S. My Dear Sister: Your letters just received and of course it is useless for me to tell you how glad I was to get them as you already know how glad I am to hear from home. I am glad you are all getting along so well and enjoying life as usual. "Well, you haven't a thing on me for I enjoy myself all of the time or 11 have so far and am expecting a better time in the future. All hate about this war is having to stay so far from home for as ou know, home is one place that I have always \oved. Every letter I get from you you are staying a while at home and I certainly wish I could stay a while there now. Think it would im prove my feelings considerably, don't think it would have the effect on my looks though that it did on yours, judging from the photo that you sent me, and which I appreciate rery much. It certainly is a pretty picture of you. \I\know you are glad to get away from Augusta for I know it has been "h;ot there this summer. I haven't been bothered with hot weather here. My over-coat comes in good every morning and it rains every day that comes. What kind of work is Wallace do ing to make such good wages? I did n't know there was a man in Edge field making such a salary and am surprised at a kid doing so well. Mabel, the pears you wanted so much to send me wouldn't be good for soldiers or sailors, so don't let that worry you. We get just what is good for us, such as pork and beans, and corned beef. That's the kind of food for the boys over here. I eat SQ much goat till I "bleat" all night in my sleep. A short while back we ate so much rabbit till we couldn't stand to hear a dog bark. I got an Advertiser this week you sent me. I was as glad to get it as I ever was to get a pay day. We don't have as much to do here as you might <think. We have mov ing pictures to fro to and pass off ally that I might keep in touch, with the war. Kindest regards to Ben and as much love as a good soldier can send to you, I am, Your devoted brother, Stobo Prescott, Letters From Claude Lyon to His Parents. Dear Papa, Mama, and Family: Haven't heard from any of you for quite a while but am expecting to hear from you tomorrow, per haps. I haven't but a few minutes to write so will write you only, a note to let you know I am all right, thanks. I haven't had a chance to write to anybody for the last ten days. Hope to be where I can write to you all real soon. Have had lots of wonderful expe riences for the past while but didn't enjoy it much. Did Mrs. Ouzts ever hear what really was Percy's outcome? Maybe he is where lots of our boys are but I hope not. I haven't heard from the Merritts in ' quite a while. Am very anxious to hear from them so I can find, out how James is. Guess you all are living happily in the city again. Hope you like it. Tell me what class Frank and Pres cott are in. I sincerely hope they won't have to leave home. I would rather serve two terms over here than see them have to come. Am still hoping it won't last long but I would not know what to do if I should get out. I see from the papers 'nat yc>u home folks are still sending the boys over very fast which is good news. believe we have gone far beyond any nation's expectations already. I noticed today in the paper where five thousand war girls would be ov er from the States real soon. Hope they won't be disappointned. Love, Claude. Wednesday, September 25. Dear Papa and Mama: Know you all are beginning to think I am on the casualty list but I am not. For the last week it has "tu-fn irriTinpciiKl? -* John Burnett Demg Kineo. But you know we must expect such things from this great world war. I can't see what makes Mother grieve so about the war for I think it will be the greatest help to civili zation of anything that could have happened. Every boy over here is afraid he /will soon have to go back home and start to work for a living-you know it would hurt our feelings real bad to have to work twelve hours a day now as we haven't done any real work in so long. We don't have any thing to worry about except the peo ple at home as we get cigarettes once a week, plenty of tobacco, good healthy places to sleep, plenty to eat and good roads to hike on. So you see we are getting along "first class" in every way. Mabel, t;his is the prettiest place, or rather country over here I ever saw. There are some of the most beautiful hills here, and the beauty of them is that they have something useful growing on them all. In some of the places I have been all the fields were planted with Irish pota toes and bunch beans. Where we are now, they plant blue stem col lards and go "wild" about turnips. One good thing about this country is that nobody plants peas. The people tere as far behind with fa:ming:- here as the Revolutionary war is behind our war of today. Mabel, you all over there must help us win this war by working for the Red Cross and buying War Sav ings Stamps and Liberty Bonds. So you must do your best toward each one. I expect you and Naomi both are good Red Cross workers for I think you both love to sew. As for Mother, I don't suppose she is able to go to the Red Cross work rooms but I know she will give all that she is able to. I know Ben has bought a Liberty Bond. I received a letter from my little auntie, Marie Prescott, last night, and certainly was glad to get it, too. She writes such a nice interest ing, jolly letter. I will answer it as soon as I can so she will write to me again. 1} guess I have written enough for this time. Be sure and send me The Advertiser every week, also send me an Augusta Herald occasion - -~ vi pers of the different happenings. I wish it was so that we could see the boys from home but you know that can't be done. I've been very close to Jake but he didn't know it, also lots of the other boys. Send me Capt's, address. I've tidied" several times to get it but can only get Len wood Hotel. There was no Lenwood in : Augusta when I was there and is one in Columbia? Do you know your oldest son's middle name? Think! We are faring well, have plenty of cigarettes furnished and good rations. We were reading a minister's pre dictions today, from England. So far he has hit everything and it will be just a few more days before an other of his predictions is to come to pass. I hope he will have hit that one, too. Will try to write again soon. Love to all. Claude. Letter From Claude Lyon to His Sister. Dear Ruth: Haven't heard from you since you moved. Mr. Key wrote me that you moved August 22. Pope you like the new home. Is Wilbur Har ling boarding with you all? I was thinking last night about our neigh bors. They are all nice people and the children are nice. Winter began over here yes terday. The first sign was the tree less hills of France glistening with frost. My! I dread it but .it's all war. I dread it mostly for my feet's sake. They froze last winter and I know they will be worse this winter. We have good shoes and plenty of thick, woolen socks and clothing but it' is naturally cold and damp over here. Think I'll send some more souve nirs real soon. We have some very historic ones now and are where we can get lots of them. Would you believe I've been through a perfect desert for miles and miles, where there was not a I single tree or a living thing. The | only difference is that it rains here and not in other deserts. Don't forget ray address is 118 Infantry, Hq. Co., A. P. 0., 749, American Ex. Forces and not A. E. F1 I just made my first fire-had to use a Jerry helmet for a stove. Will send you a helmet real soon. Love to all, . Claude. Bruce Timmerman Receives Letter From Charlie Bailey. Base Hospital, Camp Jackson, October 16, 1918. Dear Bruce: I will answer your letter now. Would have written you before but have been sick for two weeks. I am back at my same old job now, wash ing dishes and boilers. I was glad to hear that you were getting along all right. We are having some pretty cool mornings now. I " don't think it will be long now before I can,tie back home with you all from what I can see and read in the papers. I tell you I saw some good news in the papers yesterday and the day be fore, or at least it was good news to me. Tell Lullie and Kathleen~that I think they did well picking cotton not to have picked any longer than they did. j I am certainly glad to hear that they are all getting on fine at home. I hear from them right often, but not BO often as I would like. You all have been having some xsjghty pretty weather to gather your-crops in. Bruce, you would be surprised to know how the people and soldiers | have been dying over here with the Spanish "Flu." As many as forty have died here in one day, but they have got it checked some now. There were only about fifteen to die yes terday. 25,000 soldiers are here now. When I first came here there were only 9,000. There is certainly a lot of difference too. Well, will close for this time. Write me real often as I'm always glad to hear from you all. ', Love to all, from Your soldier friend, . Charlie P. Bailey. John E. Agner Writes Letter to His Sister. September 1, 1918. My Dear Sister and Brother: How are you all getting along ov er there? ? am feeling fine today . Dear Sister, I am in France, a long way from home but trusting to see you all some sweet day. oisuer, i certainly would like to see Grandpapa now but he is very old so I don't guess I will ever get to see him any more. You must go to see him every chance you get. I suppose Wiley is very nearly as large as I am, now. I don't imagine he likes to pick cotton very much. I never will forget the time you came down and helped us pick cotton so I could go to see somebody. Well, I will close with many good wishes and lots of love. Write me a long letter soon. Your loving brother, John E. Agner. Letter Received by Mrs. R. C. Grims From Her Son September 9, 1918. Dear Mother: I will now answer your letter which I received a few minutes ago. Was so glad to hear from you and know that all were well. How is Papa standing the times? Tell hin) I am all right. I am doing fine. Not having anything to do much now. Well, I am back from the front lines, where I can't even hear a big gun. We have just gotten back to the place we moved from. I feel kind of lonesome since I got back and can't hear the big guns shoot. It has gotten to where the shells and big guns don't scare me at all. I like to stand and look at the shells fall and tear the ground up. ( Well, it is raining over here. The weather is cool and we had some sleet yesterday morning so you can guess how cold it is. We sleep under two blankets and also our over coats. Well, Mama, I have seen some pretty sights since I have been here. The country is as level as a floor. The crops are fairly good but there is not cotton nor corn. I guess the cli mate doesn't suit. Weil, vve are getting on fine. The enemy drops us a shell or two once in a while but that isn't very much. We send, them about fifty in place of one so they have to go back. How is everybody around home. Tell them "Hello" for me. Tell Lu cile to take care of my horse for me and keep her fat. She said she could catch her anywhere. So keep her and when I get home we will have a grand time riding around. Well, as my time is out I will close. With much love to all. Walter W. Griffis. Every Department Well Supplied We placed large orders early for the several departments on our second floor and invite our friends, the ladies especially, to inspect these attractive goods. . We are showing some gopd values in bed-room suits. Also see our sideboards, hat-racks, sofas, dining tables and china closets. A beautiful assortment of rockers to select from. We have a large stock of iron and enameled beds and the best bed springs on the market. A large stock of cotton and felt mattresses. We extend a special invitation to the ladies to come and see our beautiful assort ment of rugs and art squares. Many attractive designs at very reasonable prices. We have bought a large stock of stoves, ranges and heaters. Now is the time to discard your old one and purchase a new one. \ We were never better supplied than now to fill the needs of our customers in har ness, bridles and saddles. Large assortment to select from. Our undertaker's department is well supplied with coffins and caskets of all sizes and prices. A share of your patronage is solicited. Our hearse responds to all calls promptly. " ? On our first floor will be found a large stock of heavy groceries and plantation supplies. We buy in large ! quantities and can make very satisfactory prices. Large shipment of Texas oats for seed-no better quality on the market. Let us fill your orders. Edgefield Mercantile Company n't you? some disagree work but we can. We haye was once a school house for girls. I haven't heard from you all in a long time. I am not writing much myself but guess you have heard from me by now. This is a pretty country but is not as sweet as the old U. S. A. I don't think we will stay here in this coun try long for we are going to give these Germans the black eye before long. I am going to eat my dinner at home by Xmas so you need not wor ry about me. I am having a goo'd time kiuac. rvriLt? soon to Your son, T. M. Griffis. W. L. Bryan Writes to His Mother From France. September 12, 1918. Dear Mother: Your sweet letter was received and I was so glad to hear from you all and to know that you were well. I am feeling like a young mule in a tin stable. That's as good as a fellow cu iiuun. au mum ui .ance certainly oys. They seem the Carolina boys. The weather is somewhat cold ov er here at present but we have no right to grumble for we have had so much pretty weather. Mama, you asked me if I wanted you to send me a paper. No, don't send it as I don't have much time to read. I will spend all of my time in writing to you all. You said you felt a little uneasy (Continued on Page Three.) Edgefield Farmers Attention! We desire to announce to our Edgefield friends that we are well supplied in every department to supply their needs. , Have a Large Stoek of Plows and Harrows Just what you need for-turning your land in the fail. Our Stock of Harness, Saddles and Bridles is Complete Anything you want in harness, wagon or buggy harness, single or double, we have it-WITH PRICES RIGHT. Large stock of NAILS and all kinds of Builders" Supplies. If you need shop tools of all kinds come to us. Poultry and pasture fence wire all widths. Large stock of carriage and wagon material. Thc best roofing on the market. Shotguns, loaded shells and cartrides of all kinds. If we have not in stock what you need we will order it for you at once. i Come in to see us when in town. Mr. J. H. P. Roper is with us and will give his friends a cordial greeting. Whittle & Plunkett 1289 Broad Street Augusta, Georgia /