Sunday, February 10, 2019

February 10, 1919 -- George Worries About Future Life and "Bawls Out" Sister Susan


 
Regt. Hdqt Office
         Echternach, Luxemburg
February 10th  1919
Dear Father, Mother, Sister, Brother:

            Just received a grand surprise when the orderly brot in 6 fine letters from HOME, 2 from Jo and 1 from the Rassmussens.  Those from the first two sources were dated the 20th and 24th Jan so you see they made real fast time.  But Rasmussens was sent Dec 31st.  Must have been held up a long time somewhere.  I also recd three Sat Evening Posts.  1st I’ve received.  I’m just wild to get time to read them, but guess it will be quite a while before I get said time as we had all Day Sunday off yesterday for the first time since I can remember except of course when we were on leave.   We spent the day sleeping till noon.  Then we ate dinner and played and read till about 10 PM  Johnnie brot over three Chicago Dailies and two Keystones.  I skimmed thru them (the Keystones) and they brot up so many memories of Home  I was almost homesick so thot I’d find relief in writing a letter too.  But after scribbling a page it sounded so very tragic I tore it up and went to bed instead. 
            By the way, I’m still groping around in my mind trying to figure out what to do when I get back.  I reckon I can make a living but at 22 ½ years I’m getting to be an old man! And have got to settle down to something with future prospects and immediate financial returns.  By the time they get us back that will be a tough riddle to solve I fear.  But I guess it is hardly fair to even suggest a fresh problem to you folks so forget it; that’s what I’ve done with about all I ever knew, or at least that is the way I feel.  Another grievance against Bill Hohenzollern[1]!
            Now Sister as you write most of the letters you lay yourself liable for most of the “Bawlings Out.”  I’ve stood your self depreciating and Soldier Brother Idolizing about as long as I can so here goes, for with all my faults, I try not to be a hypocrite. And dear, I know that even in the old days you were a better example, a truer Christian than I.  As for the present, you have continued to grow, while I have in many ways deteriorated.  True, I know the war has given to me as well as you a broader conception of life or service, a keener sympathy but it has also had its weakening phases and has taught us all so much we can never forget. 
            But your letters today have got me started again so I may as well rave on and you can take the consequences. I was just prepared to throw a wet blanket on your hopes of seeing me the 4th of July for one thing when my own hopes got a fresh boost so will just let it ride, live in hope, and we will see what we will see.  There is no accurate dope but bucco rumor.  At least we can’t get home much before that.  I can’t compree why you haven’t been receiving at least a letter a week as my memory and letter record show an average of better than one per week dispatched since we struck Luxembourg the middle of December.  But here is hoping you have started to get them again now.  So I take it Evans is home?  How did he make it so soon?  Our papers show the 22nd Div still in Deutschland.  But your dope about making a big splash every time a fellow gets back is straight, at least as far as I’m concerned.  Of course, most of the boys probably saw real encounters and hair raising stunts with the Dutch so there is some excuse.  But I’ll have to take a back seat in the hero stuff, as all I did in this war was take care of plugs, build roads, carry messages and dodge Fritzy shells, or cuss ‘em for waking me up.
            It’s almost time I got to my residence or I’ll be locked out.  Say, they have the biggest liars up here. Someone told me they started to sow oats the last of Feb and the winter was so mild before we went on leave I believed them.  But since we got back I’m undeceived.  The ground is froze up, we have a little snow, and the nights hit very close to zero.  If they cover those oats, they will have to get the pick and shovel artists of the Engineers busy. 
            If you don’t lay off talking about pork, beef and fish in your letters, not to mention honey, biscuit, etc., etc., I’ll be trying to swim the ocean.  Oh, well, you haven’t got a corner on all the good eats because the oldest daughter of our landlord brought in some crullers covered with sugar this Sunday Eve. And that after we got to scuffling and mashed a bed, which by the way the boss had fixed yesterday and never said a word. 
            Did you read “Suggestions for a Mother’s Letters” on the 3rd Column, Front Page of Jan 16th Keystone?  Whoever wrote that had sensed present situation very vividly.  And it reminded me so very much of the letters my own dear Mother and Sister send me, it rings so genuine and true I almost think it was written by a Mother who had at least one boy “Over Here.”  I’m afraid at times in the old life while I knew of my many failings which no one else seemed to notice, I was guilt of a certain sense of satisfaction and self pride that I had overcome certain temptations which associates yielded to.  I have learned that I never knew what temptation really was or at least the grippe it could have on one.  Especially since the Armistice was signed, there are times when the homesickness, loneliness, the desire of companionship, entertainment and life are almost unbearable. I’m not excusing myself, or any of the rest for that matter, tho many have not had the wonderful home example and training I enjoyed.  But I can’t stand it to sail under such false colors, so try to forgive my faults and love your Son and Brother as he is, not as you wish or thot he was.  And keeping this in mind, I hope you will not worry, but will still be glad to prepare and look forward to the time when “Johnnie comes marching H O M E,” and I in turn will still keep up the battle and return to you your own loving son who understands and will return at least as physically clean as when he left.  I don’t know as you’ll understand, perhaps I’ll only succeed in making you feel bad, but I hope you won’t do that. And now, let’s try to get away from this which I seem to make sound so tragic. 
            Now all the boys have gone home but me so I’ll close up shop and go along too, for there’s no chance to get “Over the Garden Wall” without an extension ladder.
            With lots of love to Dear Old Dad, My Sweet Little Mother, My Lovingest Little Sister and the Big Beloved Brother she gave me.  May God Bless you all and keep you safe till my return and long after.  Mizpah*.
                                                             Corp. Geo Sherwood
                                                            108th US Engineers
                                                            American Exp Forces
 
* The Lord watch between you and me while we are apart from one another.


1919-0206                                                                   Susan Weber to George S. Sherwood
February 6, 1919
10:15 a.m.

Dearest Brother Boy,

            Today is a bright, sunny, cool, but not cold day, just crisp and pleasant.  Herman has started for the woods and Papa is doing chores.
            I keep forgetting to tell you about my birthday as I was so interested in telling you about our “great expectations”, but guess I can stop long enough now to say that I received a box of stationary, and two handkerchiefs and the big amaryllis plant from the folks.  You know I always did like the amaryllis and it makes our living room look so much more home like.  Mrs. Rasmussen gave me a small fancy plate and Mama gave me a of six glass sauce dishes and fruit bowl which grandma Atwater told her last spring to give to me, but she could keep them herself for a while before doing so if she wished, grandma Atwater said. Aunt Nellie gave me the “charming quilt she has been making, and Dora made me a sofa cushion and worked it all herself.  It really is very well done.  “The folks” invited me to meals for the day and had a big birthday cake and other good things so altogether I guess it was the “most celebrated birthday” I had in years, only you were not there.  Oh so much love to our boy Mizpah   Susan 

Feb. 9 – 1919

            Dearest Laddie,
Did not get a letter off to you yesterday so will add a very important piece of news, we received a card like this
Mr. and Mrs. A.E. Fredericks
Announce the birth
Of Gordon Keith
January 31st
Nineteen hundered and nineteen
Weight 10 lb.

A few days ago.  Their address is 
Lieutenant A. E. Fredricks
Pulaski Heights, Little Rock College
Little Rock, Arkansas  

Write and congratulate  them if you get time.  They sent ten$$ to the C.H., credited to Kendall.  Time and space say close this letter.



[1] 1888-1918 William II von Hohenzollern, King of Prussia and Emperor of Germany  (b. 1859  d. 1941)
 

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