[Letter of Robert Lincoln O’Connell to his mother, November 1, 1917]

Dear Mother,
	What do you think of this souvenir? Let me know as soon as you 
get it. Am sending a money order for twenty dollars. Sara said you had 
an awful time making a muffler and had sent a sweater. Several of the 
fellows have received sweaters and I will have plenty of use for one, as 
the army sweaters are not being issued. Yesterday I received an ear-muffler 
from the girls, with several letters and a paper. About three weeks ago, 
I received another batch. Some of the letters have been over a month on 
the way and others less than three weeks. In another letter I am sending 
three souvenirs for the girls. I don’t know what to send to Pa and Dan 
but will certainly remember them, somehow. I hear they are going to issue 
heavy socks, so the girls had better take a rest, and that reminds me that 
if they see Mrs. Morrow, they can tell her that the socks are having a good 
tryout in this mud. We get so many showers that the ground is never dry and 
heavy socks are the only kind to wear. We are having a pretty easy time, 
compared to what I expected and I am in far better condition than when I 
left the States, so you see you need not worry about me. I will write a 
longer letter soon. 
Your loving son,  
Rob

 

[Transcribed by W.J. Shepherd on 13 April 2009].