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No.8
Page Two 

at these three wounded men. I hope there will be no kind of peace until this whole nation has been crushed militarily. 
      Our director, M. Blanc, is not well, and one of our French men has been moved to another place. Jim and I sleep in a hotel room with two beds. We have our supper and breakfast at this canteen which costs us very little and our dinner at the hotel. My breakfast is composed of a bowl of milk and bread. Noon dinner is a regular meat dinner: beefsteak,mutton, duck, anything you want except candy. We know there is none to be had. So you see, Monica, we can understand how it feels to have a candy box that is empty. Only here the town is empty and even miles around as far as the eats go. The nearer we get to the lines, the more the soldiers have to eat. The civilians must still have their bread ticke s, though. 
       I was so very glad to receive your letter last week. None has come this day. You see, the railroad traffic is taken up for other things just now.
       M. Blanc knows M. Lacheret, your preacher cousin. Blanc has heard him preach. He (Blanc) is a Baptist. I am enclosing the address of his son and another boy for Paul and George. Paul is to write to him. I guess that they live in the south of France. 
       I see by the book I have now eight letters on the road to you and four of yours. Your business letter came this morning in regard to the bill to the Blacksmith and also Bogart. I do not see that there is anything else do do but pay them. I had hoped to save some money here for Bogart and will not stop trying to live very simply and give a little money to the soldiers that need it. It will be two months at least before I could send some money home to you, but I will try my best. Mr. Guthrie's offer seems to me to be alright. I do not like it, but to keep you from worrying I would rather you sell the marble for what you could get for it. There was no letter from the children in your letter as you said there would be. You forgot to put the number on your letter. You will know by this letter and the letter I have sent that mail is very slow. And a letter from Monica and Paul is always welcome. We are very much all the time fifteen hours everyday and this will keep up until the drive in this section lasts. I am afraid that you are going to tire yourself going to New Canaan everyday to give lessons. Enclosed you will find a post card of Jim M. Blanc, another helper, and myself, and also the (C*. O.)
        Goodbye and lots of love to you. Now Monica and Paul if you cannot get a letter in Momma's, write one anyway. 

                                   Solon