Charles E. H. Bates Family Correspondence, 1899-1930 - 5

She can hardly see out of because she has cried so much, her black hair has many white lines in it - & my heart ached for hers I know what agony of mind she is going through the suspense of hope & uncertainty is terribly hard - He always wrote her very regularly & she knows if still alive he must be very badly [underlined] wounded or he could write but on the chance [underlined] of you knowing anything about him I told her I would write & ask you & she took your address & may write herself I understood him to say his Captains name was Burney

The boy was in the 40th Division & left Camp Kearny last June & was transferred to the New England Division at once was in the Belleau Wood fight where his Co-w Regt relieved the Marines The Mother was here one day last week & waited around the garden all [underlined] day [underlined] waiting to see me; I was out, & she gave up at last & a friend of her telephoned to ask me if I would see her so I told her to come today - I feel so sorry for her - so if you know anything or know Captain Burney (to whom the mother wrote but has received no answer. he may have been killed.) but if you know any way of her getting information dear it could be

a blessing if you would let her or me know - even if you know of his death, she craves particulars you see - and the uncertainty of it all is terribly hard for her she still hopes he may be alive because soldiers have been reported killed & later turned up safe & sound - & the "wounded" on the envelope gave her hope - "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick" Her name is Mrs White. 516 Haddon Road Oakland, Cal - The sons name was Williams S. or William Stevens White Fond love dear one all pretty well here now Mother

7 Mars 1919

Cher Edward.

Merci de votre longue lettre et de en 'avoir si site ecrit merci aulli de toutes les gentilles chases que sous un dites. Urais je suil un peu effrayee de voir que vous feusez taut a enoi. Je ne voudrais pas sous faire de la jeuse mais souseuez vous ce que je vous ai dit "French girl for french man"

[vertically in left margin] Olvee enes lonnes amities et mon souvenir liese sympathetique I remain your sincere ly friend Clairette Seve

y 'ai tres liese courpirs sotre lettre malgre sotre mauvaise ecriture! j' elpere que vous lirez aulli facilement emore ecriture que ensi la sotre. Je ne comprenoll pas pour quoi vous ene dites que sous peurez asoir ete impoli avec nous; ce u 'est pas vrai, sous avez toujours ete avec nous quite like a gentleman et vous u 'asous de vous que de lons souvenirs Mon pere ene dit de beaucoup vous remereier pour votre loite de cigare, et dit que vous asez ete trap