11

letter, by due course of mail ought
to have reached you Friday morn-
-ing & the mail returns Saturday.
But I conclude that you had no
chance to write before going home
friday & then no chance to send it back
in time for saturday's mail. It
made me feel sick at heart to day
when John came from the Office &
said "no letters". I feel so much alone
here. There are so many to mark any error
that I may fall into & none to sympa-
-thise. Cousin John Merrell is in
my company temporarily. He occupies my
tent, & reminds me constantly of Joe
so much so that I have several times
^unconsciously called him by that name, & then I rem-
-ember with a pang of sorrow, the loved,
yes, dearly loved companion of my
first experience of Army llife. Good by
Darling. God in Heaven bless & fill your
young heart with gladness & Peace. Your
Devoted John