Dear Folks,

      I received your long look for letter yesterday. Believe me I sure was glad to get it too. I wrote you Sun & suppose you have received it by now.

      I signed Pay Roll Sunday & stood muster today & we will probably receive our pay about Thurs.

      No, I don't think there will ever be any chance of Ernie passing the exam, and furthermore we soldiers will have to pass a pretty strong Physical Exam before we leave for foreign service & a lot of us will never pass. But a fellow can never tell where he will be sent.

      But I understand the Militia take charge of the West Coast this next Mon. I think we all will turn to the Seige guns & that sure does please me because we won't have to walk or drive miles as the guns are pulled by the big tractors. Besides we won't have rifles, it will be revolvers & that suits me.

      You said that Bill Mitchell said he would go. He had ought to, as he don't do his wife any good Ha, Ha. But his neighbors aren't very good Ha, Ha. But I think old Uncle Sam needs the farmers as bad as he does us soldiers. He can get enough city guys instead, but they don't pick up the drill as quick as us old clodhoppers & can't stand the hard knocks.

      Some of the college guys try to roast us farmers & cowpunchers but they don't get far with it as we sure do Hoo Do them. They get sore sometimes but that don't do no one any good as they sure do ride a sore head or a wise guy.

      By the way that story sure ended great didn't it? Maybe you think I did not enjoyed it.

      Who was that Crane girl that got married at Bronson Ia? Was she a sister to Hazel? Where is Hazel at? I would write her if I had her address.

      You don't need to worry about me taking up Miller as my side kicker. No chance. I was thru with her last fall & it always will hold good. It took me a long time to understand her but I do now. So you see it is all off with the big Swede, altho I hear from her but that is all.

      How much hay did Ernie get? I suppose he will have enough to run him.

      You sure must be stepping right along with that little orchard of yours. That sure was some amount of qts you got. Be sure & keep some extra for me cause you know I was always right there on eating them cherries.

      If you go to the river tell Dad not to take the high wheeler because I won't be there to get shock or electrocuted like we did the other time Ha, Ha. All them old times sure come back to a fellow when he is away from home like I am.

      You said for me to look out for a nicer present than the one I got. Well it will have to be pretty nice as this sure is a dandy. I am using it now and you folks want to keep a look out as we boys are all having a little present made for our home Dads & Mommas. It ain't much, but I think you'll like it so just wait patiently & it will be there in a wk or two. And I will also send them pictures then too.

      It sure was some bunch that was taken. It was good to see some of them damn Dutchs names on it.

      I don't think there will be a second draft because we clean that damn Kaiser before that. Why, do know they have women fighting in the Dutch lines right now. So you see they are getting short of men & when old Uncle Sam turns loose lot of these new inventions it will blow them to a warmer climate.