Thursday, May 2, 1918
SOLDIER’S LETTER
Saturday, February 9th
Dear Mother:
Will start you a letter today. We are having some nice weather now, and believe me it sure is welcome while we are at sea for we have had two very rough trips so far. Hope you have been getting all of my letters. I will have to stay up tonight and help do the baking; the fellow I have baking is very slow as yet, for I am teaching him, and I do not know much about baking myself. Our clock was advanced one hour, so it makes the afternoon short for us.
Sunday 10th – The weather is still fine, the sea is almost smooth, and it makes sailing much nicer. Where are uncle James Gillispie’s boys in the army?
Monday 11th – We are still having fine weather, but the sea is running a little rough today. The man that I have been teaching how to bake cut his hand, so I will have to do the baking for awhile. Has Ed started to make sugar yet, or will he make any?
Tuesday 12th – The weather is still fine, and while the ocean is smooth, it is not so very hard to bake. Mother, could I get you to send me some of the Pocahontas Times? I guess they will reach me all O. K. I have been sending all the girls post cards, and will you keep what I have sent you? I am going to send you some more in a day or two. I am going to sleep awhile this afternoon so I will not get so sleepy tonight.
Wednesday 13th – We are still having fine weather. Saw quite a bunch of fish this morning; also a large sea turtle. Wish we could have caught the turtle, we would have had plenty of soup for a few days. How is Mack and his wife, and are they still in Akron, Ohio? Will write more tomorrow.
Thursday 14th – We are in port now. Was out for five days, which we all enjoyed very much. I have two cooks, six mess-cooks and five negro boys who attend to the officers’ quarters or state rooms under me… How is Harper getting along with his law by this time? What does Lucy call her children? I am sorry to say that I have forgotten their names.
Friday 15th – We were in the Azores for a week or two. Had a real nice time while there. We will have fresh fish for supper, the first that we have had for some time. It takes about 80 pounds for a mess. Eggs are very cheap here, only 24 cents a dozen.
Saturday 16th – We had inspection by the Captain today. He goes over the ship and believe me, if he finds anything that is not clean, he sure will tell a fellow. I baked 58 loaves of bread last night, was up all night and am fixing to go to bed now. Will write some more tomorrow.
Sunday 17th – The weather is a little cool today, but the sun is shining very nice. In Bermuda and the Azores, they never have any cold weather. Hope the weather is fine at home today, and you and father are well. When I get home I will have some news to tell you, but cannot write them now.
Monday 18th – We are out at sea again and it is raining today, but the sea is not rough. We were in Leixoes, Portugal, for a few days, but did not get to go ashore on account of fever. The people here are very poor; most of them go without shoes, and they say that they cannot get bread. Am looking forward to getting my mail in a few days.
Tuesday 19th – The sea is very rough today. We could not do any baking last night on account of the boat rocking. I baked them biscuits for supper tonight. We give the men two a piece. The weather is getting a little cooler now, but we have had a fine winter so far; no cold weather since we left Philadelphia in December, and the cold weather goes a little hard with me just now. What kind of a winter have you had?
Wednesday 20th – Well, will write a little more today. On Wednesday we always have beans for breakfast, and also on Sunday. We are still at sea, but the sea is not very rough today. We have seen some large fish, but of course we do not get to catch any, but the most of them would be no good to eat. We bought some a few days ago and they cost 48 cents a pound.
Thursday 21st – We are going into harbor now, and I am very glad of it, but this has not been a very rough trip. Saw quite a number of wild geese today. They certainly looked good. Will have to bake biscuits for supper and will soon have to go to work. Love and best wishes to all the folks. Love to you and father.
Luther Hudson,
U. S. S. Nokomis
HILLSBORO
Mrs. C. J. Stulting was called to Highland county, last Friday on account of the serious illness of her mother, Mrs. Doyle, whose death occurred Saturday night. Mrs. Doyle was in her 92nd year.
Mr. and Mrs. J. S. McNeel went to Carolina last Saturday to visit their son Henry who is in training, and who expects soon to sail for France.
The whole world seems to be on the move. Good neighbors are leaving this beautiful valley for places better suited to their liking. Others are taking their places.
Setting our time up has had a good effect on everything except on our hens. They don’t lay any earlier and in fact, they don’t lay as many eggs as they did when the clock was an hour slower.
