Letter, November 2, 1918

[Letter on color stationery of the Y.M.C.A., Union Franco-Américaine. Received November 27, 1918.]

Nov. 2, 1918

My dear Cecil-

I just rec. your letter now and now is very late at nite. I will answer just the same. Some one stole our electric globe last nite when we went to another town to play a concert.

Well little girl, I'd like to have the privelege this Sat. nite you said you would allow me, but why me? Am I any better than anyone else? I believe you will be one dissapointed little girl when you see me if you think so. For I am no society fop by any means. But just the same I'm pretty much human. even tho I might look more or less [ ]human.

I imagine you would meet a very nice set of young people at nite school. for as you say its only a pretty worthy set that are ambitious enough to work that hard for an education.

I havent heard from Carl yet. Am anxious to hear from him tho. Ill tell you if he has said bad things or not. Can he truthfully say any thing like that? I don't believe he can, so if he does I wont believe it.

So Mary Ross is in Tennessee. Well I guess I wont miss her much if I do get back, for I reckon she is not the best friend I've got.

And your cousin is in officers training, pretty near all our sgts. have been sent to officers training over here. But I heard a second Lieut say he would rather be in the band than have his commission and I know I would rather be here than there with all their responsibility. Some at home may wonder why I have not been advancing but if I spend my time studying in that line all my time is nearly wasted as it will all be left when you go into civil life. As it is I can get more good our of my study in music, if I ever get back than all the military training even to the pretty high ranks. And this interests me much more and every body appreciates our efforts so much.

Mother sent me some small pictures, one of you and her together. So I have the four you sent me and this one to, so now I have five. You can send me more if you will. For nothing is quite so near the real girl as the pictures of her. I don't spend no little bit of time looking at my pictures. Its home [to] me.

Guy is sure lucky getting to come home isnt he. Im afraid such good luck, Ill never have. Yet I am hoping so at least. I am doing fine now, feeling well. had a pretty bad cold but better now. My hair raising experiences have come to a close for a time at least.

And little girl, I'm not at all sorry, not to be intertained with nine inch shells or jerry bombs. But he is intertaining some one if not me.

Well Cecil, I am thinking of you as much tonite as if I were with you only not near having the pleasure, being with you would be. I know Ill be bloody glad to see you all if such good luck comes. Will close tonite with best of wishes for my dear little Pal-

Paul B Hendrickson

Hdq. co. 129 Inf. A.E.F. via N.Y.