Camp Devens, Mass.,
Wednesday Night

Dearest Brother:-

I take my pen in hand and write you a letter which you will get on the eve of the greatest event in my brother's life. Oh! if I only let you feel in a small part, the wonderful thrill which goes thru me, when I think of the wonderful success which you have attained. The great moment in your life has come upon you. Upon its threshold you can stop for but a moment. Before you undoubtedly, your eyes look forth upon the great expanse of time, before you arranged like a huge, mighty army, are the mighty possibilities for you. Win, dear brother, the country you love, the beloved country of your forefathers entreats you to show your worth. God has given you a wonderful talent, brother, that of speech, free and attractive, and now with the prayer of God on my lips, and with you always in my thoughts, in the name of God and our beloved country, go, go, and show your people, how wonderfully God has dealt with you. You will make good Win. The heart of your brother cries for joy, as he sees your reaching at last that top he longed to see you reach.

Win, remember this; whatever help in any line you have received from me during your college course, you are to forget. I never want anything returned. You have "made good" and that pays me back everything from now on. You need never feel indebted to me for anything, from this moment on. Oh! your "kid" brother is so proud of his "big" brother.

Brother, have a howling good time this week and next, and I know you'll give mother one grand time. I suppose mother will be well tired out after it is all over, but she will forever remember it.

Win, when you meet mother Friday night in Bangor, won't you please have a card ready to drop to me, telling me she arrived safely, as I want to get it Sunday when I arrive back to camp from a pass. I am to take my degree Saturday night instead of Friday night, and the Barnards have asked me to spend the weekend with them. It is so very nice to be taken care of so well. The following Saturday after you arrive home, if you are not too tired, and I can't get home, I'll expect you up to camp here. I know you'll come for I haven't seen my brother for over three months, isn't it? It sure is and nearer four months. Gee! how time flys.

I got your lovely letter tonight. By the way I am Sergeant of the Guard tonight, and tomorrow, so I am writing this letter in the Guard House. I certainly am glad that your hard plugging will soon be over for it is simply awful how hard and late you have been sudying. I only fear you will have a break-down, after all this coming excitement is over. Do be careful, brother.

You can just bet that horseback riding is good sport. I have rode regularly every day now for two weeks and am becoming pretty well hardened. Really, I look forward to our riding periods now.

This morning I was on the Rifle Range but did not shoot. They did not get around to me. So I had a nice restful time all morning lying on my back on the grass. Friday we go on the Range again I believe. Yesterday it rained all morning but we rode horseback just the same, rain or shine no matter.

I have pumped and pumped into mother the matter of a Pullman seat, and I rather think she will purchase one all right. It will pay her in the end, I told her.

I was so pleased that you got B in that special examination. Really, I can't see how you could manage so much, and get by so very creditably as you have.

Say, Carly is playing wonderful ball isn't he? I'll bet the fellows went wild over his playing last Saturday against Bowdoin. He sure is a wonder in everything he undertakes. What is he to do immediately after commencement is over? Does he go into that Engineers Corps?

Yes, mother sold all the hens last week, and got thirty-two dollars and forty cents for them. That was doing finely, I thought. Yes, I really think that with no garden and no hens to worry over this summer that mother's mind will be more at ease. You see now, with the cat gone, too, there is absolutely nothing for nother to worry about at home. Oh! I guess after a while we will get mother to where she has begun to really live. Never, since she was married, she says, has she had the nice clothes she has now to go to Maine in.

I rather think we are to go on a week's hike somewhere, and I rather hope so, for I think it would be great fun, sleeping out in the open wherever we happen to be at sunset. The 301st Engineers and the 301st Field Hospital are out this week on a hike. Then I really think we out to be getting started for across the pond. I'm mighty sorry when I think of what is soon to come to the Germans.

I have written mother a letter tonight and sent it to your school address in care of you. I thought she would like to hear from me whne she arrives Friday night. I suppose this is about the last letter I will ever write to the University of Maine, so I have tried to make it interesting, as I could. Now go to it Win, and have a dandy Commencement week, and don't, whatever you do, forget to take everything in.

I will close now, with loads of love, and best wishes and congratulations for you for your "great" day from

Your loving brother
Mort

Letters


Contents Copyright © by Charles R. Dennett.

Creative Commons License