(17) Letter: Jack Bentley to Cornelia Bentley, December 27, 1918.

Dec. 27 1918 Dearest Mother, Christmas was Christmas ofter all and simply because by some chance I got a letter from thee two of them & they contained a long one from Elza, And how I read them not having had any mail at all since Nov 11th or nearly 2 months. Thee can apreciate how they felt. The fact that Elza was safely through her danderous operation was glad and glorious news and in fact all of it was good except some of the trouble thee spoke of. Christmas for me was spent quietly and with fine old Capt. Hyman & Lt. Wright. I got up an entertainment song and helped along the boys enjoyed it too. A dinner of roast pork & mashed potataes for the Company was thoroughly enjoyed by all and after that the Y.M.C.A Gift of 1 bar and a half of chocolate 1 pk of cigarettes & one can of tabacco were given out by Santa. One of the men & the German children were crazy about him. By the way they do some tall singing around Xmas - also pealing even

with out flour they have cake & some of it is right here on my table. My candle is getting low I must hurry. Tell Elza what a treat it was to read her letter and finer Xmas gift than any tie I ever received. I am now living with a one eyed German who talks an arm or leg off me every time I see him. I am going to poke him in his good eye so he won't see me. gosh I've told him a hundred times the lk nic sprechenzi Deuch [ich nicht sprechen deutsch} but the persistent devil keeps going jaber jaber all the time and I sit here & say yaw & nick or vis' versa until I have told him about fifty lies and then I say, ik nich fer stay, which means I do not understand to clear myself. Well I have a wonderful Major and he informed me that I had made good X that he was going to write me a letter of recommendation so look out - he is to run for Gov. of Michagan awarded the D.L.C. for breavery & loved by every one of his men. He is fine - His div. the 32nd is rated among the 1st 4 in the A.E.F. & it did wonderful work at many points. Must say gut nock Jack O.K. Hohn Bentley 1st Lt. 125 Inf.