Sincerely, Joel C. Swisher

Dear Folks,

I got thy⁽¹⁾Despite addressing this letter to “Dear Folks”, Joel mixes the Quaker “thee” and “thy”, as if writing to one person, with plural “you” and “your”. letter of Nov. 20 and Aunt Mary’s letters of Nov. 17 and 24 all at the same time yesterday. I guess my letters have all caught up to me again. I am sorry to hear that Aron is being scared by the draft again. It is not as much to be feared as he thinks it is.

I was surprised to hear of Bradley’s having a horse. Would give a good bit to see Aunt Kate driving around.

I am sorry to think of your being without coal. I see by papers it is very scarce. None of the boxes sent me have arrived yet. Will let you know as soon as they do. I got Aunt Hannah’s sweater and wrote her a letter. Also wrote Will Hambelton a letter thanking him for his trouble. Thee said Harvey Funneyfrock was moving. Where is he going? Had a letter from Joseph. I guess he is getting anxious. If that McSparran boy was in the 26th Engineers I came over on the same boat and was in the same camp for a week or so.

Tell Aron that if he has to come over here he will find I have fixed up pretty good places for him to live in. Tell Grandpap that for a few days I have been helping put on paper roofing just like is on the chicken house. I find that I know as much about that kind of work as any of them.

For the last few days it has been warmer and windy. Reminds me very much of March at home. I guess we are due for more rain soon. Didn’t you get a letter from me that told the name of the port we landed in. I wrote one about Nov 12 telling you but it may not have gone thru also wrote and told Norman but suppose that didn’t go thru either. The letter I wrote about the 10th or 12th was describing another town.

Did you get my Xmas presents? Thine was a little better than the rest as I wanted it to be part Xmas and part birthday present. Did you get the paper franc piece sent in my last letter? It was worth about 17¢, I sent it just as a sample of French money. Tell Grandpap the government has some mighty fine horses over here. I mean they are fine looking but so many different men handle them that they don’t make such good teams or I might ask for a job of driving.

Well, my candle must be put out at 9:30 and it is near that time now, so good night.

Lovingly, Joel