adventures and letters-第68节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
l； I will miss the big clothes…basket。 I loved to see her in it。 Years ago； when I left home； she was trying to crawl out of it。 What you tell me of herknowing what you mean when you say 〃Kitty〃 and 〃Bunny〃is wonderful。 How good it will be！ You must come close under my arm； and tell me every little thing。 I feel so much better now that we have broken into the last week； and are on the home stretch。 We have broken the backbone of the long absence； and； the first thing you know； I'll be telephoning to have you meet me at White Plains。
This is me sewing up a hole in my breeches。 The socks are drying on the line； my rubber bath is on the right。 I am now going to Canada。 But I'll be back in half an hour； it's only 200 yards distant。 All the folks here are French； and the signs are in French。 Last place we halted I bought lumberman's socks to wear at night。 I sleep very well； for I buy my raincoat full of hay from the nearest farmer； and sleep on that。 Today we had another 〃battle。〃 It began at 7。30 and ended at one o'clock。 We were kept going all that time； taking 〃cover〃 behind railroad embankments and stone walls and in plowed fields； finally ending with a bayonet charge。 I killed so many I stopped counting。
Don't let Hope forget her father。 Better put on a wrist…watch and my horn spectacles； and hold her the wrong way； so she will be reminded of her Dad。
Good…night； my dearest one。 You will never know how terribly I miss you and love you； and want you in my arms； and you holding Hope so that I can have all my happiness in one big armful of all that is good。
YOUR LOVING HUSBAND。
Wednesday。 DEAREST ONE：
The Vitagraph people came today。 They have a great film to stir people to preparedness called 〃The Battle Cry of Peace。〃 It shows New York destroyed by Germans。 They took pictures of several of the better…known men showing 〃them〃 preparing。 I was taken cleaning my rifle； and； as the captain was passing； I asked him to get in the picture with me and be shown instructing me。 He was delighted； but right in the middle of the picture he 〃inspected〃 my barrel。 I had not cleaned it； and he forgot the camera； and gave me the devil。 You can imagine how the crowd roared； and the camera director man was delighted。 I wanted it retaken showing the captain patting me on the back。
Roosevelt turned up today； and was very nice。 Martin Egan came with him and the British Naval Attache； and they have asked me to dine at a real table at Hotel Champlain with two other men。 It will be fine to eat off china。 The 〃hike〃 begins Friday； and we sleep each night on the ground； but the country we march through is beautiful。 All that counts is getting the days behind me and getting you in my arms。 Doing one's 〃bit〃 for one's country is right； but as the man said； 〃God knows I love my country and want to fight for her； but I hope to God I never love another country。〃 Good…night； dear； dear one！ How wonderful it will be to see and hear you again。 Kiss Hope for her Dad。
RICHARD。
Saturday。 DEAREST：
This is writing with all the love； but with difficulties。 I am sitting on a log and the light is a candle。 Today we had our first fight。 It happened the squad of eight men I am in was sent in advance； and I was 100 yards in front； so I was the first to come in touch with the scouts of the Red Army； and I killed a lot。 My squad was so brave that we all got killed THREE TIMES。 But as soon as the umpire rode away we would come to life； and go on fighting。 Finally； he took us prisoners； and made us sit down and look on at the battle。 As we had been running around and each carrying a forty…pound pack； we were glad to remain dead。 But we have declared that nothing can kill us tomorrow but asphyxiating gas。 I have terrible nightmares for fear something has happened to one of you； and then I trust in the good Lord； and pray him to make the time pass swiftly。
Good…night； and all the love and kisses for you both。
RICHARD。
On October 19； 1915； Richard sailed on the Chicago for France and his second visit to the Great War。 He arrived at Paris on October 30； and shortly afterward visited the Western front at Amiens and Artois。 He also interviewed Poincare； and through him the French President sent a message to the American people。 At this time my brother had received permission from the authorities to visit all of the twelve sectors of the French front under particularly advantageous conditions； and was naturally most anxious to do so。 However； through a misunderstanding between the syndicate he represented and certain of the newspapers using its service； he found it advisable； even although against his own judgment； to go to Greece； and to postpone his visit to the sectors of the French front he had not already seen。 On November 13 he left Paris bound for Salonica。
On Way to France； Oct。 18； 1915。 DEAREST ONE：
You are much more brave than I am。 Anyway； you are much better behaved。 For all the time you were talking I was crying； not with my eyes only； but with ALL of me。 I am so sad。 I love you so； and I will miss you so。 I want you to keep saying to yourself all the time； 〃This is the most serious effort he ever made； because the chances of seeing anything are so SMALL； and because never had he such a chance to HELP。 But； all the time； every minute he thinks of me。 He wants me。 He misses my voice； my eyes； my presence at his side when he walks or sleeps。 He never loved me so greatly； or at leaving me was so unhappy as he is now。〃
Goodby； dear heart。 My God…given one！ Would it not be wonderful； if tonight when I am up among the boats on the top deck that girl in the Pierrot suit； and in her arms Hope； came； and I took them and held them both？ You will walk with her at five； and I will walk and think of you and love you and long for you。
God keep you； dearest of wives； and mothers。
RICHARD。
October 24。 MY DEAR DAUGHTER：
So many weeks have passed since I saw you that by now you are able to read this without your mother looking over your shoulder and helping you with the big words。 I have six sets of pictures of you。 Every day I take them down and change them。 Those your dear mother put in glass frames I do not change。 Also； I have all the sweet fruits and chocolates and red bananas。 How good of you to think of just the things your father likes。 Some of them I gave to a little boy and girl。 I play with them because soon my daughter will be as big。 They have no mother like you； OF COURSE； they have no mother like YOURSfor except my mother there never was a mother like yours； so loving； so tender； so unselfish and thoughtful。 If she is reading this； kiss her for me。 These little children have a little father。 He dresses them and bathes them himself。 He is afraid of the cold； and sits in the sun； and coughs and shivers。 His children and I play hide…and…seek； and； as you will know some day； for that game there is no such place as a steamer； with boats and ventilators and masts and alleyways。 Some day we will play that game hiding behind the rocks and trees and rose bushes。 Every day I watch the sun set； and know that you and your pretty mother are watching it； too。 And all day I think of you both。
Be very good。 Do not bump yourself。 Do not eat matches。 Do not play with scissors or cats。 Do not forget your dad。 Sleep when your mother wishes it。 Love us both。 Try to know how we love you。 THAT you will never learn。 Good…night and God keep you； and bless you。
YOUR DAD。
PARIS； November 1。 DEAREST ONE：
Today is 〃moving〃 day； and I feel like censored word； at the thought of your having the moving to direct and manage by yourself。 I can picture Barney and Burke loading； and unloading； and coal and wood being stored； and provisions and ice； and finally Hope brought down to take her thirdnofourth motor ride。 And God will see she makes it all safely； and that in her new house you are comfortable。
Last night I dreamed about Hope and you； a long dream； and it made me so happy。 Something happened today that you will like to hear。 When the war came the French students at the Beaux Arts had to go to fight。 The wives and children had nothing to live on。 So； the American students； about a dozen of them； organized a relief league。 The Beaux Arts is in a most wonderful palace built by Cardinal Richelieu and decorated later by Napoleon。 In this they were gathering socks； asphyxiating masks； warm clothes。 They were hand painting postcards for fifty cents apiece。 The 〃masters〃 as they call their teachers； also were painting them。 I gave them some money which was received politely； but； as it would not go far； without much enthusiasm。 As I was going； I said； 〃I'll be back tomorrow to get some facts and I'll write a story about what you're doing。〃 This is the part that is embarrassing to write； but you will understand。 They gave a cheer and a yell just as though I had said； 〃Peace is declared〃 or 〃I will give you Carnegie's fortune。〃 And they danced around； and shook hands； and Whitney Warren； who is at the head of it； all but cried。 Later； he told me the letter I had written for his wife's fund for orphans by the war had brought in 5000
