Sunday Dec. 16, 1917

Dear Marie,

I got the pictures O.K. and liked them all of you, Mother and Blanche
but thought one of Mother and I was the only one, good of me. Don’t
think I’ll have any more of myself for awhile yet. Am on the lookout for
the fudge now. Sure am glad that your throat is getting better now. I am
taking a turn at being a little out of luck. Thursday I was cleaning the
frog of No. 30’s rear hoof. I had this hind leg over my knee and was
working with the hoof pick when he slipped on the smoothe brick paving.
I let him go quick so as to save a fall and the point of his shoe fell
square on the top of my foot. It stung for awhile but my foot was so
cold that I didn’t feel it after a minute or two. This was about 8:30.
We didn’t ride because it was too bitter cold, but worked around the
barracks. During the first period in the afternoon we had heliograph
practice. The instrument was set up to catch the sun coming in the
window so we could read it inside the barracks. Well my feet started to
thaw out and my left one felt pretty stiff and ached. At the end of the
period – 2:00 P.M. – I took off my shoe. The toe of the sock was red and
a little skin came with it as I took it off. My foot was a little
swollen and sure felt sore. I went up to the hospital with another
fellow with frozen ears, in a cycle-car and got fixed up. Saturday
morning it was swollen so I couldn’t get my shoe on at all so had to cut
a couple slits in my tennis slipper. I worked in the kitchen until 4:30
P.M. keeping the K.P. and at night I managed to get my shoe in so caught
a car to town. This morning the swelling had nearly gone but was worse
where the skin slipped. This is the first good day we’ve had for a long
time but I had to stick around the barrack. Tomorrow the company is
going to have mounted drill with the radio field sets loaded on the
pack-mules. We have been issued a lot more stuff – grain bags to carry
on horse for his feed in the field and saddle blankets. We also have the
aparejos, the mule’s “saddle,” on which the wireless apparatus is
packed.

The Co.’s D and E of the 410^(th) B’n (telegraph) are all packed up to
go to Texas. I wish we were going for it sure is cold around this woods.

George Stock is here for a few weeks longer. He is going to take his
four days home Christmas. I wish I could be with you again, then. You
sure was the sweetest and most lovatble little sweetheart Thanksgiving
and I will never forget it. Marie, every bit of my love is for you – but
you must not forget what I told you when we were on the couch. If I –
without the intention of marrying you – am going too far in showing you
how much I care – for I really do – just as much as a young man can, --
I want you to tell me. Marie, you are the most perfect girl I have ever
seen and I respect you above all others. I could never forgive myself if
I ever have wronged you, or ever do wrong you in any way. Don’t ever
allow anyone to think, or speak, of you and I as being more than good
friends.

If you ever get anymore letters from me that are mutilated in any way,
or show any fire or water marks, please return them to me, envelope and
all, after you read it.

I don’t think I’ll serve thirty years in the Army, and I was only
kidding Mother when I mentioned it. I’ll never regret enlisting when I
did, though. Will you forget the promise I made not to write to Marion?
She helped me have a good time when I was with Win that two weeks and I
would like to hear from her if she will write. Well I must write a line
to Mother and thank her for a much needed par of socks.

With love – every bit to you, Marie

Forrest.