[Editor’s note: Set of four letters.]

Jan. 23/17

Dear Mary M Don Stan Jack Bruce Ruth and Ivan

I just read all Xmas letters you sent on Xmas day it is great to get such homemade letters and see you are thinking of your old dad, glad you did not get the undercloths have got on good enough wish you could have sent more parcels of eats though I am some eater of but you do not know that of old we do not get more than the law allows and our change soon disappears, My M. is a dandy writer I know it must be hard to get time to write, but you know how it is a fellow likes to get some every time his chum does Donald and Stan are great to think of their dad as often as they do glad they got so many things for Xmas a good number of small ones and one or two big ones makes a good time for a boy or girl, we are sleeping on wire beds now and the cold gets under them bad but I have not as bad a cold as some the snow is about three inches on the fields two sheaves of straw on the ground makes a good bed we had that for two of us the last place we are not in but will be soon will be carrying the eats in most of the time thirteen is the work party, that woman said this thing would end next month time will tell looks are against it glad you got the money OK thought it would be answered at once your other letter was Dec 24 and this one is Dec 26 but I got them two weeks apart or ten days I got the Dec 4 just the in between so you see they come sometime anyway keep up the good work. I am turned up on the ground so much that part is hard to keep feeling O.K these days will take a run in a few minutes I have on a pair of Agnes netting but my blood is out of order and I fell last night trying to slide on my back it does not help my feelings any I hope you will not try to work yourself sick honey if you are feeling better it must be quite a job keeping the house warm with sutch large rooms try if possible I have not found out H Wooleys place but I here it is near may see him sometime can not leave our arria very well I can not site here any longer my hands are stiff this very heavy for France they say did not go on the field this morning will afternoon a march would be OK now, that is a fair one, my legs feel the last one yet, but my I am able as far as flesh goes, these aches will hurt, you did not put in (Dads letter) this time 215 Will start over soon I here, (hope they do not have to) well will close with lots of good wishes for you all so glad you all think some of the old man M has a good way of sending hugs thoes big ones of Dons must be the long ones I will send some round ones

O O O O O O O O O
Yours Old dad
Roy

[second letter:]

Jan 23/17
Dear Marguerite

You are dads and Mothers big girl now you write like an old hand you are getting on fast at school I will have a big daughter before I know it how is the work after meals getting along do you have a big job getting thoes boys to work you must have looked funny in thoes white night gown and cap that must have been some cap it was good to have a good one I think of the time Don Stan and I went picking berries over in those fields and Mother did not go that day she went the day we got the house, glad you have some good presants will be glad when your colds are all well again will close hope to here from you often

xxx □□□ dad
W Roy Gullen

[third letter:]

Jan 23/17

Dear Don

I read your letter over again this afternoon You did great for a boy glad you write letters so well and often for it never comes easy for boys, I wish I had started to write sooner. you have M to look on and tell you sometimes I suppose she cuffs you sometimes but rember some fellows would be glad to have a sister, you had a dandy time Xmas and lots of presants did you tell Santa Claus to bring Granddad anything write again and tell me what our folks did and got for Xmas and New Years I suppose it keeps you busy fixing the fire these cold days. it is very cold over there I here, try to get the place warm that was some dinner you put on the letter we had a taste of the same broth and some English plum budding wish you had said how many letters you had writen I have just two of yours as yet you do help Mother quite a lot when you write so write often and get a few cents for postage someway it would be fine if you had a big dog to drive on your sleigh perhaps some day you can have a pair the paper boy in the town had a pair on a cart another boy had a pair on a chocolate cart big heavy thing too well will close with best wishes and lots of hugs and kisses

xxxxxxxxxx
□□□□
□□□
Your dad
W Roy Gullen

[fourth letter:]

Jan 23/17
Dear son Stan.

Am sorry you had a sick time of it glad you went with Mother to the Dr. hope you are O.K. again you are a dandy good writer better than M’s but don’t tell her I suppose it is to cold to have much fun with your sleigh these cold days have you been down to GrandMa’s with it yet it will be good to go to the store with are you biger than Don yet, it would be fine for you me if you could all get your pictures taken and send over again but it is hard to get ready it was fine to have a Xmas tree it would look fine with all those presants on it your letter was a dandy write every little while it is fine to hear how you are and see your writing will close with lots of love and hugs

xxxxxxxx □□
□□□□□□□  dad
WR Gullen