20 DECEMBER 1944
U.S.S PRAIRIE
DEAREST FAMILY,
WELL, ONLY FIVE MORE DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS ACCORDING TO THE CALENDAR. THE SANTA HAS BEEN PLAYING IT HOT AND HEAVY AROUND HERE FOR QUITE SOME TIME NOW. I THINK ALL THE SERVICES HAVE REALLY GONE THROUGH SO THAT I'LL HAVE TIME TO TAKE CARE OF EVERYBODY AT HOME OR SOMEPLACE. IF I ACHE I'M IDLE ST NICK HAS COME WITH THE TROUBLE TOTING UP A LOT OF US OLD SALTS WITH A LOT OF MAIL. EVENTUALLY ALL THE PACKAGES, MAIL AND HOLIDAY CHEER WOULD BE ABOUT ALL OF US-I WISH IF I ORDERED MY FEET EVERY DAY AND DIDN'T USE TOO MUCH FRESH WATER ON ONLY SALT THAT I COULD BE COOL ENOUGH. I DIDN'T BELIEVE ... THIS HAS GONE ESPECIALLY COULD BE 200. THOUGH I'VE NEVER BEEN SANTA IN THE ACT OF DELIVERING PRESENTS- (I'VE ONLY SEEN HIM IN BILLEVO LIKE WALLES DEPARTMENT STORES-JUST LIKE STARVING CLERKS I BOARD MOST OF EM!) NOW IF THE SAME REALLY WONDERFUL FOR GIRL THE FINE HELP AND COOPERATION HE GOT FOR THE SIZEABLE FOLKS, YOU KNOW, THIS IS KIND OF A HOT CLIMATE AND I MAY SANTA DONKEYS UP A YULE-TIDE. OH THE VENERABLE REINDEER (I'D HAVE LIKE A WATER BUFFALO, OR A CAMEL ALONG WITH THE THERATER OF THE CLIMATE AND WITH WHAT THE O.Q.D. NAVY HAVE MARINES ARE GIVING THE JAPS, THE SLANT EYED BOYS ARE REALLY HAVING IT HOT. NATURALLY WE ALL WISHED AND MODESTLY AGREED THAT IT WAS IT ALL HOT- EVEN FOR US JAPANESE.
EVEN THOUGH SANTA PAID AN EARLY VISIT TO THE PACIFIC BATTLE-FRONTS THE BOYS WERE WISHING FOR SOMETHING A LITTLE MORE SUBSTANTIAL-LY OR THE FORECASTLE AFTER THE GANG WENT TO HOME. I GUESS THERE'LL BE A SINGING AND ALL KINDS OF LOCAL TALENT. IT LOOKS TO HEAR MY HEN GROUPS THAT I COULDN'T RESISTANTS- THAT'LL HAVE IT FORMAL.
RECENTLY I POLISHED UP MY HORN WITH SOME BRIGHT-NOW POLISH. IT WORKS PERFECTLY AND AS THAT IS, I'VE SEEN LINES FROM THE WRISTS RIGHT TO THE TATTLE TALE ... I MAY SAY WORST-BUT I GUESS I'LL MUSE FOR IT AND EVERY NOW AND THEN MAKE THOSE MODEST ENOUGH SO THAT NOW SHE IS BEGINNING TO SOUND A LITTLE MORE LIKE A HORN AND LESS A SCREAM. SHE WAS GRADUALLY AMENDING OUT TO MY HORN. ELECT, SO MY SWEET PRACTICE. I IN MY SPARE I WENT TOT AND IN ORDER TO SHOW HER GRATITUDE SHE HAS GIVEN ME A RATHER NICE TONE AND MORE VOLUME SO THAT I AM NOW ABLE TO WIGGLE THROUGH I KIND OF SOCIAL. WHEN I GET BACK HOME I'LL HAVE TO GET ANOTHER HORN BECAUSE THIS IS KIND OF JADED FURTHERMORE I THINK IT'S. BUT AFTER EIGHT YEARS FAITHFULL SERVICE AND SERVICE I WILL ALL CONTINUE AS A PLEASURELY RECREATION. I'VE GONE THROUGH FOUR SCHOOL AND MADE BY STAND-THEN-I GUESS I CAN SAY IS, SERIOUSLY, THAT THE WAY MY HORN HAS STOOD UP FOR THE LAST EIGHT YEARS IS REALLY A REMARKABLE TRIBUTE TO KING INSTRUMENTS.
SAL, WHOSE SHOVELING THE SNOW OFF THE SIDEWALKS NOW? I'M NOT CLAIMING THAT I EVER DID, BUT I WAS GENERALLY THE ONE WHO WAS TOLD TO DO IT. I IF SHALL I SHALL BELIEVE I EVEN DID MORE TIMES THAN THAT I ALWAYS FELL OR THE SHOVELING TOO. OH, WAS I THREE FEET DEEP OR CHRISTMAS JUST AFTER THE ARRIVAL OF A SHINY NEW BICYCLE.
IT'S NICE ALL U FOLKS WILL BE TOGETHER OVER THE HOLIDAYS SO HAVE A LOT OF FUN.
I'VE DISCOVERED A NEW FAVORITE IN POETRY- OGDEN NASH
Nits Very
[Hand-drawn cartoon showing Neptune/Poseidon-like figure with trident standing on water with a snowman, saying "Lots of Love"]
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