The weather was hot from morning until early evening, then a nice wind blew in.

I am rather excited and nervous today. I went downtown last night looking for a room and I expect I will go again tonight.

I didn’t find anything that was just what I wanted. One little room was very nice and the people, a Mr. and Mrs. Jackson were very nice, too. (409 N. 15th.) However, they wanted four dollars a week for the room. I thought that was too much. I found another place where they had a large room and a sleeping porch. They wanted $15.00 a month. (711 N. 13th) I wanted to look at some more so I didn’t take either place. I looked at several other rooms. In all I walked about eight miles, I expect, as I walked down and back again.

I worked in the riding barn all day today. Yesterday, Ziegler and I were talking in the oats room, when Sargent Eglestrom and another Sargent came along. “What are you two doing in there?” they wanted to know.

Z told them – “finishing up our barn work. It is the job that we were detailed to do.”

They said, “Come along and we’ll show you some other work to do.”

They pointed out some stalls that hadn’t been in use and said, “Clean these out, clean out the bedding, and generally clean up everything in the riding barn.”

Which was what we had been trying to do.

So we spent until late yesterday evening doing that and then all day today. I haven’t heard yet if this is to be our job every day now or not, but next week we start drilling. I reckon with the hour a day drill that we are charged with we can keep busy doing that and not this.

Weather is very hot, very dusty, but a cool breeze blew this evening.

Breakfast was one plum, hotcakes and syrup, and coffee. For lunch we had spuds, beets, beans, bread, water, and pudding. At supper we had lemonade, liver & onions, spuds, tomatoes, bread, and pie.

Up at 6:15 and stood reveille and then breakfast. I walked to Waco last night and went to a large church meeting. I did not enjoy it at all, got there late & left as soon as it was over. They received a young man into the church. I’m afraid the ceremony they went through left me very disgusted. I had taken a packet of tracts and left some at the city center and some at the soldier’s club. I wished afterward that I had stayed at the club instead of going to that church meeting.

I went from that church back downtown & found a fine place to get something to eat, a place on a side street. It was clean & nice. I had a large portion of cornbread dressing, a double order of bread & butter, & a glass of ice tea for 20 cents. I thought that it was the most I had ever got for my money in Texas.

I had four sweet letters from Mary Dear today. All written different days, but they all reached me today. They were indeed welcome. She is well, but lonely as I am lonely. I think – God willing – she will be down here yet. The letters are so dear to me. I can’t express in words what they mean. She is my dear wife, my best beloved on earth. They are her handwriting, here words, her thoughts for me, her love for her husband as unworthy as I am. Surely I have much to be thankful for. And I do thank thee Almighty God. Help me to be more thankful.

The weather seemed extra hot today with not much of a breeze.

For breakfast we had cornflakes, spuds, bread, and coffee. At lunch we had chicken and dressing, baked sweet potatoes, water, and cake. Supper was cocoa, cake, salad, and bread.

Usual time for reveille, on Sunday we are usually up at 7:00, but on account of the inspections that we are to have today, we had to be up at the weekday hour. Ziegler and I were on the riding barn detail. We cleaned that barn about as quickly as it was ever cleaned before. We had to be in uniform by 9:30 as we were to be called out for inspection.

We were called out and held in line for about half an hour. We were then permitted to fall out and get in the shade. Ziegler and I slipped out to get a drink of water. We just got back in time for the assembling and line-up again. Then we stood for some time before the officers who were doing the receiving were ready to start their stunt. It was 10:45 before we were dismissed and then we had to remain in barracks until they had inspected them.

They soon came through. Ralph, Ziegler, Boki, and I went down under the trees and had a Bible class. I enjoyed it. I think the boys did, too.

I looked for a letter from Mary today, but none came. Am worried a bit for fear she is not well or something. It is three days now since I heard from her. The last time I heard she was not very well for she had a bit of blood poisoning on her hand. God grant that she is all right. I expect to go to town tonight. I have a pass. I want to go to some church meeting maybe.

The weather is hot and windy again. Very dusty in the corrals.

For breakfast there were eggs, spuds, oatmeal, two plums, and coffee. At lunch we ate oxtail stew, spuds, gravy, bread, and water. At supper there was macaroni, bread, peach sauce, and cocoa.

Usual rising hour, 6:15. It was still quite dark. The nights are growing longer & I notice it very much. It wasn’t so long ago that I could sit out on the warehouse platform and write until 9 o’clock, but now it is too dark at 8:30.

I moved over to #6 barrack. I’m rather glad as it is so much cleaner. Ralph has his bunk right next to mine there, too. It is nice to be in the same barrack with a friend.

I have not heard from Mary since Wednesday. I had two letters then. One mailed the 10th, and one mailed the 12th. I am worried about her as she was not well at all. Some kind of a poisoning on her face. I am hoping to hear tomorrow. If I don’t I will be on needles and pins. God is able to keep her, too — I know.

My how nice it would be if He called us up to be with Him soon. He shall come & will not tarry. Either He will surely come quickly or create an end to our terrible separation. Please God may it be over soon.

The evening is quiet for once. The mosquitoes are so bad I have had to come inside to finish writing.