2/ and although it is much better than the mud it is bad enough it will sure be fierce when the frost goes out but thee is no sighn of a thaw yet so there is no use bidding the devil good morning till you mert him It is sure an awfull looking country here nothing but a big rolling open country with the remnants of towns & villages scattered here & there all over one would hardly think that it ever was a settled farming community nothing but old torn up trenches & shell holes and deep dugouts It has been hard driving to get Fritz out of them