Letter to Mother - Fragment of a letter

[fragment] [pages 3 – 5]

the night I carried out the lad I spoak of. The miner McNaughton got wounded the trip over the top, but use four Hazenmore boys are still going. I got three letters today Horace yours and Kates I read them at different times during the day when I was buisy, part of them while on the train. I wont have long to write because there is show on and the boys are crowding in so thick we have to stand the table by the wall and stand on the benches at the back of the y –   –   –   –   Later. back in my hut sitting on my bed Mother I would be tickled to be home tonight but I am tickled to be alone and safe and warm and dry. The roar of guns is heavy tonight old heinie must be doing some dodging but something has to be done right along to bring this to a close.

There is some tough stuff in my make up some where that you nor I ever thot was there, for I can see how, I stand up beside the other men and, how fresh I am when my work is over there is very few do any more on a work party maby two out of fifty, and lots of the boys are sore and tired tonight where I am feeling as ready to do my thing as I was the night I went in. When I go all in I guess I will be like the old hoss shay because I never get sore feet or tired in any particular place, when I am tired I just want to sleep and then I am ready all around. we have lots to eat, I take hard tack in my pockets all the time and if I get hungry I just eat one and am ready for any thing any one else can do. There is no wandering about I will take on any job they suggest I find my way anywhere they want to send me. if I get lost I will find my way out on some duck walk no one is ever sent alone.

There is lots of things about this life that a man won’t forget but it may not hurt a man if he don’t get to many years of it.

Some of the follows don’t agree with me on the going right along if shells are coming down in vicinity but it is better on a man’s constitution to be indifferent about the shells than to be letting them put his wind up.

There is nothing as bad in a bunch of men as a quitter one that wants to drop his load and beat it or who is complaining about a little stop or any thing that might happen when the shells are dropping near.

Well good night Mother dear as ever your loving son Laurie.

I received shin plaster and I don’t think I expected you to use my pay to pay off those notes. I want you to get any thing you need. I told you in a letter of a cupple of weeks ago. L.