Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France

#782373
S.W. in France 
4–11–17

Dear Mother:–

It is freezing in the shade all day today but so nice and clear you would all most think that we were in the west again.

We had a good lecture by the Doctor this a.m. it an't abit bad when a man can get a chance to learn a little, that first aid will come handy to any one in civilian life.

We have more fun with Madam and Monsure here they beat any thing I ever saw for fun and we can't understand each other very well but we get along fine better each day, the long we are in France now the better we will get along.

6th   6.45 P.M.

Well Mother we are waiting around the house tonight waiting for the mail we have heard that the canadian mail is in I hope it an't rumor for we all have expected it in for several days. I suppose you will be anxious about the wound you have heard I had, but never received as I have my first one to get still

I have spent quite awhile to day in reading the scriptures say if I won't enjoy my self if I ever get back among literature and books that I can study.

I have just been showing Willey your picture he showed me a snap of his mother and father. but say if they knew you as I do they would not wonder at me devoting as much time to writing you as I do, I get so much enjoyment out of your letters and in trying to write to you something of interest. But realy I do run out of something of interest to write about after I am in one billet for a while or after a stop in one district several times over again,

I received two letters from you last night and roll of papers I enjoyed some of the articles in the post and your letters, tonight I received two letters from you and one from Horace

What happened young Fletcher that he got home, a wound or sick.

I have seen the Portugees driving mules here with yoaks over the neck can you amagine such stoges in the 20th century

The little boy is sitting across the table eating a slice of raw meat on a slice of brown bread, and says it is good. I guess a man can get used to any thing if they started him early enough in life.

I got the five pictures and two shin plasters in the letters that makes six I have received

I am glad Horace can go South this winter and I do hope and pray that if it is Gods will he shall return a married and happy man. I will try and help him out if it is ever in my power to do so. we little know where we may be or what the coming months hold in store for use,

Canonea has surely done well this fall and I am tickled to here it if I was back I would boost old Cardiff along I would not stand for my little school going behind.

I have no idea how much coal you will use this winter but seven tons seems to sound good for the winter, I have no use for a muffler this weather nor gloves so if the ones you mention come they will just hit right, I have told you before about having mittens and kid gloves Annie sent me five pairs of knit gloves.

I was standing here the other day as Marcel kissed his mother good bye before going to school. It brot back thots of home and Mother. I to remember Mrs Gower as she kissed me good bye when I left England.

I am afraid if I was home now you would find I had quite a different appetite, and you would see me different in many ways the minuit I am called, I get right up under all conditions I never ly for a few minuits, at all, but lots of the boys do it is a habit that cost me manys the dollar in civilian life.

They should build quite a nice little church for four thousand dollars but I suppose things in the line of materials are going up as well as eats.

It warmed up here again today so all the frost has beat it. And it is still fine,           I am glad Christ and Elta got married I think they are a good pair a suitable match I have a notion to write them a short letter.

Alice getting into M. Jaw would bring back memories of our trip in when we enlisted.

Don't mention this but Eulas cousin stretcher bearer McConnel was wounded in the leg, then he crawled about 100 yds into a suitable shell hole an other shell hit him and broak his leg, four boys were carrying him out on a stretcher and a shell seemed to come right under the stretcher and wounded three of the boys and him again, then at the dressing station an other came and a piece of shrapnel came and lodged in his head causing compound fracture of the skull he died soon after, the fourth shell don't it seem to bad after he had worked among the wounded for the biggest part of fight it was about over when he got it, he was a fine clean boy

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4–11–17   8.20 P.M.

Dear Mother:– 

I am on duty yet for about a half hour.

I have been reading and write more than half the time since I came on, I road the Captains horse to the transport lines about a mile and a half, it was not that far to walk back tho. The road is nice metal with high trees on each side for miles and miles, all the main roads have trees like this and stone roads cobble stones about 4 x 6 or 6 x 8 inches they are great motor roads all around.

I would like to know tonight what will happen about Ted, we will surely have to get rid of the surplus of horses, if he has to enlist, and maby he should sell them if he don't at any price he feels that is the best he can get, I wish we could get a returned married man out on the land then he can help out but maby it is best as it is untill the duration if the duration is forth coming at all,

5th A nice a.m. but cloudy I just had breakfast and am on duty untill parade time, we had a good breakfast bread butter bacon porridge I had some cocoanut cookies Annie sent to.

Well bye bye Mother dear I must end there this a.m.

as ever your loving son
Laurie

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