Bloemfontein, South Africa

April 19th, 1900

Dear Sister Nellie

I got a few lines from you and glad to hear of you being home & well we are still at the free state capital and are having a very nice time here but we have a few rain storms and hard to keep the wet off our arms this country is a lot like Manitoba only hotter o and a few more hills called Kopjes pronounced like Koppies that is dutch for hill aint I getting educated tell Bert I will be able to talk too talks when I get home I wish I was there but I am not sorry if I come through all right for the experience is something grand but it is hard earned & well earned I hope I get home as well & sound as I am at the present & I will ask for no more they can keep all the glory and give me a whole skin I have some through some pretty hot fires & one of the biggest fights of the campaign & that was the scrap when old Cronje surrendered we had a hard time of it until we struck here & here we are having a very good time & so Joe can play the hornpipe as good as ever what does Willie think of the air not the music is Cousin Maggie down yet you weigh pretty good I have nothing but good news that means everything is all right all the canadian contingents have arrived here so there is lots of canucks in the field no more to say so good bye love to all

Noble