No 78.
France
9/6/18.

My Dear Mater,

This has surely been a “red letter day” for me. After Dad’s letter, nothing more came, till this morning, when your parcel came with cake, cookies, candy, chocolate and [susp.?] I guess it was the one sent while Nerte was home as it was in her writing. It is the second parcel lately.

To-night, I was tickled to get quite a bunch of letters. Two from you, May 11 and 13, one from Nert with photo – a peach – one each from Hazel, Gert. [Kenworth?], Joe Driswell and Bobbie. There will surely be more (and back ones) very soon now, and the balance of the parcels too.

The letters contained a good deal of news and the Thompson-Tillson wedding was surely a surprise. Gert B. is wild about it. I am not at all surprised that all exemptions are being cancelled and I think the events of the past few months will prove to the people of Canada, that it was a mistake in only one way – not soon enough. If those farmers wives who are doing so much kicking, could see women I have seen over here, poor, shrivelled up old bits of humanity, tilling by hand, they would close up in a hurry. Why the people over there – or most of them, - don’t know yet that there is a war on. They do an ordinary weeks work, get seven good nights sleep and rest on Sunday. If they had seven day’s work and were pulled out of bed two or three times a night, half the time, they would begin to realize it. We can’t kick tho. I never saw anything like the English Tommie. When the front is quiet, he is kicking about the little work he does get to do, about the meals, the weather and everything in general. When there is a push on, no matter who is advancing, he will work twenty-four hours a day, always wears a smile and never a kick. This war is a funny business.

I am anxious to know Wilfred McGuires whereabouts, during the recent raids in his area. Do hope he is still “on top”. We are all jake here.

Walt Barnard expects to come up to see me any day. I do hope he is able to make it.

It has been raining to-day, and I hoped it would rain all night, but looks like clearing up now.

Thank goodness they haven’t conscripted the fellows who write your headlines in the dailies. I see they are still going strong and wearing their rosy spex.

Give Nick and McKinnin my best, the lucky stiffs, have they both been discharged?

It was fine that you had Uncle Will with you. I do hope that blooming concern will “carry on” now without any more trouble. No one has mentioned the outcome of the Huntley Co. I hope it stays.

Does Mir. have no assistance with those kids? I don’t see how she could possibly look after them alone. Mr S. would be the only one I know of who could do anything about getting her into the position you mention. But I think in a recent letter, I expressed my views on the subject.

Surely I mentioned receiving the syrup. It came – and has gone, much appreciated too.

The only milk supplied for the staff here is for cooking and is either dried or condensed. For the patients tho, there is a certain amount daily of fresh. This is for those most ill of course and not for cooking at all.

I have not much news now, but will write next to T. – in a couple of days.

Love to all,
Your affectionate son,
Worth.