April 17th 1900
S.A

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 are having a very nice time here but we have a few rain storms and hard to keep the rust off our arms this country is a lot like Manitoba only hotter and a few more hills called kopyes 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 a 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 come through some pretty hot fires & one of the biggest fights of the campaign & that was the scrap where old Crouje[?] 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 with 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 by love

Nobel