France
Dec 19/17

Mrs Henry Johns,
Elimvale
Ontario

Dear Friend:-

Received your welcome box of eats to hand yesterday. The cake was sure delicious, while the trimed [?] is such a change to the army sample. The writing pad and envelopes never [?] amiss and needless to say this is some of it and pretty little xmas booklet is very acceptable . At this point allow me to heartily thank you for the kindness and may an opportunity come when I shall be able to do the same for you. It doesn't seem right to eat a box from Elimvale without Earl as he always shared with me in the way of eats and I with him besides various other chums. However a kinder Providence has wished it otherwise and we must not complain.

In the first place, I am keeping in the best of health with the exception of a slight cold. Hope you all are enjoying your usual good health. The weather has been excellent of late, it being frozen up very hard with a few inches of snow. The days are quite clear and I think the snow will soon disappear. I suppose over there, you will be having winter in its earliest stage, wet, mud, cold and snow.

How the time seems to fly past! Why here it is almost Christmas and still the war rages on. I sure remember how we fellows spent last Xmas and New Years in France but hope this year will be better than last year. So far, I have received numerous Christmas boxes with delicious eats in various ways. Also many letters and booklets which cheer a fellow up.

Wishing you all the Season's compliments and a Happy New Year, I will close.

Yours Sincerely
Corp. R. H. Hoover.