June 28th, 1917

Dear Mother,

Many thanks for your welcome letter I received today. I sure was glad to hear again, and I hope this finds you all well as this leaves me. You must have thought I was neglecting you, as I sent you two field cards. But I haven't really had time to write this last week till now. The cards don't have much to say, but they let you know I'm getting along all right anyway. Well mother, I was glad to know you got the photo holder and I hope you got my picture by now, and I hope you'll like it. You'll think it wasn't very generous with them, but I only had twelve and I had some sent to auntie's and grandma. I had a letter from Starston last week, but I'm looking for one from Sheffield, as I didn't hear lately. Well mother, we've been up here 3 weeks now and get along fine and are lucky, and pretty used to things. The Canadians are going right ahead just now, and Mr. Fritz gets all the souvenirs we send over. I'll let you know when I get your parcel you were sending with your letter. Joe was right when he said I was the lucky boy; and I could taste the cake when your letter said it was the good old sort. I hope Dad is feeling better since you wrote. I was glad to know you're still getting the assigned pay. And mother you'd just please me any time to use it if you do run short, because you're sure to need it. So don't forget now, will you? Well mother, you had just finished the garden when you wrote, and I hope you have all kinds of luck with it this year. And if you changed it, you might do better. I wonder if your fingers are sore yet. I'd like to have whitewashed this year for you (I'm sure you meant it when you said I was a good paint slinger) I've had a lot of practice since then. Tell Joe it's a long while since I got his letters and I think I lost some, but I wrote to him last week, so I'll be expecting one soon. I suppose Marjie is busy at school now. I again wonder if she got the pansies I sent. I'd like to send you some of the roses I saw the other day. They were beauties. You see we come across some nice spots in the field. I was hoping I'd be here later as there is all kinds of pear and apples not ripe yet. What do you think? I had a day's pass yesterday and Charlie and I went down to the dump that's our nearest spot where there's a YMCA, and we can get biscuits and cigs. We had about a six mile hike, and I guess it was more like twelve by the time we got in and out of shell holes. I sure wouldn't like to farm here after the war. Well, we hunted out the pay officer and got paid up, and got 15 francs. We get paid twice a month as a rule; 15 pounds each time. A franc is ten pence. But it keeps us going nice here, and I should be able to save a little for my next leave. But I hope that will be Canada, and I know you will hope so too. I don't think it can last much longer. It's a good thing that conscription's in Canada. I think if they take the right men and leave the farmers, which I guess they will. Well I have to close now mother with best love to all and don't worry. I'm still smiling. From your loving son,

Frank

P.S. I'm writing again soon.