Oct. 31st. 1917

Dear Mother,

I was glad to get another letter of yours tonight, and that you were all doing well. Well Mother dear, you'll have been worrying some. I guess that I have not been writing so often just lately, but have really been busy and had to make do with the F.Cds. You'll be glad to know that I'm still getting used good, (for a Scottie, eh!) and coming along fine. The only thing 1'm looking forward to getting into long pants again, as kilts are certainly drafty in the weather we are getting now. I guess we can begin to call it winter now. It's different to Canadian winter; plenty of rain and mud that sticks right with you, or the other way about. Well Mother, I was glad to get your happy return for my birthday. You wrote on Sept. 20, and you see it took just a month to come, I'm sorry I haven't the parcel yet, as I know that you always like to know if it got here. (But I still have hopes.) I'd a letter also from Aunt Jessie last night, with a cake to follow. She sent one not long ago, but I didn't get it yet, so I guess someone else likes them too. On thing, we don't go short very often for grub. But of course there is times we have to cut down some, but I don't find anything to grouse about. In the trenches you sure take what you catch, you'll guess. I've seen plenty of all there is to see, by now, and any old time they want to call it off, I wouldn't grumble. Well Mother, tell Joe I got his letter the other day, and I'm going to write him the first chance I get I was glad the crops seem to be turning out decent this time, and hope everything is a success, even down to getting that machine early, after all. It's sure a satisfaction to have a fixed price, isn't it, and such a good one at that I got Marjie's flowers in the envelope, and still got them. I'll send her the first ones in the spring. Tell her everything is just about done growing for now, and all the old Belgians are getting up their mangles.

They seem to grow an enormous lot here. I've had the luxury for a short period of sleeping in the barn amongst the cows and chickens again. Of course it won't last and it will soon be parted. Well Mother, I'll have to say bye bye for just now, with best love to all, from your loving Son.

Frank