France Feb. 16-1917 Dear Mother, Your letter written on board the "President" near Frisco arrived yesterday. I have been looking for it for some time but as transportation is rather uncertain put the delay down to that. Say but you are getting sporty in your old age. Swimming - gee, when I get back you'll probably be crazy over dancing or some such youthful enjoyment. go to it. Isabel's ambitions now are to be a nurse. The only trouble with her is that her first good looking man patient will settle for nursing career for all time she is too attractive to make a good nurse. However, if her ambitions by in that line I hope she makes good if she goes to Chicago to go to school I may chase along with her and learn a little Civil Engineering. Surveying will be more or less of a dead item from now on I think and it will be well to acquire knowledge of some live line. I invested some of my back pay in the war loan and am sending the certificate to you. Put it away as a nest egg - it may come in handy to you some day. It is approximately 15 pounds. Now go easy on the cleaning up proposition. Remember you have had a holiday and are better off for it - don't spoil the good effect of your trip by overwooking yourself. If I hear of your being sick there will be trouble in camp. We have had no special excitement here of late. I have had several splendid hikes with our wagons on wood excursions. The weather has been perfect lately and France is a wonderfully beautiful and quaint country in fine weather. The numerous little villages (farming) with their quaint house are very interesting to a stranger. On one of these trips I called in to see a French family with whom we were once billeted. They gave me a great welcome and insisted on me joining them in their evening meal consisting of a stew made of spuds and meat, bread and butter and coffee. I had to literally tear myself away them as I had to catch up to the wagons which had gone on ahead. I recieved a nice parcel from Aunt Bella several days ago, also a photo of the greenock folk. As she says, "kent forces are nice to have among us." She certainly is very good to her wondering nephew. Well, mother, I think that my news is about exhausted. Regards to all the folks at home. Am feeling fine these days - and getting better daily. It is warming up now - thawing all day I guess spring is in sight. We have had about six weeks of winter which I have enjoyed thuroughly here is where I end Your loving son Roy Have you seen Paddy. Be sure to write him up. No news from Elise lately.