Smithville Ont.

Oct 7/917

My Dear Brother:-

Your most welcome letter of Aug 29th received I was so glad to hear from you again I have been wanting to write to you for a long time but as you have already heard I have had a rather serious time of it the operation I went through was one of the most critical and I was so weak from loss of blood before I was taken to the Hospital that the dr’s had to carry me out like a baby and lay me on a bed of pillows in a big automobile and He and Mr. Goring who owned the car got me there all O.K. and Father went up on the train. Most of the people around here expected to see me come back in a box but I surprised them. I have gained eleven pounds in weight since I came home and if I can only keep from doing more work than my strength will stand I think I will have better health than I ever had for years before. I have only had a girl for a couple of weeks it is impossible to get help these days so now I am getting along alone. I was in Toronto for four days during the Exhibition and met Jessie and little Verne and spent one very pleased afternoon with Her at the Fair. We went to-gether to see your pictures and I think Will you are getting to be “Some Artist” I thought your work was good compared with some other pictures in the same class. I am so glad to hear that you may not get into the trenches and that you are having such a splindid oppertunity to study art also that your operation was so successful and all together I think this war has proved a good thing for you so far, but Will it is not over yet and we cannot tell what is before us but I hope for the best and try not to worry. Now that we have Conscription all the young men will soon have to present themselves but I do not think they will take the Farmer boys so I am not worring about Allan as I am quite sure he will not have to go. I don’t know how it will go with Tom but I do not think he would pass and David only has one good hand so I guess He will not be asked to go. But some young men around here are beginning to shake in there shoes and I feel sorry for them. If I was a man I would not wait to be asked if I was in a position to go as many of the young men are. I was so glad to see Jessie and would liked to have spent more time with her but I was visiting cousins that I had never seen before and being an invalid and a stranger in the city I could not go out alone Verne is a Dear little Lad and very bright for his age. Now I must close for this time with Love and all good wishes,

Your loving sister.

I am sorry that I am short of time for a letter to Verne but give him my love and also the others. Probably my new job will give me more light and liberty for the purpose.

You need not worry about any improvement in your writing I can read with ease and much pleasure all-most all you write your 59 letter was very enjoyable.

The Smith’s Lawn Band gave us a concert in our recreation hut last night it was very fine. The bandmaster is still, [?] of the 137th Bn band.

I will close now with a heart full of love for you and ours and kind regards to friends.

Your steady Hubby.

W J Wood