No 36.
14^th Can. Gen. Hospital
Eastbourne
14/11/17.

My Dear Mother,

The Colonel called me to his office this morning, and showed me Mele’s Cable. Of course it upset me terribly, as I don’t know what is wrong with Dad, and chances of getting out to Canada now are very slim, especially as we are just ready for the front.

I do hope Dad is not seriously ill, with Christmas coming on, and all that, it is fierce. I called Dr. Bennett immediately to let me know Dad’s exact condition at once as Mele’s cable would hardly be enough to get me a recommendation for furlough, then that I have not been to France, is another thing that will be against me. Of course when I get word from Bennett I will get the Col. and Major Clark busy.

Well so much for our troubles. I have four letters of yours which I must answer now.

When my flannels came, I sewed on the left chest of each suit, a fair sized piece of cotton, with name, number, and laundry mark on with ink, think it will last all right. The way I got these pictures with Capt Brock in, before Lieut Dickey left for the flying Corps., he had me print some off the negatives for him, so I also printed some for myself. Capt. Brock is I believe, in London now and if he is coming back to us, should be here any day.

I had to tell Bobbie off she got too serious, and wanted to get married. She got mad, and stopped writing, but then has written since, and asked me to forgive her. She will be more sensible now. There is a nice little good kid down that I like pretty well.

Why of course I like the marmalade, etc, but I usually hold it for a week or two after it comes, and then when we have a bum supper, I use it. Sometimes I eat it at night.

I am certainly sorry you were taken sick, and hope you will not have a return of the trouble for a long time.

That was certainly awful about Bob Wilson, and must have upset everyone so, I am very glad it turned out to be a false report.

I turned my army sox and underwear in, months ago, as I could not cart them around. If caught selling them, you are [stuck?], pretty heavily.

I find the sox you send, shrink not at all. One or two pairs that I had earlier did, but I think they were knit on a machine. I don’t see why this should be, unless because they are knit very tight.

Sulphur taken inwardly, is not as easily absorbed and transmitted to the skin as it is absorbed from a bath. I had another to-day, and always feel better after them.

Floss is far from being a past tense. She is now working in the stationary dept. of a big jewellery store there, and taking up book-keeping at night-school , so she is some busy girl. I hear from and write her quite regularly.

 Well Mater Dear, I think this will be all for the present, will write one of you in a day or two, when I can think more rationally. I was inoculated (typhoid) yesterday, and started drill (for hardening) to-day. Inoculation did not affect me much but I went to bed quite early last eve.

Lovingly,
Worth.