Ward G.
Canadian Milit. Hospital.
Kirkdale, Liverpool.
Dec. 6, '17.

My dear Lulu

I received another delightful letter & a letter & parcel from you yesterday. The letter was the one you sent in reply to my first letter from Liverpool. Last night I slept beside the wedding cake, but while I thought much before I fell asleep, I never has a 'ghost of a dream'. Rather disappointing!

And now before I write anything else I have a dreadful confession to make. Whilst I was on leave with my father my sister- as I told you before, I believe- asked many questions about you which I could not answer. The little children- three little girls- had seen 'Canadian' boxes come for me twice, & childlike asked me questions, being interested in anything coming from the far away land of Canada. I told them they contained "Canadian Candy", & further told them that if another came they could open it, & eat the candy & send me the note- if there was one in it. Of course, I was practically sure that I should be on the water, or in Canada, by that time. The result was that the girls thought it great fun to see & taste the contents of the mysterious box. They sent a little letter saying how they enjoyed the contents, sending their thanks to you, & the wedding cake & piece of chocolate to me. My sister wrote me before that a box had come, & that the girls claimed it, & asked what she should do. Of course I could not do other than write- "Let them open it." It seems now like a breach of confidence, & I wonder what you will think. I have laid a claim on any box coming from you again, as there is no fear of a repetition. Of course my sister- who has a keen sense of humour- enjoyed the joke immensely. Tell me what you think, Lulu dear.

I wish I could have been by your side at the wedding, Lulu. I suppose that weddings are always joyous events, so I am not surprised that the 'seventy summers' groom was merry. But I am afraid that news would trouble me too much to make such a ceremony [?] pleasure. I should sort of go through the business for the sake of the pleasure afterwards. I hate to be in the foreground too much. I believe I would rather take a bombardment for a few minutes. How would you imagine yourself?

We are together in loving [?] then. He is a fine little man & I am afraid he will have to leave his school for some office in a couple of years or so. For his father is dead; he was thirteen on Dec.1., a few days ago. How I wish I was rich.

We shall arrange somehow to be together when I come; pupils or no pupils, even if we have to declare a national holiday. Take lots of sleep now anyway, so that you will be ready for the sitting up at nights. How long it seems before that day comes! I grudge every minute.

The letter was dated Oct. 30.; written on a dark windy erye night when you were "all alone a seein' things at night." If I had been there I should never have "reached camp" at all.

I am very glad indeed that you liked the Baptistry of Canterbury Cathedral, and you have framed it exactly as I pictured such a photo should be: a brown mat, a navy gold mount & a brown frame. That is delightful. We certainly have similar tastes anyway. Capt. Melvin was saying that a certain picture I have got - the same colour as that I sent to you- would not look well framed until I told him how I should have it done; then he agreed with me.

But I wish the temptation to have your photo taken in [?] had been stronger. I should have been so glad to have one- just as you are now. Never mind that photos are not good, of you, for that doesn't matter. But I shall be coming over soon; & then I hope it will never be necessary to have a photo- except for others. I wonder what you will think of mine. I would not have had it taken only that you wished me to because I never like the job. You will have it long ago now I suppose, & maybe the next mail will tell what you think of it. If I could only become a wealthy man for about a month I would send you a beautiful frame in leather with the Canadian crest which I fell in love with. It was in one of the handsome stores in Liverpool here, but - as usual- it proved to be beyond my range. By the way, Liverpool has the finest streets I have seen in any city in England or Canada- not excepting London.

I wonder how strong willed you are! I too am reputed to be the same, so I hope that on one or two matters anyway we shall be agreed. And in some of these I have set my heart upon getting too! I dont suppose either of us have reason to be too badly "frightened," as you say. I am rather afraid that you will have to teach me moderation in many things, & perhaps you will be wanting to be rid of me long before the month you give me is up. You know that being away so long, & living through some of our experiences does not tend to make us gentle, nor to love [?] of manner. But we love the more, & admire the good & real.

You dont know how I long to sit to down to that lunch with you, my dear little girl. You are just teasing me when you ask me to stop in and share it with you.

With very best love, and - dare I send it- a kiss for that wedding cake.

Yours as ever, Tom