France
July 25th/1917

Dear Cousin

Just a line to let you know I am well and received your welcome letter last night and was sure glad to hear from you and to know that everyone is well around that part also. You spoke about it not being very hard to be in a better country that where you's are but if you were here for a while I think you would soon change your mind that is inside the war zone anyway I am sorry to hear that your crop is not doing as well as it might any crop that I have had a chance to see around here can't be beat I expect that 12th of July this year would be rather a quiet one I spent mine in the line this year where I am at present your folks up at home will have a busy time of it this summer raising so many stones and building a shed as well but it will sure make a big change on the looks of things around there you said Jacks Maggie was thinking of getting married pretty soon I guess Jo. Is getting a little afraid of conscription for those boys you spoke about Beaton or Carsons I have never seen any of them except Roy I used to see him every day before I left the Battalion in Eng. to go to Crowboro. Major Pollock has been wounded and I think is back in Eng. about that box you sent me I got it O.K. everything as good as when it left and it sure was some treat I got one from Emma shortly after you said there must be a lot of mail go astray and there sure is the way the boys talk but I have had great luck with all my mail none of the boxes that have been sent to me as yet have been over five weeks on the road and I know some fellows to be five months coming as soon as I got the box you sent me I wrote and told you but you dont seem to have had it at the time you wrote this letter and I think you should have had it unless it has been delayed some place you said if there was anything I wanted to let you know and I sure will but you know we have to carry our house in our pack a might long ways quite often and the less you have then the better well I think I will ring off for this time hoping all are well as this leaves me up to date.

Yours to a Cinder
(Pte Wm)
Best regards to all