[written in top corner of first page, date/author unknown: “Crazy as ever about girls”]

No. 34.
14^th Can. Gen. Hospital,
Eastbourne 1/11/17.

My Dear Nerta,

A few of you will get your letters written to-night, owing to the miserable weather. I had an appointment, with a perfectly good maiden, for seven P.M., but the weather will not permit. I can just drop her a little note tho and to-morrow eve., will do just as well. If it rains Sunday tho, there will be a deuce of a row. That is Elsie’s night, and I am getting to like her pretty well. Last night we were at the theatre and saw a fairly good Revue. Bobbie is sore at me for life, I guess, she wanted to get married, or engaged, or anything apparently, so I undertook to tell her what a silly little ass she was, and apparently she is peeved. We should worry tho, because there are quite a few over here, that I haven’t met yet.

The parcel from home, containing your scrapbook, came this week, and the book is sure fine. I am not thru with it yet, but several of the boys have had it, and I will put it on the wards after I am thro with it. It has caused many a laugh, believe me.

As soon as we get a little decent weather, I will run off some more prints of myself and send them to you and home. The last couple of days, have been too dull.

I bought a dandy leather bound book for Floss, “Shakespeare’s English Kings,” I will send it on to you in a few days, and you can mail it about the 20^th of Dec. Decent books are scarce here this year. That is, this year’s editions, as the paper is short. I have seen leather bound books, with rough paper, like news paper, but a heavier weight.

Now that you are away, I will, starting with this letter, write the four of you in turn. Then you and Mir. can send the letters on home. I think this better, as I  can keep in touch with you all better. I have been neglecting Mir. more than I realized. I wrote her the other night tho.

Have worked all day, yesterday and to-day and will have to tomorrow too. you see at the end of the month, I have to close up the month’s books, and it takes a little time.

How do you enjoy being away from home now? It is rotten at first, I know, but I am beginning to think one can get used to anything you see on almost any meals Just for fun, I am enclosing a menu for the coming week. We get exactly [three?] except “Supper” which is served for patients only. Not bad fare is it.

By the way, our Q.M. G. Mel. Brock, has been in Hamilton for some time, that is his home, but I think he leaves for England about the tenth of the month.

Do the chimes still bother you? They are rather annoying, when one is so close to them. They are shut off at night tho, aren’t they? The room I sleep in, is known as “Niagara Falls.” There is a dividing wall across the centre, supporting three immense steel tanks of water and it hisses and bubbles, night and day. It never bothers me tho, nor did it from the very first.

I am glad you were able to get in the “Y.” because, while it leaves a good deal to be desired, there are bound to be some congenial sports. I would not be surprised if that roommate, turned out to be a better friend than you now imagine.

Don’t forget to let me know where Addie is working. Also, the first time you are up at the San. don’t forget to get from Dr. Holbrook all the particulars you can of these girls, i.e., their present condition, and whereabouts, the result of their treatment etc. If they are at the San. now, be sure to see them and tell them who you are, Leta Hansell, Jean Watson and Kathleen Earle. Leta was discharged from the San. some time ago, but I have not heard from, nor of her, for some little time. The other two were at the San. last I heard of them. Leta and Jean, I knew when I worked for Norman Ellis and Jean may be back at the milinery again, I think she was in Robinson’s.

You say you are tired of beef, but believe me, if you had a course of mutton, stewed, baked, roasted and just plain cooked, you would regret that the “dear little lambs” had ever been “invented.” I would walk miles to get out of one’s road even now. We get beef whenever we can, but about once a week they shoot over 700 lbs of mutton, and we regret it for a couple of days. Of course army pigs only have one kind of meat – bacon, and we are allowed four ounces, three times a week. Altho fat, it is usually beautiful bacon and terribly dear at the present time. Mutton seems to be used more than any other meat in this country. Every time I see sheep, my mind will travel back to St. Martin’s Plain, where I first learned what mutton stew really was. If you were in need of a candle that night, you just had to lay a string on your plate when you started dinner, and the candle was all ready by the time you had finished.

You speak of a cob of corn, what is it? It seems that I have heard of it some place else. In this country, I don’t think ten per cent of the people have ever heard of such a thing, and very few have ever seen it.

The church you will like is “All Saints” quite a walk west from where you are, and on King street. If Canon Fornerette is still there, and you meet him, just tell him you are my sister, I think he will remember me. I too lived on Main. a good deal of the time I was there, but East, just a few doors past the G.T.R. tracks at the King St. station. I like being right up where things are doing. Vernon Tuck, in Gordan McLaren’s jewellery store, is an old friend of mine. I also know his wife quite well. If you are ever in there, say hello to him for me and let me know how he is.

I thought as much about the [smoke’s?] Max always makes the most of everything tho.

No, it was one of the other boys, that I took, kissing the stone. You would not have been surprised at the familiarity with the hotel staff, had you seen them. They are pretty fine girls, I’ll say.

Well Sis., I have several other letters to write to night so will keep the rest for my next.

Lovingly,
Worth.