Bayview, P. E. I.,
Dec. 9, 1915

My Darling Son Harold,

I must write to you this morning, so as to catch the mail steamer tomorrow
Oh! The blank in our home, and the ache in our hearts, since you have gone. We got word Tuesday of your safe arrival in England. Bombardier Nash called the Patriot and Clemmie phoned and read it out to us. Thank our Heavenly Father that you have been brought safely over that part of your journey, and our constant prayer is that He will bring you safely back to us to take up your life work again.

Dear little Gordon is a visiting us, and he prays every night that God will bless and take care of Harold, and bring him safely back again The little darling talks about you so much. The first thing he said this morning when I brought him out was "are you going to send the stockings to Harold?" Then he said: "When is Uncle Harold coming home?" The little darling was in the kitchen asking Earle to tell him a story. I had him over to Art's Tuesday afternoon and yesterday I took him to Nell Graham's at the Auxiliary. He was as good as gold.

We are having a miserable weather lately. Yesterday it was fine but most every day has been stormy, either rain or snow and sleet. The mud is fierce. What will I write dear that will be the most welcome to you. We watch for "war news". Surely they need to watch Greece. She is acting a deceitful part. They have reason to fear her. They had our recruiting meeting at Stanley Bridge since you left. There were 13 enlisted. They had
one in Cavendish Monday night of this week. Felix was the only recruit. You know who I mean. He is the fellow now living in the [?] Place.

Earle finished all his plowing on Tuesday. Yesterday he was working on the roof of the chicken house. But he can't today because it is raining and snowing alternately. He intended going to Summerside tomorrow, but we had to dress geese today, so he will have to take them to Rustico tomorrow. If it storms today the roads will not be fit to go anyway.

Had a letter from Laura and Aunt Katie since you went away. Laura wrote for your address. While I think of it I will send her address: you had better write to her if you can. 1323 Walnut Street, Vancouver, B.C. She says she has knit five pairs of sox for the soldiers since the summer. That makes me think I want you to write me about your socks. I am knitting you some more. As soon as we get the right address we want to send you a Christmas box. I suppose you cannot get it in time for Christmas but it will come in good win it does arrive. I do wish we could have got it to you by that time.

Dear, will you be sure to write and tell us about your Christmas. It is the first one you have ever spent away from us. It will be a lonely one for us. I hope you will spend it by trying to make the world a little bit better by being in it. I think dear I am just praying for you, all the time that I am about my daily duties, I find my heart going out continually in silent prayer for you. Oh!. May our Heavenly Father be a wall about you to keep you from all harm.

Let us know about your daily life, and all that you can write. You know dear how anxious we are to hear for you, and above all don't deceive us for fear of hurting us. You know how I was about Aunt Mattie's illness and it would be ten times worse than if I had been told at first.

You are not at Shornecliffe are you? I am going to send this to the address you sent and if you never get it - write and let us know. I hope to get a letter from you soon. Clemmie is coming out to Hunter River the last of next week to meet Gordon. I think I will go with
him for I want to see her. Florence was saying yesterday that May was getting along fine at the Clifton School. That makes me think to tell you that Joe Hogan broke his leg or rather one of the small bones in it the night of the recruiting meeting at Stanley Bridge. Lost his step coming out of the church. The accident has confined him to the house. Ethel has quite a heavy school I understand.

How is your Bible class getting along? I am deeply interested in it. My dear son, you may be able to do a great deal towards the up building of Christ's kingdom by your daily work and conversation. Let none of your companions see you lower your standard or stoop from the high ideals you have set up. Now is your opportunity to do good, and don't lose this opportunity. Dear you may win '"Stars for your Crown". Try and be a blessing and help to others. Oh! How mother wishes she could see you today.

Did you know Lilla's betrothed was at the front? Maggie wrote to me His name is Fred Harwood I think she said. They did not mention it themselves. Maggie is still in California. Aunt Clemmie has moved out to Illinois. Had a letter from her a few days are grow. If you could write to her sometime, I know it would do her heart good. I am going to send your picture to her for your Christmas present.

Now what more will I write dear. I wish I could just tell you how much we all miss and love you, but that is beyond words. May our Heavenly Father bless you and keep you in a narrow way. And never do anything that you cannot ask His blessing or go anywhere where you cannot have Him go with you.

If there is anything you know about the mailing regulations you let us know. There are so many packages that never reach their destination. Gordon is writing letters for you. Your father and Earle send love to you and you know enough about mother's love to know that love from the very depths of her heart goes to you. Oh my darling, write to the old home and the ones waiting anxiously for you there, as often as you can. Be God's dear child, and always walk in the footsteps of the loving Saviour. You know of course we can not attain perfection, but we can reach the highest for having aimed at it.

Let us know if there is any way in which we can help you, or anything besides is socks that we can send you. If you want your socks to be easy on your feet wear them wrong side out. I know there are things I want to send you if they would be out any service.

Well I must say goodbye for now as it is nearly mail time. We are anxiously waiting to hear from you. May our Heavenly Father bless and keep you from harm and bring you safely back to us in his own good time is the prayer of

your loving Mother, Nellie R. Simpson