Toronto
April 13th, 1917

Dear Jay,

Your letter of Mar 17 just arrived this afternoon so you see it was almost a month in coming. I think you must have had several letters from me in the meantime. My word but it is good to get your letters! I have been home for the holidays - supposed to be studying for my exams which begin on Monday - but it seems to me I have put in most of my time waiting for the Post man. It is a lucky thing for my exams that your letter came today and I shall get back to work as soon as I finish this. I am awfully glad you got the box with the pies and you can look for another soon after this letter. I don't believe you have been getting quite all your parcels - after this we will number them and then we can tell for sure. We were awfully glad for the picture last week. We picked you out all right and if the likeness doesn't flatter you, at least you don't look starving - much to mother's relief. I suppose its your Quaker oats and such that keep you nice and fat - Scotchie. I got a film for my camera as I promised and have taken a few pictures. The weather hasn't been all that could be desired lately but I hope I'll soon have them ready to send. Bruce has been in the country all week and Lena was over here for a while. She tells us that Willie Dobrough is cutting a fearful dash at the station. He has acquired just lately a Ford, a canoe, a tennis raquet and two new suits (sounds like Eaton's catalogue, doesn't it!) - the reward of virtue I suppose. I'm afraid Bruce won't want to come home after viewing such magnificence. Mother and Arthur went to the country yesterday and are staying till Monday. Mother did not want to go as she was worrying about you since the fighting on Vimy Ridge but we finally persuaded her that you would just as soon have her over home as moping here. Then she was getting homesick to see every one again. I should have liked to go with her but of course that couldn't be. I wonder if you have been in the big doings. You might just tell us that you were there and are you with a bombing section now or did your whole platoon go to the Bombing School? Was there any one else in that picture from Toronto or any special pal of yours? Oh, I have thousands of questions I could ask you if only I had the chance but I guess those will do for a start. This is just meant as a note. I'll write again the day my exams finish. I hope you get this and don't get too gay in this "spring advance" - remember the mince pies coming.

Love.
Violet