From: 9 Rue de la Michodière, Paris
25 Dec. 1917

Dear Mother -

This will be the first time that I have been able to give a definite address is it not? - and of course I will be away from here long before you get this letter. Christmas and New Years in Paris. Isn't that just glorious? Two whole weeks of it, and if I had been able to choose the time when I was to take it, I couldn't have chosen a better time, could I?

Paris leave had been closed for awhile - it is always a very uncertain thing - and when they opened it up again, there were not very many who put in their names for it. I was still a long way down on the leave to England list but by putting my name in for Paris, I got away with the first five from our battery. I was able too to get the leave with the fellow I wanted it with - one who has decent tastes and would want to see & do the things that I would care for.

We arrived in Paris late in evening of Dec. 22, so have till about Jan. 4. The weather couldn't be beaten - a little snow and clear & frosty - no rain and much like Xmas at home. We have money, for you know we only get a part of our pay all along, while the rest is put to our credit so that we can use it on leave. Maybe you think I have been a little extravagant in sending a cable but the fellow with me sent one yesterday so they would have it for Xmas & I think I will send one tomorrow. You should be pleased I thought to know that I was having such a good Xmas & New Years and I hoped maybe you would be able to enjoy your New Years better by knowing that.

I have some postcards and things similar to ones I got in London and I am going to try and send them in letters if allowed to. This is an immense city, this Paris and has more beautiful and perhaps more wonderful things in it than London. But, in some ways, it is not as nice; the foreign language puts one at a great disadvantage, for even if one does know the name for a thing, it seems hard to say it so that the Frenchmen know what you are talking about. Then, too the Frenchmen must be tipped for every little service he does for you - you tip the waiters at the restaurant, the taxi driver, the hotel employee who does you a little service, and so on.

Well, it is rather late and I think I had better close as I am tired. Hope you are all well. Love to all - Gladys, Harold, Cecil, Arthur & yourself.
Yours affectionately,
Gordon Brown