M.B.C.H.,
27/12/16.
Dear Dad,
I will answer both your and Mother’s letter to-night. Both arrived yesterday. Mother’s was posted Nov 30th, but the mail via Army P.O., is terribly congested, and my parcels have not arrived as yet. They will tho, as those heavy paper boxes carry better than tin. It will be another week before all our mail is in.
In spite of conditions, we spent quite a merry Christmas. More merry perhaps, than those at home.
Monday, the patients had their Christmas dinner and I was one who waited on them. So we had a good dinner after they were thro. Then the 26th was a holiday for the staff. We did the work in the morning that had to be done and at 12.30, we had our dinner in the patients dining hall. The sergeants waited on us, and over 275 sat down. We sure fed most royally, turkey, plum pudding, fruit, nuts etc, and all we wanted. After dinner we were thro for the day. Corp. Mc Carm and I took in a show at night. The wards were nicely decorated, I will send snaps later.
Yesterday, I was called up to the Company Office, and each of the staff was presented with a Red [cross?] stocking, so we fared pretty well. I went into the Registery Office to wait for one of the boys and ran into Capt. Weston. He is attached here now, but I don’t think he has a ward yet. I only saw him for a minute tho as the Col. was waiting for him. I will see him later tho, and have a chat with him. Sgt. Lester Jackson, called also, he is taking a course near here, and I will see him again too. I was sure glad to see Doc. Weston and he seemed quite surprised too. X
I have not the ink yet, but it will likely be along later, with my other mail. I can’t tell you the no. of the battery I use, but it is about 2” X 1” two cells, not the smallest nickle plated one, but the next size. Don’t send any tho, till I tell you, because I have asked Nert, to send my 3 cell lamp and I can get these batterys for I think 9d. I have not been out of the smaller batteries, but have just been able to get enough and that is all. This and a few other sizes are terribly short here.
I suppose goods are very scarce there but hope you had enough and had a very good month. I would have sent to Levy for that Masonic locket. They make a dandy locket and better style to it. The fellows who only job, are more likely to be out of stock. I am strong for Levy’s anyway. They will do so much more for you than Golds or P.W., and confine their line. They have had the best line the last few years too. Of course, I don’t like Harry Ville any better than you, but I would not let this interfere with my purchases. How have Ether’s been selling and how have deliveries been? Poor I suppose.
I think that waste paper bundler one of the best stunts yet. I have seen the kind that wire up a bale like hay, guess that is the kind. When you start to cut out the leaks like that, you start to swell your years profits.
Everything sure is high there in the eating line. We pay 6d or 7d here for apple pie and cream. At home with ice cream it was only ten cents.
Connoly’s was sure some mix up, but I felt quite sure that he had paid for them.
X you must have caught my cold, because, I have lost it now. Feel fine, except that I am too full all the time. Everybody is getting boxes.
I just ate some of Nert’s fudge to-day. It was not hard to get out of the tin and was grand, just as moist as if made yesterday. I am making the box last a long time, as I get so much to eat anyway, just now.
I have had two men on the ward the last couple of days, and the work has not been so hard, but one went on pass to-night, will be back in six days.
Earl Baker was moved when I wrote, as far as I know, I saw him several times tho.
My parcel of sox etc, will likely not arrive till about Jan 15th, I will surely write Mrs. Weston then. Very kind of her, I am sure.
Hope you had your visitors for Christmas. It would make things so much more lively.
Having charge of 5, I am responsible for its condition, and see that the others do their work right. If anything is amiss, I am the one that gets called. That is about all the difference. X
Surely glad to hear that you are so much better. Hope that you continues so.
I often think that my letters must seem funny, sometimes up and sometimes down, but I can’t help writing, just as I feel. To-night, I feel in the best of spirits.
Lovingly,
Worth.
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