No. 55. – 6
France
7/2/18

Dear Nert,

It is five days since I wrote any of you, but really time flies so quickly that you don’t realize it. We have been fairly busy and recieved our first convoy from the line, yesterday. Now, we are pretty well filled up, except for the two huts occupied by the staff, and can’t get out of them for some little time yet owing to a hitch in our arrangements.

I have yours of Dec 1^st from Hamilton & Jan 1^st from home, O.K., with two 5f notes. Your little note, that “they can be cashed anywhere” rather amused me, as they are cash. That is just the same as a $1.00 bill in Canada. [?] money. A tip, tho kid, on account of the exchange they are a little expensive at $1.00 & if I send for any of my own money, you send me the same kind of an order, as you used to at Eastbourne at the rate of 5.00 for £ 1/-/10, and here, I can get something like 28 f for it, but that isn’t much different is it. My post office is A.P.O.4, B.E.F., France. If you should happen to find out where I am, in any way, never put it in the address, as A.P.O.4., is all we are allowed.

It is a blooming wonder, we have not had more mail, but I don’t think much has come thro, later than Jan 2^nd, so we are due for a big mail soon.

I sent a parcel home by registered mail, containing a spoon for you, a “hypo” for Mir, some stamps & coins, and a spike. This spike must be kept carefully but I can’t tell you why just now, altho I hope some day that I can. I also have had to discontinue sending my diary leaves home, altho I am writing one up every day & trying to keep the loose leaf one written up in detail. Send me more leaves any time, altho I am not short, just at present.

I am anxious to hear how you made out in your exams, don’t forget to tell me. As to Floss, not writing, I guess the poor kid, has been nearly run to death, but I think in the second last letter she wrote me, she said she was writing you, or had written, She is still working, but will not be as busy as at Christmas.

That “ping-pong” is a dandy, except for your sloppy hair. It is so perfectly natural that I almost want to talk to it. Just think, it will be a year and a half since we left London, the 18^th this month. It seems like fifty years in some ways but very short in others.

I am glad the mater got up to Seaforth, wish I could. Say I am afraid my pocket Carbine, has been lost, with quite a little other stuff amounting to about £5. in value. I will not know for about two weeks, but if so, Fritz is to blame for it. I will let you know, when I find out for sure.

The weather is not particularly good now but I have little time to spend outside, so it does not matter & anyway, Spring is coming pretty soon now.

I wonder if France Caverhill knows Georgie. Cookstown is where she was born, & she used to go up there a good deal, but possibly does not know that she has a family. Have you seen her lately? She sure is a good kid & was foolish to get married.

I expect Wilfred went down to Rome on leave, as I understand it can be done now. I don’t think any Canadian troops are posted there. I would not want to go there on my first leave anyway. It is bad enough here, where the people know a little English, but in Italy it would be fierce. I want to get to Blighty where they understand English anyway. Old Eastbourne looks good to me, altho I will go to London, unless I get my leave while Bobbie is having her holidays & then likely she will be at Eastbourne.

The parcel with handkfs arrived O.K. & the pail is on the stove, with water boiling now. We are rather short of utensils & it came in very handy. The few cookies in it, were very fresh and O! so good. The apples carried pretty well, but were gone a little. The prune jam in the former parcel, I just used the other day & enjoyed it very much. We were without a place to eat for a few days, and rations were rather muddled & I used my parcels up then, to good advantage. You would have laughed had you seen me, standing up, eating off a packing case. Of course these things will have to keep, till we see each other again.

I didn’t know where those two head shoulder plates were, but it does not matter. They were so rotten, I did not make more than proofs from them. Too hard and coarse.

That Tuckett price is O.K., they have not arrived yet, but should next mail. I will want more later, if the tobacco is up to standard, Turkish is hard to get tho.

I am not afraid of you “swiping” any of the acc. & the bank book will have everything in it. Let me know what the balance is, but it won’t increase very rapidly as I have drawn on it rather heavily. I won’t need any money for a little while, as I have a couple of hundred franks, but if I ever get leave I will have to hit it pretty hard. I have bought a large book on Ophthalmology & have paid for a large medical dictionary in London, but it has not yet arrived. Poor “Optometry” is no more, but a [?] concern is publishing its successor & I suppose will carry on my subscription. 

Your loving brother,
Worth.

[note added to back of final page; not Worth's handwriting:]

Thursday 10 P.M.

My Dear Miriam – I have really no news to-night, but you must have a note. The end of the week anyway & I will answer your letter. Alice [?] was married yesterday. The Huntly Factiry was burned last night. The whole town was lifted up. I think they will rebuild. Gladys gave [?] New York Tuesday. Did Nerta ever send you a letter from Aunt [?] about Mays wedding & did you send it to Aunt Maggie. If not please do so at once. It was all right about answer’s any dear Nerta sent [?] flowers & I found a 28 gold [?] - my shoe. I hoped you would be able to keep some of the apples for lunches at [?] but I know you. [?] your meals are not so good. Go out to visit & [?] all you can. Do you ever see or hear & [?] Marion Richardson.