Niagara Camp
June 1, 1916

Dear Cath:

Yep, I got that elusive letter all right at last. It came in Tuesday morning. I had begun to think the coming ordeal imposed by the B. of E. had driven all thoughts of letter writing out of your head, but from the way your last reads I have changed my mind considerably. I would say they* (*the exams) prey upon your mind about as much as they used to do on mine.

So you have started the tennis balls flying again have you. Gee it must be great to get out there behind the old kirk and swing your racquet as if you really meant to hit the ball!! It takes Inie to show them how to do that eh?

Oh, say! I've done all this scribbling and haven't even expressed my thanks for, and opinion of, that lovely box of fudge which I received not four hours ago. It was simply grand (ask any of the boys of "Burns Cottage" they'll tell you) but I found out that it was "too good to last." It's over half gone already and I'm afraid there's not much doubt that it is doomed to meet a speedy fate.

I was certainly surprised to read what you saw re. - F.H.F. Do you suppose there can be anything in it? Upon my word though, I believe he would fill the bill if he did get another chance. Have you heard anything of him lately? (Blame these pens anyway they're furnished by the canteen and they're all 292's)

The advance party of the 173rd Hamilton Highlanders pulled in last night and have been pitching tents all day. The battalion is expected to come here tomorrow. They are to camp on the same ground than we are on so they will be right beside us. You know, I guess, that I have a cousin in that regiment. Their uniforms aren't nearly as nice as ours though. They wear the Southerland tartan and their tunics and caps are Canadian made. I was talking to a couple just before I started to write this and they certainly envy us.

There goes the piano so I guess I'll have to cut my letter writing short. It seems that I nearly always have to do that for some reason or other.

We're expecting to go on a hike to Queenston tomorrow. I don't know whether I'll get that far or not but I'm going to try it. I expect to be sent ahead of the brigade (there are to be 6 battalions) with the rest of the scouts. I think I told you Laurence & I were taking a course along with 16 others in scouting. We are not doing squad drill any more but our work at present is map reading, signaling, and bayonet fighting. The latter is certainly strenuous but at the same time there isn a better thing for hardening the muscles. You would laugh though, to see us charging bags filled with straw, suspended from a pole, and jabbing our bayonets through them just as if the poor innocent things really deserved their fate.

Well I really can't write and listen to that piano so as the piano isn't likely to quit till last post sounds I'll hie me back to my little tent. I can't say when I'll be in town again but I going to keep at them till they either give me a pass or do something desperate.

Well au revoir
Leslie