France
23/9/17

Dear Alice,

Thank you very much for your two nice letters, which I received together. But I see one was written while you were on your holidays. From the postcard and your description of the place, I should judge it to be very pretty. I suppose you attended the usual picnics to the various islands in the vicinity. Needless to say, I would very much have liked to be with you. I guess we will have to wait a while longer yet.

So you did not have the right lover with you when you went through the famous lovers creek. That was too bad. But never mind. Better luck next time.

May I enquire without being too personal, who the substitute was? In your letter referring to your complaint, you tell me not to smile about it. But I am afraid I cannot oblige this time, as the way you put it was too funny.

Pa also enjoyed himself fishing, eh. Were his trips this time any more successful than those we had at Weir? They were some trips. You also had good swimming in the lake. You ought to be able to swim now Alice. Can you? Do you remember the lessons I gave you once? I think on one occasion you nearly swallowed all the water in the lake. I was afraid that we would be stranded. I had a letter from Harold the same mail as yours, which I must answer as soon as possible. How many badges have you got now? You must have quite a collection. I know Syd is back up here again. His outfit was near us but when I went to look him up, I was told that he was away on that job. I was sorry to hear that, as I would have liked to see him very much. We may have another chance later. I am very glad to hear that H. Houldsworth is getting better. He has certainly seen some trouble. It is too bad that he lost a leg. It is a good thing it is not worse. If he gets back home by Christmas, it will do much to make him well again.

What you said about Harold and those people he lived with in New York I believe is quite right. I am glad to hear that he is away from them. I hope he never goes back after the war. Do you think he will?

Do you really think that there will be trouble in Montreal with the French over the conscription law, Alice? Well let them hop to it. They will find all the trouble they want when they get the length of this country. But by that time, I guess they will have some of the nonsense knocked out of them or else I am much mistaken. I am glad to hear you say that you will have time to take me out once in a while when we get back again. I intend to take that as a promise so woe be to you, if you disappoint me. I heard the news about poor Dug Watterson the day after he was killed. I had been talking to him a few days before. It is too bad. He was a nice fellow.

Thank you very much Alice for Birds' address. I will write to them when I have some time. In the meantime give them all my kind regards. Well I guess this is about all for this time Alice. I will close. Give my regards to all at home and tell Lily to keep on smiling. I will write again next week.

Bye Bye
My best wishes to you.

From
Your very sincere friend

Bob