Letter to Mother from Somewhere in Flanders

#782373
S.W. in Flanders
11–11–17

Dear Mother. 

I have been thinking to day that last Xmas I spent in hospital in England, I wonder where I will be next Xmas which will be also when you get this. I havent got the slightest idea that the weather and conditions will bother me a bit physically, I am living on with out a cold or cough, and I may have one louse I thot I felt one last night if I use lots of louse powder I don't have any, we had one issue of powder several days ago. I seem to be the funniest man I have picked I don't know how many dozens of lice off me that were as empty as if they had been on a shirt that had been thrown away for a month and I seldom feel one bite at all, just some of the boys get abused. I can't acount for it at all,

I suppose you will miss Alice and the little dear that was running around into lots of things that would be a nusesence but I realize how he is cherrished by all.

I was out on church parade today and am going down to hear an other sermon in town tonight at Y,,  

12th     10 P.M.  

I took in the service and it was real good, then the communion that I always enjoy so much. The hut was crowded boys sat on the floor on all sides of the captain as well as filling all the seats. We show how we appreciate services now when in Flanders but I suppose amusement and summer evenings would draw away a big per cent of the crowd back home,

On one occasion as I marched to the station to entrain I thot now I never told Mother that we have always been lucky enough to have our jurneys that I thank God I have had the opportunity of meeting to carry on the good work out and out with no kick on the promises of God. we have proven them to be sufficient in every way,  I received your letters to day 20th of the 21 – 22 I will get more than one a week they generaly are scattered over about 4 days,

The evening is fine clear as crystal, the sun is down I am sitting, with my back against a big tree in some French noblemans castle my how well fixed some of the people in England and France must have been and others such a percent have nothing.

Things are getting better every day in the army life if the war lasts a few yrs more it will be better two they are changing the continues drill to games and etc so we just get the exercise but get it in a different sperit, and that makes use do our small amount of drill so much more snappy we never resent it, after dinner we have only an hour to do any thing, today it was an adress by a high up scotch chaplain very good, He said a chaplain spoak to the text, on one occasion, "Faint, but persue" Now shall I take a message from you to the home folks, "Fed up, but sticking to it." we all laughed. te. he.

Well good night Mother dear as ever your loving son
Laurie