Letter to Mother from Somewhere in France

#782373
S.W. in France
11-29-17

Dear Mother:– 

I have spent quite a while tonight studying the word of God. I miss so mutch a place to be alone but I will make more effort to study under these conditions I am not going neglect that one so important thing in my life.

I stopped here and wrote a letter to a girl in Scotland who asked me about her friend. I had written to her telling her about him being wounded on the 23rd etc.

I am eating a lot of apples these days and getting in a one shape for any thing they put me at in the near or far future, I have the old army bluffed now. I have been thru enough of it now to know what we get up against and feel thoroly convinced that I will never be out on a worse battle field than I have crossed.

We are dressed warm so the winter will be very little worse than any other time, My leave if I live and God is willing will come along and break up the winter a full 14 days in Blighty that means about 18 days away from the line

I am getting along good in the study of first aid so will surely be on that from this out. The months I have spent here have not hurt me at all and see the experiences I have been thru that will help me in future if I live. I would sooner have gone thru what I have than to just be new from Blighty and no experiences, I have the same chance to live on as any of them. just untill my work is finished on this earth. As I knelt at fathers grave eighteen months ago I prayed to God that I might live a life that would make it possible for to have written on my tomb stone the same as fathers "Soldier of Christ, well done" Now I have tried, and am trying, you know his promises so I beleave that God will always give me grace to strengthen my faith to serve him more sincerely each day. Of coarse the boys that fall out here and are buried on the battle field are moved manys the time by shells and covered and uncovered, but these things do not matter a boy is as well here as any where else I have no dread or horor for the work ahead of me to help the other man is my aim whether it means my life or death. I can't do more than give my life and I am game to do that if God should choose to call me.

Well Mother dear it is 9.15 so I will go up stairs to  bed. I dreamed I was home with you the other night, I got a letter from Annie last night Alice and Kathleen Francis were there.

As ever your loving son
Laurie

30th     2.30 P.M.

I am in my room a boy just came in off parade he has a tutch of the La grippe, I made him some Oxo to drink. He is a boy I am afraid that would sooner be sick than well any way, but nix with me. I want to be strong and carry on game untill we bring this war to a close, if I get wounded I want to get It the last day before peace is declared. as ever Laurie