Series 1 Oliver McNaughton

MOTHER'S DAY

France, May 12th, 1918. [right column]

TO OUR MOTHERS

MAY the 12th will be Mother's Day, and we do not want to let it pass without sending our message Home [underlined] to our Mothers. "Home", "Mother", - How beautiful these words sound to us out here! What memories they recall! We see it all now [underlined], the daily grind of cooking, washing, and sewing with the tired eyes at night, and the big basket of darning still to be done long after we were sound asleep, and the few spankings we got in comparison with the many we so richly deserved; and all the self-denial, worry and anxiety which we caused you. We could not see it then, -blind little beggars that we were - but we see it now in all its sublime beauty and nobility, and needless to say we are longing for the time when we can return home to make amends by giving to you some of the love and devotion which you so ungrudgingly gave to us. This is one of our greatest desires, and one which by God's help we shall be able to fulfil when the war is won and we come home.

*When the War is Won* we would be ashamed to show our faces before that is achieved

- for after all it is really you, our Mothers and our Homes, for whom we are fighting.

If you could see the suffering and hardships endured by the brave women and children of the unhappy land where so many homes have been ruined, you would not want us to return until victory has been won.

When the gift of freedom is ours, then we will come home and lay it reverently at your feet, for it will be hallowed by the blood of many comrades. The we shall devote our lives to the service of our country in the upbuilding of happy homes and a noble citizenship.

Pray for us, that this high and holy vision may never fade from our minds, and that we may be given courage and patience to finish our task. Then what a glorious home-coming there will be.

Till then, therefore we remain where we are, fighting for our Mothers and our Homes.

Somewhere in France [left column]

[right column; image-outline of a maple leaf with CANADA YMCA written across it]

PAYBOOK SERIES [left column] N. 31 Other cards in this series may be had by leaving your Regimental Address with any Canadain Y.M.C.A. Officer.

[printed envelope but the left side is folded over or cut off. Otherwise it would end with "I certify on my honour that the contents of the envelope refer to nothing but private and family matters. Signature" McNaughton

[Address] Miss Netta McNaughton R.R. No. 1 Granton, Ontario Canada

France May 19. 1918

Dear Sister:- I have been contemplating writing you for a long time, and at last I have begun. I have just finished a birthday card to Mabel; I tried to get a real birthday card but was unsuccessful in my searches. I would like to have been able to get something for you as a token of my love and hearty wishes for your future happiness, but such a thing is absolutely out of the question. It would be different if I were priviliged to be near some large town some distance from the lines. Nevertheless, sis. You know that

2

you and Charlie have my heartiest wishes for a happy and prosperous future. I have mentioned nothing in my lettes as I understand it was kept quiet; I have not breathed a word to Jack nor anyone else, you see I am a Free-Mason, & know how to keep a secret.

Poor Jack is a little cut up; he recieved a letter stating that June had been removed to a hospital on very short notice, to be operated on for appendicitis. He has heard nothing since, and is in considerable suspense. He sure, dose think a lot of his Aunt Marie Davie; I feel quite certain, however, the she does not know that he appreciates