CEHBates_Dec1918_011b

to be mail from you any day now. I dont know whether
[Helen - crossed out] I told you in a previous letter that Helen sailed
last Thursday on the Nanking for Manila. The ship
did got get out on time, and when she did, the tide
had fallen and she stuck in the mud, and two tugs
could not budge her. She left about 10 pm on the
next tide. She should reach Manila about Jan'y 1st.

We have had a horrendous rain storm Sat & Sun. The
sheet hit Durneys & our place was a lake. Yesterday
was fine, with a heavy frost last night, and believe
me the furnace was the only thing. Mother was sick
in bed last Friday & Sat with one of her bad colds, but
Sunday she was quite well again. I kept the house
warm day & night with the furnace and I think
that helped her from taking cold on top of a cold as
she usually does. Mr. Kink asks every night when
we feed him "any letters from my master in France?"
and then he stretches and sticks out 3 yards of tongue!
Junior Medcraft came home Saturday. He says he
was in an Officers Training Camp one month when
the Armistice was signed. They were all given the
option of discharge or Army Reserve Corps, and he
took the former. The Lions were there, Roberta Lion & Wilfred Lion,
so I did not have a chance to speak to him about
what he said to Guthrie about Norman. I suppose
Jos will be home within two weeks, so for Xmas
we ought to have two boys home anyway. I hope
you will, have a happy Xmas, and that the
next one will be at home. Lots of love to
you my dear old boy, and hugs.

Always your loving father
HLA Bates