February 3, 1917 pg2

Somewhere in France
[??] 30/1917

[Canadian Emblem 'For King and Country 125]

Dear Sir:-
Your very welcome epistle of the
5th was received ^and was good, go know you
were all in the best of health. Was going to say
spirits, but as Ontario is supposed to be dry
at present, spirits would seem out of place.
It is 7am, so you can see there is no special
hour for writing. It all has to be done by candle light
anyway.
Just had a room issue, but it wasn't enough
to know what it was.
Was surprised to hear Uncle Scott had more
than enough to eat, but glad he had good
results for his work in the elections.
The rector say somebody wrote me they were
celebrating the "heart of the Epiphany," so in
answering I said they were very lucky to have a
fest of anything, even if it was a [??]
should say Holyday.
Am afraid the influence of the [??] sisters
must be wearing off on account of the cards.
Guess I'll have to write an epistle to Aunt
Mary telling her how wicked the game is and
thereby gracing her with renewed strength and
vigour enabling her to be more firm eh?
Didn't know Albert Bader was married
but suppose now are getting scarce, so that
it was a match proposition. If there is
conscription on you married men. The
preachers must be making money nowadays
because marriage apparently is "work
of national importance."