Letter from Mother, Mary (& Murray) to Frank in Winnipeg

Sept 6, 1914

Bayham, Ontario

My dear Frank,-

This is a very quiet day with us, Murray and Arthur have gone down to Milton’s and the others are all asleep. Was talking with Vi yesterday and she said she had just received a letter from you and you were getting ready to move. I hate to have you leave there but I guess you will have to do likewise.

Suppose you are like most other people, more interested in the war just now than anything else. I felt a little blue, and at the same time proud of you, when I heard you had volunteered to go. I know it is selfishness in me, but it does seem so hard for a mother to feel that she is really willing for own dear boys to go, and yet, how many have had this to go through, since this terrible war has been raging. However, you have proved your loyalty, but I hope you will not have to go.

People here are beginning to feel quite uneasy about the Germans coming over from the States. Mrs Prichard phoned up this morning and said there were 7000 in Buffalo, but it may be only a scare, I certainly hope so. It almost seems that the Government is slow about taking precautions anyway. Every few nights we see an airplane going west and no one seems to know where it comes from or where it goes but Ward saw by the “Times” (Sue's note - St Thomas Times Journal) today that the government had been asked to investigate. It seems to follow the M.C.R. (Sue's note - the railroad tracks, I assume)

Wish you could be here for next Thurs night, we are going to have a Patriotic Lawn Social on our lawn. People on the street and at Richmond are all helping and we hope it will prove a success. It is under the auspices of the Women’s Mission Circle and the proceeds are to go for buying material for sewing for the Soldiers Hospital. I feel as though I would like to do something in that line, and as we have about the largest lawn around, I thought I would offer it. They had one at Dr Anna Backus’ last week and made $100 but of course we don’t expect to make that much.

The Ladies’ Institute at Richmond are also going to do something for it, I am going to try and help them, what I can too. It seems that surely the women of Canada can help a great deal to make those poor fellows more comfortable, if we all do what we can. Mother.

Switch to Murray’s handwriting..

Dear Frank

Arrived home all OK. Father was at the station to meet me and I could hardly believe my own eyes, he has failed so but he looks more natural now. Arthur also surprised me. I wouldn’t have known him if I had met him anywhere else. He called me Shorty and I guess he has a right too because I am afraid he has a small fraction of an inch the start of me.

Say Frank do you need that money you let me have, if you do I’ll get it for you but if you don’t and could spare it awhile longer I think it would suit the boys a lot better. However, if you want it I’ll get it any time for you just let me know when. Well, Frank guess mother has told you all so will ring off for this time and write to you later when there is something for me to write about.

Arthur, the youngest of the 5 boys, and my Grandfather.
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