1915/03/24

In which Isabel Cross replies to a letter previously sent by Gordon Munro. Mention is made of the 2nd contingent, the 27th, Kitchener's army, and Boudon Battalion. Also, brief report on Isabel's day to day activities in Winnipeg.

54 Yale Ave.,
Winnipeg, Man.,
Mar. 24/15.

Dear Gordon: -

It certainly is a long time since I got your letter and really intended answering it before but have been so busy (?) doing nothing or thinking of what I should be doing that I did not get at it before.

You asked me for a picture but I am awfully sorry I haven't one, not even a snap shot. I have been too generous and have given them all away. The pictures I had taken at Xmas I gave all away except one and that one I want to keep to look at in after years when I begin to forget I was ever young. If I ever get anymore I will send you one. What about the one you promised to send me?

The 2nd contingent concentrated here expect to leave soon - this time for sure they say - but you never can tell because they were going to leave here sure before Xmas, by New Year's Day anyway.

Merlin Du Val has joined the Cycle Corps and is now in France. He is billeted in a hayloft (pleasant, eh) about 8 miles behind the firing line and had been within 4 miles of it the last time he was heard from. That is getting pretty close. Paul Du Val got a commission, 2nd lieutenant, in Kitchener's army, in a Boudon Battalion.

There is not much doing here now, nor has been all winter. We are just waiting now till the end of April till "school is let out," and then we will be free niggers for almost five months. We should not be waiting till then but should be improving the time by cramming a little something into our heads that may help us to get a pass mark. But we should worry! The exams do not start till April 19.

I didn't come downstairs with the intention of writing a letter to you but with the intention of studying until my hair dried, but I thot writing to you was really more imperative than studying.

You know, I think Mr Sparling and Claude Hager are pikers because they promised to write me cards if I wrote them. I fulfilled my part of the bargain but they didn't fulfil theirs. If you ever write them or see them tell them for me what I think of them, will you?

I am getting quite a fiend for walking lately. It is about two miles from our place to the College and yesterday I walked it three times - 6 miles, - Today I only walked once because I was afraid I would be blown away. At one corner the wind was blowing from about fifteen different directions and I thot it was good bye Isabel! And, yesterday was such a lovely spring day! I think I will start marching with the soldiers when they take their long march in the morning. I know some of the boys in the 27th here so they ought to let me walk with them, don't you think so? In fact they ought to deem it an honor.

Mrs. Stintson (used to be Miss Belle Bradbury) was here a week ago Sunday. She came back from Oakville just a little while ago and was telling me some of the Oakville scandal.

Gladys hasn't written to me lately and I can't think why unless it was because she was waiting for a letter from me (which I did not write till a week or so ago). That may be the case mightn't it?

Well, Gug, write when you can and I will try to be more prompt in answering.

Yours sincerely

Isabel.

2017.22.33