Charles E. H. Bates Family Correspondence, 1899-1930 - 3

which came today --- dated August 8th so I suppose it is still too early to hope for a letter from you quite so soon. Dear old Grandma Daniels is sick a trained nurse in attendance & very weak & low - but saying funny things as ever. They try to make her take nourishment & she can't apparently i.e. has no inclination, the nurse brought her a soft boiled egg & tried to coax her to eat it. She asked what it was & the nurse told her. "I would just as soon take a bite out of Bobs!' said she -- as quick as a flash. She keeps the nurse laughing all the time Mrs Durney says - with

the lively things she says, yet she is in great pain with intercostal neuralgia on [underlined] the heart & very weak. It is fine the way she keeps up her spirit --- & I always loved that in her!

No news since from Nor dearie. We saw Wiliford & Alvin who look well --- We phoned Alvin[crossed out] Normans house & found he was in the hospital & as they could not get leave to go so far as that they did not see him -- I hope the dear boy is better -As letters came on the Colusa --- Wiliford & Alvin take Exl's for third mate today --- the Colusa Sails on

Saturday again --- only one can go as third mate & the other don't know what will happen to them --- nor which one is to go --- They say the heat was terrible [underlined] this trip especially in India really dreadful [underlined] W. said had never suffered so much in his life before --- They all had a touch of fever too.

Les writes cheerfully to instructing the officers now --- The "Qui wees" [kiwis] have to learn to fly at last --& they have orders to be very severe & drag them out of the ships if they do badly. Les says this is one [underlined] place where I [underlined] obey orders. --- He was hoping Lieut Smith would call to [illegible]

may it he would like, to get back at him a little I suppose --- He never would [underlined] but he anticipated that he would enjoy reciprocating a little I suppose ---

We are feeling very tired as we were up at 4 45[double underlined] a.m. yesterday & at five the day before & traveling before day break --- I suppose that sounds very easy to you dear compared to things you [underlined] no doubt are doing in getting - your training. I suppose it is at least as strenous [strenuous] as ever if not more [underlined] so.! The war news continues so good that we are much encouraged Allies still drawing back the Germans! ---

Goodnight dearest one --- God be with you wherever you are.

Worlds of love from each of us Your devoted mother R. Helen Bates

P.S...

"Kinks" was most amusing on the trip very [underlined] frantically nervous & restless the first day until about four p.m. When he began to get too tired. He insisted upon sitting between your father & me wedged in tight bolt upright at last but sound asleep with that bunch of paws all four of them folded over the front. The funniest little figure you can imagine. I wish I could draw it but fear I cannot all four paws across in front open loosely & he sitting upright sound asleep wedged in between us! -- you would think [underlined] he was trying to sit just like us! I don't know whether he was or not -- You can just imagine it, can't you. He seemed to feel safer when he was tightly in between us & for hours buried his head upside down to get away from the noise I think -- but would pull matches & tobacco out of fathers pocket - even then --- but at last he got so sleepy he could keep awake no "not"[crossed out] longer & so settled himself as I have tried to describe ---

Funny was no name for it! --- ! Then yesterday he seemed no longer afraid