Dearest Mum
You will be
glad to learn that the `Golden Grain’ diary arrived quite safely at Xmas. I am sure that it will prove of good use
during this year ahead of us; so many thanks, dear.
I was
agreeably shocked when I first read of your patriotic exploits in the
field. Your health, presumably, has not
been impaired by your stay in the West Country, for the task of gathering in
the potato crop, I should imagine, is somewhat arduous, and one that even I
might view with disfavour. The country,
though doubtlessly ignorant of the fact, will remain forever in your debt. In
Herbert Morrison’s words, “Keep at it!”
Thanks for
your letter of Nov 4th. Yes I
recall clearly the circumstances in which my letter of 25th June was
written. Letters in those days were a
joy to pen, for time there was in which to exercise the grey cells.
Regarding
your remarks on the unspirituality of fellow mortals, whilst agreeing with
every word written, I would yet say that I have long ceased to be surprised by
the unresponsiveness of people to the higher conceptions of life. Having seen
so often the selfish indifference of one person to another’s needs, it is not
to be wondered at that where material obligation are ignored spiritual obligations
should be scorned. I am afraid that you
would die of a broken heart should dwell too long & deeply in consideration
of the feelings & diseases of the human soul. How few are those who esteem others before
themselves, who are selflessly disinterested!
In looking
through my letters I find one that to my knowledge has remained unanswered, the
one of Oct 21st enclosing a Xmas card. Thanks so much for your kind thought, dear.
I don’t
think that mail is lost by plane crashes.
Published records show that mail which is sent by all air routes is
always safely delivered.
All today a
terrific wind has whipped up & sustained a sand-storm of great violence,
& once or twice it looked as though our humble dwelling would take off.
One thing
deserving of mention is the extreme ruddiness of my health. One may pardonably marvel at the fact that
not once during the past twelve months have I reported sick. When one considers that for the first ten
months of Army life, sickness had gripped me for nine & a half months of
that period, the health – giving virtue of the desert cannot be denied.
Well, dear,
I have reached the end of this letter, so will close with my love &
assurances of prayer for your well-being.
Your loving
son
John
xxxxxxx
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