Read the Letter

Sunny Brae, N.B.
Jan. 22/43

Dear Mother:

I received your parcel to-night and although I didn't taste the cake yet it certainly smells good. I was going to write for the overshoes, but now I have them I really need them. The last few days here were the coldest I ever seen. You may have read in the paper about two kids freezing to death outside of Moncton on their way to school.
For the last few days we have been going into work at 10'oclock and we have no work at all to-morrow, until 10, Monday morning.
There are some big shots down from Ottawa at the school.
A lot of the fellows are going home over the weekend. They left early this afternoon. I would have gone too

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only I didn't get the money you were sending thursday. I got the two dollars but I spent some on cigarettes, and at recess time every day I usually get an apple or mil or something at the Service Centre. We get a reduction on our fare.
I wish I could get about five or six dollars. I have to get my shoes half-soled and I think it would be cheaper to get my laundry done here in Moncton. It would cost about 75 ¢ per week. I half to get some exam tablets and another larger notebook, for we have an awful lot of notes. Would you send me a towel and wash cloth I would like to have my own here. I think I will get another pair of overshoes too unless I can get my other ones fixed. We are having.

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our first examination Monday afternoon We had an oral exam this afternoon by the head of our department. He didn't stick me once.
We are working on a piece of steel now. We have to shape it into a part of a press used in the shop. We learn the proper method of handling a file first and then the scriber for laying out work for drilling and threading. We do this all ourselves. We have to run a drill press ourselves and sharpen drills and using micrometer calipers, and hundreds of other tools. Everything has to be done within a limit of from 1/1000 to 2/1000 of an inch. They all count on our exams. It certainly isnt all filing as Bennet Boudreau said. We even have to make

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our own calipers, and square later on.
There is a great Bus running from here. It comes and goes every half hour and you can travel to the end of the line for only a nickel. I usually catch it in the morning and at dinnertime.
Well this is all for now. Write again soon. When we get paid I will send you back the money with what I can spare.
Love
James.

Every month you will get a war savings certificate for four dollars. They are sending it directly from the pay office at no 8 depot.