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The Rectory Mahone Bay Feb. 1st 1916. Dearest Edward : It seems an age since yesterday morning. It certainly was lovely to have you here, even tho. for such a little time. This morning has been most exciting. Mrs. B. telephoned early and told Dad she did not know what to do. He was in the barn with Hugie and Fred H. and they had been there all night with the door locked. Uncle M. started right over and met Geddes who told him Hugh H. had just driven over to Barrys for more rum and he was so drunk he cd hardly sit up. G. said people would blame him but they would find out now. Dad phoned to Holloway to send a man up to get H. when he came back from Barrys. We were watching (Mother and I were) when Susie came running across the cove in her barehead she ran nearly all the way over to Barrys and went in the house. A little later another of the tribe of Ham came past here namely Dorothy. So there is some excitement in that family. Mother said Uncle W. told her they phoned for Uncle M. to go up to Brents in a great hurry some time ago. Dr. B. was lying stiff drunk in the barn, but he is in the house now. Dad is up there. Mrs. Haslem is coming tomorrow. Is’nt it an awful state of affairs? I hope they can get those wretched H. things and arrest them. We saw Wilfred passing here yesterday and Mother just saw Hen. and he told her that dear old Mrs. Burgogne died yesterday afternoon. I am so sorry. Leone and W. came yesterday morning. We had letters from Aunt M. and Gwen and Uncle Harry yesterday. Perhaps i’ll enclose them and if I do will you please send them back as Aunt C. has not seen them. I may go to L’burg on Wed. as I promised to make a dress for Blanch. I wrote a long letter to Jamie yesterday. I’d never thanked him for the book. Did you thank him for the one he gave you? Wednesday afternoon. I had to leave this yesterday, and this is my first chance to write since. Please excuse pencil the ink is so bad and Dads pen is not here. Your card came yesterday. I sent the thermos top yesterday afternoon hope it arrived safely. You left a khaki hanky. We’ll send it in a letter. I have a lot to tell you but have not much time before the mail closes. I met Wilfred yesterday on the street, he said he was on his way here. His Grandmother died Monday afternoon. And is being buried now. I just heard the bell toll. I told W. how very sorry I was. he said, yes too bad but it was much better than if she had lived and been a cripple. Then he started telling me about the dance the other night, and said he was sorry you did not go, as they had a splendid time. Nellie G. went. He sent her name in for an invitation. I do not know if he was hiding his feelings or not, but seemed very happy. Every bit of ice has gone out of the harbour, and now it is snowing, i hope it will keep on and make sleighing, then freeze and make skating. Dad had a great time at B. s yesterday Fred Hamm and the Dr were in the barn drunk when he got there, and Fred was very imprudent. Mrs B. went out and tried to get Dr to go in the house in the night, and Fred and the two others swore at and insulted her. Hugie N. went to Gold River for more rum. Tom Mader and Holloway were waiting for him when he came back, but someone had met and warned him before he got here, and he was minus the rum. Percy Inglis told Dad that they often see Dr B. come out and get a bottle from behind a bush by his house. We heard that Mrs. H. was not coming because one of the boys is ill. Mother and Dad were over Fobo [illegible] way visiting yesterday, and stayed to tea. They have gone again today. Aunt M. is quite sick with a cold. I made 150 cookies and am going to take some up to her, also a dish of Tomato Maceroni and cheese. I was going to L. today but put it off until tomorrow, as Dad wanted the horse. It is ten to four, I hate to stop, but must go to get some letters posted. Be a good boy and take good care of yourself darling, Heaps of love from Ruth. P.S. Please destroy this awful looking letter and excuse it, was in such a rush. R.H.