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Croce ROssa Britainica No I Villa Trieste Monselice Feb 9/18 Prov de'Padova Dear Mother I have just received your letters written Xmas and New Years and what a fine time you must have had at the Bridgeman's and I am so glad to hear that Gyppy was such a good dog and appreciated her present so much. Pearl informed me of the change at Vaughn. I had a letter from Aunt Nottie telling me much the same things It will be very nice for them and fancy how busy they will be. It was very kind of Mrs Howe to remember me. I must write her and send some sort of Italian curiosity. Tell Pearl that her letter of Dec. 24 sounded a little like the one Pearl said he got from S. and T. so many people were either killed married of feeling miserable in it. Never mind though all those details are interesting as well as any others. Your Xmas festivities sounded wonderful. I only wish I had been able to send you all something, but about the time to be thinking of it there was so much to be done here, and the risks are so great. The limericks were wonderful and showed how clever my relations are. Feb. 10. Well I have had a wonderful day. I never imagined five months ago that someday I would run over to Venice like we would think of going to Toronto, but the unexpected has happened and I spent four delightful hours today in that historic place. The Italian Captain with us had some business in Mestre which is about7 miles from Venice by ferry and I had to take him. Two other chaps Mr. John Yates and Mr. Hudson went too. Having concluded the Captain's business we departed at 12 o'clock on a little ferryboat about as big as those that run on Hamilton Bay.