LETTER FROM FRANCE St. John's Ambulance Brigade Hospital, France, Dec. 27, 1917. My Dear Family: Well, Christmas is over once again, and we are still very gay and shall be glad of a good rest after this week. We did give the men a good time, and incidentally had one ourselves. My cold is almost better, and life seems worth living once more. Your boxes all arrived, and the contents thoroughly enjoyed. The Xmas cake is half gone and voted exceedingly good, and the sweets are still hanging on and enough to last for weeks. Bob's sweets were just the right thing, the taffy especially, and the real peanuts, the first I've had for nearly two years. Xmas eve we filled every bed in my ward, and we allowed all able to sit at the table for dinner on Xmas, and 20 sat down at noon. They had a jolly good dinner and seemed to enjoy it. We came over before breakfast and distributed the "Becker's bags," which were really lovely; nothing could be nicer or better chosen, and they were greatly appreciated. The Colonel brought in the D. D. M. S. to see the ward, and asked me to show him one of the boys' "bags," they were so extra fine. By tea time three had retired to bed, "not feeling very well," and by supper time half the ward had retired and didn't much care for supper," and the next day nearly everyone slept all day. There was a concert in the hall in the afternoon on Xmas at 3 p. m., the patients supplying the program; and if they had been allowed to finish they would have been there yet. Fortunately, though, my ward was full. We had not many serious cases that day, which made things much happier for all. My one serious caseâ€"the Australianâ€"was feeling better and was propped up with pillows and took a little jelly, etc., and that pleased all the other men so. It is touching to see how they watch for improvement in others and are so thoughtful about those who are very ill. Dec. 28.â€"This is continued at 10:20 p. m. I am stopping on duty for my night sister, who is at the "Mikado," which is being repeated tonight. I was over last night, while my "Probationer" kept house, and now have been fussing over some new patients who came in last night and could not get to sleep, and just sat down to try to get this off while on duty tonight. The ward looks so nice; the men did all the decorating themselves and showed great taste and thoroughly enjoyed it. Every time I came in the ward I saw something new they had done or altered while I was out. The discussions were quite funny to hear. They made banners and put all sorts of inscriptions on themâ€"some pathetic, some funny. One, with the kaiser as a patient with heart disease, and Lloyd George and Admiral Beattie as doctors, very funny and clever. I have a lot of bad heart cases in my ward. On Tuesday we had our Xmas entertainmentâ€"a little playâ€"a clever skit on a Nursing Home, some pretty dancing and a variety show, very pretty songs and tableaux, etc., and all the men enjoyed It. Tonight the "Mikado," which the staff gave last year, has been revived and has been well put on. This has been a regular Canadian winter day, cold and frosty, and I enjoyed a brisk walk to the village and back this afternoon, but it is beginning to rain now. No matter what "spells" of weather we have they always end up in a rain storm. I never believed so much rain could fall in one spot. Vancouver is a dry climate compared to this. The men wrote to the "Beckers," and most of those who got the postcards with the package of cigarettes and tobacco have posted them. They were so delighted with them. It has altogether been a very happy time, and their pleasure in it all has been nice to see. Our table looked so nice Xmas day, and the men were so polite and had "their company manners on" and gave us all, individually, three cheers when it was over. Next year this will surely be all over and we shall celebrate at home. No Canadian letters for nearly two weeks. We hope for some tomorrow, and will look for an account of your Xmas over there. I nearly forgot to tell you that all the day sisters had their dinner at 7:30 p. m., and we all went in fancy dress. In one of the "Becker" boxes were some paper toys, and among them a paper Indian head dress, so I draped a red blanket around myself and went as an Indian, and told them that was the way we always dressed in Canada. Some were very funny and some very pretty. Tuesday night the night sisters had theirs. I dressed one up as a tin of "Bully Beef," and another as a hard tack biscuit and brought the house down. It was great fun, and every one enjoyed it so. St. John's sent those of us who were here last year pretty gold pins with the St. John's crest in the center, while the new girls got the silver belt buckles like we got last year. Nice momentoes this time. Now I hear my family returning from the "Mikado," so I must stop. Love to all. SISTER B. SMITH.