Milford chronicle., 1918-05-10
Bala, september 30. 1915.

Bala, September 30. 1915.
The work here is finished There wa'
some talk OF putting in TWO addltiona
piers but IL has been decided against
I am glad 10 say, for 1 think it would
have spoiled the proportions. / am going
in 10 Toronto. where l have a few con
struction plans to finish up; then up here
for a final Inspection Monday or Tues
day: and then, / hope, home. / am go
ing to try to enlist here, because being Ia
Canada is a definite chance. and / want
TO feel that | have not lost an Opportun-
ity. However, / am certain my eyesight
will debar me.
Toronto. October ?, 1915.
l have wonderful news. / have been
accepted, the thing We have wanted and
prayed for so long; and in the Engineers,
where the work will be constructive, as
you wanted 50 much. / will tell you
just how it happened l made up my
mind that / would go 10 the Armories
this afternoon and do my best TO get in.
1 went into the Armories and asked where
to 90 10 join. and was directed TO
room upstairs which was full Of people.
sergeant jOrs, by the
amount Of cheVrons / went up 10 one
and said that / wanted to enlist, and he
asked me what regiment / said l did
MT know, and asked him II there We're
any engineers recruiting. He said, Yes"
and directed me down about half dozen
corridors, asking my way as went.
In the last corridor soldier was stand
ng. writing something on the wall. !
isked him If he could tell me which room
vas the Engineers ottice-there are no
gns-and he said, Which engineers do
'ou wish to join. the Pioneers" Then I
aw that he was an officer. captain or
lieutenant, l do not know which, 1 must |
ave looked blank. not knowing what |
Of engineers there were. So he
oOk me into room and began 10 tell /
ne about the Pioneers. II is a regiment /
ormed 10 do all kinds Of construction |
work, railroads, highways. trenches. san
tary sewer works in camps, etc; just /
xaetly the thing we thought Of He said |
here was going to be lots Of hard work 4
winging a pick, probably, and the likes
I that and the men are rough crowd |
Of all sorts. carpenters. |
nasons, plumbers, pipe layers
Well, as We talked. grew almost sick,
ecause it was so exactly the thing /
0nged for. and / was sure ! couldn't 1
ass the eye test. So l said, THAT just
uits me If can pass the physical exam
nation" He said There wont be much /
rouble about that by the look OF YOU.
had left my spectacles al home! He
aw that l was a University man, and /
aid that had a good chance TO become /
non-commissioned officer. Then he
ook me to the recruiting room and / was
iven my application papers. and went |
~ to the doctor
You can imagine that I was nervous /
y that time. l stripped and went TO the 4
octor. after they had measured me up. /
NE first thing he did was ask me to read |
etters on a card across the room. and Of 4
curse the letters on the last line were 1
ust too small for me to read: they jump
d and danced. and strain as / would, |
just couldn't see them. / told him / was /
Iervous 80 he gave me plenty OF time,
nd switched me over TO a card by the 4
window instead OF the electric light. |
finally, l blurted out guess / was not /
ure that l was anywhere near right. /
anyway, he thought IL over, and said he |
hought he would give me a chance.
Doesn't 1t seem like Providence again, |
mother. after all the waiting. and the |
work at Shaw's Creek, just nicely finished |
lp. Much love, dearest mother, to you |
nd father, and thank you both for max |
ng me feel that / can do this with your
blessing.
Mt mOlT srrwza