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- [Centre:]: EXTRACTS OF DIFFERENT LETTERS.
[Upper left:]
FROM)
CHRISSIE MAC COLL
[Upper right:]
March 12th 1917
Chateau d'Outreau, Outreau
Sylvie dear, I don't know how to write to you. Maman brought up the
terrible news yesterday afternoon. I tried to write to you at night,
but I was so s<del>c</del>hocked and grieved that I couldn't collect my thoughts
I can't dom much better today, but I want at least to tell you how
very, very much I fell for you and for your poor father and for all
the family in your bitter grief, and how deeply I mourne the loss of
poor dear Guy.
I see him before me all the time. I see him as a little boy.
How kind he was! how ever ready to do anyone a good turn! and how many
kind services he rendered me!
Then I see him as he was when he came back from Canada a little
while ago. He came <del>upto</del> to Outreau with you, do you rememebr? I went
back to town with you both, then he, - always kind, brought me all the
way back to Outreau again. I rememeber the interesting conversation I
had with him on the way back. I liked his ideas so much, and was
particularly struck with his utter unselfishness. Then I see him as I
saw him last, at Ostrahau Camp, as a soldier. They were all three to-
gether, and very fine soldiers they made. They were very cheerful and
brave, poor boys! But I can't see soldiers go to the front without
such a feeling of angy saddness that I can find no words to express. I
still feel Guy's hearty hand-grip, when he said Goodbye, and see his
smiling face and kind eyes; and it is dreadful to me to think that
such a life has been sacrificed.
Poor dear Sylvie, I wish I could say something to comfort you;
but I am afraid that in such a greif there is no comfort-, except
perhaps, when the first bitterness of sorrow is over, there will be
comfort in the thought that , whatever the hereafter holds for us, for
those who have made the supreme sacrifice of their lives, all must be w
well. Then it willcomfort you always to rememebr how much you were loved
by dear Guy, as you are by all your brothers. The love will always
remain, although you are parted.
Will you please tell your dear father that I should like to
write him a few words, but that I don't know how to do so, - I should
feel like intruding in his sorrow. Tell him how much I feel for him and
how I grieve for poor Guy.
And Paul? God bring him safely back to you!
With much love dear, and loving sympathy from
Yours very sorrowfully
(signed) Chrissie.
[Right:] Outreau, March 15th
Dear, dear Sylvie. This double blow is too cruel! When I wrote to you
on Monday night, I was very frightened about Paul, but I still had hope
On Tuesday night I recieved the terrible news that all was over, that
there was no more hope to cling to. Paul's death is a bitter grief to <del>m</del>
me, Sylvie dear.
I know how brave you are and how you will bear up for the sake <del>o</del>
of your father and all, but I know how you feel, and my heart aches for
you. I am overcome with sorrow foe you all, and I feel so, so sad!
Very much love dearest Sylvie, and God help you all
signed Chrissie
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