[Written at top of letter:] P.S. Received a whole bunch of Presbyterians & Westminsters this week, for which thanks.

My dear Tom,

Just a line to thank you for the nice long letter you wrote me about a month ago. I was very much interested in hearing all the news. It was a pity you didn't have better weather for your trip to St. Mary's. Did Mrs. Irving say anything, by the way about this McGill of the Ontario Bank having formerly lived in St. Mary's? I am under the impression that he did and that his daughter was a particular chum of Katy's.

Shall be very glad indeed if they can make room for me at 22 Grosvenor. Had half thought of staying in Hamilton for January & February, and plugging up there but am afraid it would not work so think I shall come down to Toronto in the beginning of January. Am following your injunction not to do any work before Xmas. I belong with the rest of this leisurely household, arise between 7 & 9 o'clock in the morning and retire about the same hour in the evening & do about one day's work a week.

We have been having regular winter weather here for the last six weeks, which is rather unusual at this time of year.

Automobiles, I understand, are the latest feature in land speculation in the West. Several of the Lethbridge land agents have cars which will run 40 miles an hour over the open prairie. By this means prospective purchasers can be carried out to inspect property over 60 miles from town and be brought back again between breakfast & dinner. The absence of passing objects does not make the speed very noticeable, so the victims scarcely realize that a little morning jaunt in auto would be a 3 or 4 days trip in a lumberwagon. At any rate, between the exhilaration of the speed & the hot air of the agent they are probably convinced that after two or three crops of wheat in Alberta they will be riding in autos themselves.

I expect to reach home [?] from Friday morning, & if I miss connections may drop in on you en route. If you have room in your grip would you please bring up those two blue volumes of Expositor's Bible, both in the book case. I should also be much obliged if you would drop in to the Upper Canada Tract Society on Yonge Street and get me a copy of S. L. Gordon's "Quiet Talks about Jesus."

Please present my compliments to the Misses Oates & also the good women on Wood Street & believe me,

Your affectionate brother

C. McQ. [Calvin McQuesten]