Received 20.6.92
Answered 22.8.92
London Fever Hospital
Liverpool Road
Islington N????
24 April 1892
My dearest Chris
I really do not know what you will think of me for not writing to you before this. Forgive me old fellow and please do not you are forgotten because you are not, I can assure you.
Time seems to fly. I have been in this hospital for just over two months as assistant matron or store-keeper, and called either one or the other of the two names, and like my work very much indeed. It seems to agree with me, which is a good thing.
My health is better on the whole I fancy, but my eyes trouble me a lot still, I am sorry to say. It is a very good thing I gave up going back to France, at least for some time, as I should only have had to come back to England almost as soon as I had reached France. I have had to go to Mr Critchett twice since I have been in this hospital, to have two other spots cut away from the lid. They come and come – last time I went Mr C. gave me a tonic to take with arsenic, potash, and two other things in it besides ???? I have been doing. He said I wanted a lot of tonic
up, my sight is not much better. I cannot see to read and work more than a few minutes at a time. I have to rest my eyes. I ???? do any work or reading without my glasses, and I do not strain them. Mr. C. says if I can get my health up to what it ought to be, my eyes will be better. I am doing my best by taking care of my health in necessary ways, taking plenty of outdoor exercise, drinking as much milk as I can. I take quite a pint a day. We each of us have a pint jug of milk put in our rooms. I have a large tumbler ???? in the morning, another one in the evening with a few biscuits. I am sure I ought to get strong, and hope with care I shall before long.
I get up at quarter to six every morning except Sundays, That day I can stay in bed until 10 if I wish. Week days I have to be on duty down-stairs in the linen room at 7. I forgot to say at 6 I simply put my dressing gown on and run down-stairs for 5 minutes to take the servants’ names, about 20 of them, if they are late four times in the month, their day off is stopped – same with the nurses. My name & the sisters are never taken. We are honoured, you see, being next to the matron. At 8 o’clock my breakfast is brought to me, which I have by myself. Before that time I have only to see if the milk and bread comes, right at 9 there are a few stores and beer to give out, 10 cooking stores, 12 the beer again, quarter past one lunch, which I have in the ???? ???? with some of the nurses I ???? &c. the matron takes the other nurses to lunch at quarter to one. At 2 I go on duty again until 4, then at quarter to 5 until 6, then I am off duty for good, half past 2 I give out stores for all the hospital. I have to weigh and put down everything I give out, it’s quite a work but I like it. From 4 to quarter to 5 I go up to my room and have tea. At 7 the two sisters and I have late dinners by ourselves in the mess room. The nurses make their dinners middle of the day only have tea supper in the evening. Fridays I give out hard stores, such as soda, soap, brushes, &c for the work. Saturday is always a hard day ???? ???? to count of the whole hospital, clean linen to put away, and double stores to give out as nothing is done on Sunday excepting to give ???? out twice in the day and ???? at ten in the morning ???? it up in my own room all day. ???? I am not out at church, can do what I like. Matron and I take it in turns to go out Sundays like this, one ???? from 10 to 2 and one from 2 to 10, either she or I have to be in, in case anything is wanted.
At 6 in the evening every night I am off duty for good, can go out, do just as I like. Tuesdays every week I am off duty from 3 to 10. It is just a nice time to go to see people which I very often do as the matron says it is best to go away as much as I can, especially as I have not had this scarlet fever. I never think about it, you see, for one thing I have nothing to do with the wards.
The first Sunday of every month, I leave her if I like on Saturday afternoon and come back on Sunday evening at 10. Of course I can always stay in the hospital if I don’t want to go away anywhere, and have my meals brought to my room. I am off duty just the same.
The matron told me yesterday I could have my holidays in July, a fortnight. I did not ???? ????, as I have been such a short time here. It is very good of her to let me have any at all. I hope they will let me go to Lancing for them, as the sea-air will do me more good than stopping in London.
It is a month ago since I wrote home, asking them if I should be allowed to go home at all. I have not heard as yet. They both advised me to come here. The matron says there is no fear at all of carrying infection, and another thing, we wear a uniform, dark blue serge ???? plain ???? apron and cap. I look and feel very gtand in mine. I will have my photo taken when I can afford it and send you and Alex one. We are not allowed to wear the same thing outside the hospital.
I go to Uncle Roberts, Aunt Julias, Mrs.Ushers &c; they have all asked me to go whenever I can manage to go. Home people are the only ones who have not mentioned a word about going.
Jessie is coming to see me, also Alice Nixon. I have had nearly all the Poplar people different times. I wonder if you will be coming to England soon. If s0 old fellow you must come to see me — I have a room of my own, a nice large one, very lofty, one end is curtained off with dark green serge curtains. In the day time the bed, washing-stand &c. stand behind it, the other part is then like a sitting room, and very comfortable and cosy in the bargain. I have one large easy chair, a small cane one and one ordinary one, different sized tables. My walls are decorated with photos, tennis-racket and other things, and one of the sisters gave me some ferns, so altogether I look very grand.
My room has been much admired. Your photo has an honoured place in the middle of my mantle piece, Tell Alex his shall be put in some good place when it comes.
My salary at present is ₤27.12.0 per year. Next two years it is raised ₤2-10.0 per year, then I believe stops at ₤32.12.0, but the matron told me the other day if I stayed here a for a little while, she could get me sometime as matron in some other hospital. She is getting ₤100 here as matron, but of course that we must leave, no one knows, what may happen, we may be dead next year for all we know. As far as I know I am likely to remain here for some little time. I cannot leave England yet awhile, because of my eyes, that’s certain. The matron told me the other day I managed very well indeed and I had got into the work quicker than she thought I would.
I am perfectly happy and comfortable, Chris, but of course should be easier if my eyes were quite well. I hope I shall be able to give you better news about them next time. I go to bed very early every evening so as to rest my eyes.
No more now I am tired, so good night old fellow – write to the above address as soon as you can. Tell Monsie I am writing very soon to him. Give him my love, and with the same to yourself.
Believe me, dear Chris, your loving Sister
Edith Elmslie