60 East India Rd.
19 February 1892
My dearest Chris
Very many thanks for your kind letter. I was very pleased to hear that you and Alec are well and getting on all right.
I’m glad to say we are all well with the exception of colds and that is not to be wondered at as the weather is so cold. The ground has been covered with snow for the last three days and it’s freezing hard now. I quite envy you all. I should not care about it not being ???? so hot as it was when you wrote to your aunt Gussie.
Edie is staying at 69. She sends her love and says she will write to you soon,
Your Father has had Influenza. He is much better and has been out again. Archie has been here for a week, his steamer is in the South Dock, so we see him almost every day when he is in Poplar.
Give my love to Alex and ask him when he is going to write to me? I have never heard if he liked the book I asked you to take to him for me.
Your uncle Tom has been home for a short time. He left again this morning for Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney. The Port Albert is a very fine steamer. We are going on board the Gulf of Mexico when Archie comes back from Lancing.
Of course we have heard by this time of your aunt Annie’s death. Your uncle and we all miss her dreadfully. It seems such a blank not having her and your uncle Walter there.
Your uncle William Brown died on the last day of the old year. He made the 7th out of the family during the year. Phoebe Brown spent a day with us last week. She has taken a house at Kensington. I am going to stay with her soon. She has lots of money as Duncan left her all his money and she has hers from her mother also.
I’m glad to hear Alex has a house of his own. I suppose you often see each other. Has he taken any more photos?
I went to a very good concert at the Town Hall with Mrs Dove last Saturday. I think I shall go again tomorrow evening with Edie.
Your aunt Jessie has just come in, she sends her love and will write soon. She had news this morning from the Cape that Bessie Bisset is engaged to a Mr Baird. I think you used to know her.
When are we going to hear of your being engaged? I suppose you will have a wife some day.
Elsie is at school and would send her love, she is almost as tall as Jane and a very nice looking girl. I need not tell you that your aunt Jeannie and uncle John are very proud of her.
With kindest love to you and Alex – hoping you are both well – in which all unite,
Believe me, ever your loving Aunt
Ellen Tatham