Ss GULF OF MEXICO
Glebe Point
8 November 1891
My dear Chris,
You will see by this that we paid a visit to your brother this afternoon top pot tea and Archie took us to the tram ???? and may be out to see us tomorrow but is certain to come to tea on Friday for will be sailing on Saturday. Of course after him not coming to see us for so many years were indeed surprised to see him today week come out to the Glebe but Mother and we all were delighted to think to see him again and we all were the best of friends. It was like the world coming to an end to see him but you can guess we were glad to see him. Of course we gave him gifts for staying away so long but we have forgotten all that now. I told him that I had commenced a letter to you but have begun it again. He looks grand – gave me his photo in uniform. We had a nice pleasant afternoon on board and Mater and self enjoyed it muchly.
Now here’s a question I going to ask (but when you answer put your answer on another piece of paper, so that all won’t see it. Well Cousin Tom was with us Sunday week and he knows your letters always come ???? to as ask about you and Archie I ???? talking and talking about you and I write and ask you when are you ???? off, married I mean this time we think that you were settled so lets know if your fair one lives near you that you have hardly a moment to stay at home when you ???? there, or keeping you so long in coming to Sydney, you’ll say to a question I’m asking what cheek for ???? Archie is .???? his time so he said and may go over to see the old ship Sobroan tomorrow.
Father was over at a sale some weeks ago. The boats went cheap so he told us.
The influenza is very bad in town and all over the country, so many of our old friends carried off with it. We had Mother about two months very ill and still not at all the thing for cannot exert herself at all though she looks well enough at times in the face. We all have had this horrid complaint – it does make one feel awfully ill for many weeks. Father has it now ???? ????