Lake of Lucerne
1 July 1891
My dearest Chris,
You will see by the above date that I have not forgotten your birthday and though you will not receive my letter until long after I must wish you very many happy returns of the day and all the good things you would wish for yourself.
You will be surprised to hear I am in Switzerland and hardly more so than I am at finding myself here, but about five weeks ago I had a letter from Phoebe Brown asking me to come with her for three months and as she pays all expenses I did not refuse the invitation. So here I am and spent a week at Lucerne and then a fortnight at Bürgenstock – a mountain on the opposite side of the Lake which you get at by means of an almost perpendicular funicular railway. At least the gradient is 53:100 so it is tolerably steep. From there we came on here and on Friday go to Altenstein for a week and then to Interlaken, Müssen, Grindelwald. Then St Beatenberg and wherever else the fancy takes us.
It is all so lovely and I do thoroughly enjoy the change. The mountains are very grand and one admires the snow at that distance immensely. We have been fortunate in seeing some good sunsets, but generally a meal interferes which is very provoking.
I had letters from home yesterday. Your father arrived about a fortnight ago but had not been down to Poplar. Archie was expected in a few days. I suppose it will be at least two months before I see either of them as we have only now been away four weeks.
Poor Edie has had a miserable time of it with that old lady at Lewisham. I suppose you know Mrs Dalton’s niece went to her for a few months, so Edie came back again in April and does not return until the autumn – and to fill up the time went to Lewisham. But I should say it was most uncomfortable for her, there were two children who have whooping cough now so they were afraid to have Edie at Anerley, and she is staying at your uncle Robert’s. The lady who succeeded her only stayed two days so Edie must have had good patience to stay nearly three months.
I hope you found Alex well and also your business in a satisfactory state when you got back. When do you think you will pay us another visit?
Your uncle Tom is having a nice long stay at home. There was a trial on about the Aston Hall a disabled ship the Port Jackson towed into port and the owners wished him to remain and give evidence. So as they kept on his pay he was very glad to do so.
Do you remember Mrs Jones at Poplar some years ago? She died a fortnight ago. We have lost so many old friends lately.
With best love and every good wish for many happy returns of today, hoping you are quite well.
Believe me, your loving Aunt
Augusta L Tatham
I enclose a view of the lake where we are staying.
In case you should be away anywhere I have put Alex’s name also on the envelope.