60 East India Road
19 February 1892
My dearest Chris
I was very glad to receive your letter last week and to hear that both you and Alex were so well in spite of the hot weather. I only wish we had some of it here for the last few days have been simply awful with cold and snow, though the latter has now been very deep. The thermometer at Longborough (Leicestershire) was down to 2°. Here it was not quite so bad but still cold enough.
Edie is staying at your uncle Robert’s and is on the look out for a situation. She and all the others came to dinner with us on Tuesday. We were expecting Archie too, but he got longer leave and stayed on at Lancing.
I suppose you have heard that your Father has had an attack of Influenza but I am glad to say has got over it now. Archie too went home for a few days on his arrival and spent three in bed from the same cause, but is all right again and looking quite well. He is going again in the Gulf of Mexico, but I cannot tell you when she leaves.
Tell that lazy Alex to write. We have never heard from him since we sent our photos. I suppose he has been very busy building his house, but now he has finished it I shall hope to get a letter.
Your uncle Tom left Tilbury today. He has been home nearly a month but had to go to Hull so that we have not had him here very long.
We had spent a very quiet winter missing your aunt Annie very much we did not write at the time knowing they had done so from Lancing, it was a great mercy she was spared all suffering and passed away so peacefully, being conscious to the last & receiving Holy Communion with us all just before the end came.
Phoebe Brown came to lunch with us last Wednesday. She too has now lost her father and, not caring to live with her sister, has taken a house in London. She has invited us to go and stay with her when she is quite settled. I expect she will
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I had a letter from Mary and some flowers a few days ago. She has a Sunday school class now and likes it very much.
We were so glad to hear you are getting on so well in business and can only wish that you may both long continue to do so, we shall look forward to seeing you home again before very long, as the last visit proved so successful, and hope the next will be equally so and a good long one too.
Your aunt Bessie sends her love and says she will write next week. Write again soon. We always look forward to hearing from you and your letters are very welcome.
With much love from myself and all to yourself and Alex
Believe me, your loving Aunt
Augusta L Tatham