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Essilmont
27 February 1885
My dear Chris
I am afraid you will think that I take a long time writing to you but you must know sir, you owe me a letter. Do write soon.
I am so glad you are getting on so well. What a jolly time you must have out there. I should think it would do Alex a lot of good, make a man of him, he looks so young, and his manners are young as well. Nobody will believe he is 16 – he really looks about 13.
We shall soon have the old ship home again. How quickly the time does go, it seems no time since they started for Melbourne. I suppose you will have seen Papa and Archie. Has the latter grown? Poor old Archie he is very short, but he is a dear old fellow. He has been awfully good to me.
I am sorry to say Walter has found nothing to do as yet. It is so very difficult to get anything now. He tries his hardest though and I hope sincerely he will get something soon.
I suppose Mama will have told you that May Cheyne was married last Saturday to a Mr Berkeley – the man she was engaged to before. They are very happy. I am very glad she is married, and it is much the best thing that could happen to her.
Bedford has been so dull this year. There have only been 6 or 7 dances – that is dreadful for Bedford, as generally there are dances going on every night for some weeks. I expect it is the theatricals. There have been 3 sets this Christmas.
We are having such disagreeable weather just now, always raining. We are all being vaccinated – smallpox is going about everywhere just now. There are only a few in Bedford but the doctor thought it safer for us to be done.
I don’t know if this letter will go off. I did not know Mama was writing, so I am trying to send you a few lines. You must excuse the writing as I am in such a hurry. Are you going out much? How is Miss Cooper? I wonder when we shall hear of your engagement Chris? Is it not sad about Mrs Inglis? I am very sorry for Mr Inglis and the children. I can’t think how they will get on without her. And Miss Orr – she died the other day. It is dreadful but I am sure this weather is enough to make anybody ill and die.
Now dear Chris, I must leave off – hoping you excuse the writing. I can’t read it over, so please excuse mistakes.
Goodbye till next time. With much love from everybody, including myself.
Believe me, Dear Chris,
Your loving Sister