Aliwal North,
March 13th, 1880.
My dear Mother,
I have ordered Dr. Antliff to pay you £4-10 for this quarter, the extra £1 is intended to cover expense of Christian World.
Our house is about completed, and the chapel is now commenced with. The house looks beautiful now and is much more comfortable than it was. All this extra work involves me in a good deal more care and work. But I have splendid health. Ellie is the least vigorous, though by no means ill. The reason I think is that females have too much to do in this country. Kate has been from school with a cold, otherwise she is quite well.
But Master John is as hard as a little bull. He is becoming a very interesting little fellow. His Ma has bought him a wheelbarrow, and he barrows all sorts of things out of the house with it. I found him one day down beside the chapel with one chair cushion in his barrow, and the other lying on the stones. The other day he put himself in his barrow for Miss Richards to wheel him, and after having arranged himself properly, he looked up at Miss R. and said, "There you are". This is his constant formula. Coming up the street with him the other day he kept pointing to the objects that attracted his attention with his finger, saying each time, "There you are". A week or two ago he took off. The servant went after him, and found that he had gone with his cart down to the bottom of the town, marched into a store, dragging his cart after him, and remained there until the servant found him. But almost every one in the town knows him.
Kate is learning well at school, reads, writes, and does small sums. I intend to take her with me to Jamestown this weekend. Miss Richards left on Saturday. She has got a situation at Burghersdorp[?]. It is probable that a young man, who has come from Newcastle, of the name of Skaife, a Primitive will take her room. He is a nice young fellow.
We are having fine weather now. For two or three weeks we have had fearful rains. They have made everything look fruitful. The ground is covered with grass, and we have got a fine supply of water in our tank. The days are shortening and the nights getting cold. We shall soon be into winter again. We have suffered no inconvenience from the summer heat. In fact, we have never felt that broiling, thirst-creating heat we have felt sometimes in England. Of course, if you have to go into the sunshine you find it scorching. But the nights are always cool, sometimes very cold.
We are prospering in our work, both native & English. I am pressing the Committee for a young man, and hope to succeed, though he will live in Jamestown, 30 miles from Aliwal.
Let us have a letter soon. Love to you & Annie & all friends, from all.
Your affe. Son & brother.
John.
P.S. [I] am glad [to] see Shields
has raised £17 for Aliwal North Mission. JW
Aliwal North
May 3rd, 1880
My dear Mother,
On my return from Jamestown about an hour ago I learnt from Mr. Lewin's letter, which had arrived in the morning, the sorrowful news of Annie's death. My wife had been longing for me to return home, as the news had distressed her so much. The shock was the greater as we had had no intimation that she was any worse. Probably Cuthbert's letter, of which nothing but the envelope reached us, was intended to prepare us for it. The greatest relief to our trouble, as it must be to yourself, is that Annie was so well prepared for, and resigned to, her change, and that we have the hope of meeting her, and all the dear ones we have lost in the better world. Knowing this I feel as if it would be wrong to give way to excessive sorrow. I trust, dear mother, that God is graciously sustaining you in this trouble. I am not with you to share it with you. I was glad, however, to hear that Phebe was with you, and Cuthbert would often be over. Did Stephen see her? He will also feel it much as Annie was a great favourite with him.
May the gracious Lord, who has been unspeakably good to us as a family, bless and watch over you all ! Ellie and I wish so much that you were with us, and were it not for the long voyage and inland journey we would send for you. But I have a good hope of seeing you again. If all goes well in 5 years we shall return to England, as I should never think of going elsewhere or of staying longer here if you are still alive. But you must keep as far as possible a cheerful mind, and be careful about your health. Will you stay in Shields? I could desire nothing better for you than to remain with Mr & Mrs. Brown, if it were not too much for them. It is a great blessing that Annie has had your kindness and care in her last days. I am happy to say we are all in good health, except that John has a little cold. Many thanks to Mr. Lewin's for his kindness in writing to me. I will write to him next post, and to yourself more lengthily than I have time to-day. Kind love to Mr. & Mrs. Brown and all our friends at Shields.
Love and kisses for yourself from
all.
I am your ever affte. son,
John.
Aliwal North,
July 26th, 1880.
My dear Mother,
I have been looking for a letter from you or Cuthbert until I am weary of waiting. The last letter was from poor Annie last Christmas, and your last communication was dated last September, 10 months ago. The little which we have heard respecting Annie's death has been from Mr. Lewins and Mrs. Brown, and they would have said more, had they not naturally expected that some of our own family would supply us with particulars. I cannot understand the reason of this silence, unless a letter was sent, which was in the mail bags of the American, which were lost. I judge from the post mark on the Christian World that you are at Seaham, though I have not heard from any quarter that you have left North Shields.
We had great festivities last week in connection with the opening of the bridge over the Orange River. Ellie and I had tickets sent us for the luncheon which we attended. It was a very pleasant affair. I responded to the toast, The Clergy, in a short speech. We had also tickets sent us for a Grand Ball, but we did not go. There was also a Juvenile Ball, to which Kate did not go, though, some of her little companions were going. We always get tickets when there is anything of importance. There were brilliant illuminations in the evening. The bridge, the stores, and the windows of private houses were illuminated. We had three Chinese lanterns hung on the trees in front of our house, which is, by the way, the most beautiful and the largest house in Aliwal. We took the children down to see the fireworks. John Harrison was mightily pleased, when the rockets went off, following them with his eye up into the sky until they exploded.
I am afraid we are going to have some disturbance in Basutoland. The government is attempting to carry out the Peace Preservation Act, an act for the Disarmament of the natives. Some of the Basuto chiefs resist this measure. We have had all sorts of rumours this weekend, but many of them are not true. Some of the Cape Mounted Rifles, and the Yeomanry are however ordered to Basutoland, and our Yeomen, who number 60, are ordered to be ready to march at a moment's notice. I am afraid if war break out there will be a great deal of bloodshed and of expense incurred. Basutoland is nearly 100 miles from us, but Aliwal is the nearest town of any size, so that it would be the base of supplies for the government troops. I trust a settlement will be come to. These native wars, of which there have been so many of late years, disturb the trade of the country, raise the price of everything, and hinder the advancement of the colony
We have lovely weather at present. The intense cold has passed away, and I think the climate is now simply perfection. If you were here you would enjoy life. You could sit on the verandah reading, knitting, or sewing all the day long, as Ellie is doing just now. We are all in good health. Kate has gone to school again after the holidays. John wanders about with his barrow all the day long. I brought him into dinner to-day -- boots, stockings, coat, and pinney, soaked with wet. He had been in the furrows He is just like what I was when a boy for getting into the water. I wish you could see him. He is the picture of health, and one of the most handsome; if not the most handsome, little fellows I ever saw.
The Primitive Methodist supplies me with Connexional news. I learn that the Conference has decided to send me out a colleague, but I am not yet sure who it is. He would reside at Jamestown, more than 30 miles away, still it would be pleasant to have one of our own ministers even at that distance.
Our girl went away sick on Friday and has not yet returned. We have two young boys doing the house work. They wash up, sweep the house, &c. This they do when they are not at school. Ellie has rather too much to do, the servants are so uncertain. This is one drawback in this country.
Please to let me know how Phebe is doing, and all the rest of you.
With love to Cuth, his wife & family, and yourself, in which we all join,
I am your affte. Son
John
Aliwal N.
Aug. 23. 1880
My dear Mother,
On Saturday (Aug 21), at 12 o'clock at noon my wife was confined of a daughter. She is a plump, pretty little thing, with a fine, round head, brown hair, blue eyes, and the nurse says she is also very good. She does not disturb any one at night. Her name will be Annie, so that we shall still have an Annie in the family. The children of European parents, born in Africa, are called Afrikanders.
Ellie is doing splendidly. We have Dr. Zeederberg, a skilful doctor; and also a clever, experienced nurse, Mrs. Bagg, so that everything is going well. As a rule women recover quickly in this country, which is due, I suppose, to the fineness of the climate The nurse is paid £3 and her food, and the doctor £5, but I am told the doctor does not charge ministers for attendance. I hope it is true, though the little girl is worth more than £8, or any number of pounds.
Kate and John are quite delighted with their new sister. John makes the plum cake and biscuits that are astir just now suffer tremendously. I wish you could see John. Almost every body in the town, black and white, knows him. When he wanders off, very often a black man or girl picks him up, and brings him back to the house. He does not, however, go off as much as he did. He is a fine, sturdy, independent little fellow.
We are just entering the spring, and the trees are beginning to bud. If rain would come we should soon see everything in full bloom.
I hope Phebe is improving with the fine weather, which I understand you have this summer. Write soon, and let me know, about her, and also whether Stephen is likely to get to Australia. Will you inform Stephen and his wife of the birth of the daughter and of her name, and Cuth and his wife, of course.
With love to Phebe, Cuth & family,
and yourself.
I am your affte. Son
John
Aliwal North
Oct. 4th, 1880
My dear Mother,
I have just finished a letter to T. J. Watson, of Bristol, who wrote to me some time ago. I have not had many letters from England of late, except from the Missy. Secretary. Mrs. Brown has also written to Ellie once or twice. I have been looking for a letter from you for some time, as I am anxious to hear whether Phebe is any better. Well I suppose I must wait with patience a little longer.
Ellie and the baby have not been quite so well the last week or two. Colds are very prevalent and they have been suffering from cold, as well as the whole of us, less or more. John has had a croupy cough at nights, but nothing serious. He keeps knocking about during the day with his barrow. Yesterday (Sunday) when Kate and I were at the Sunday School, and the servants had gone home, his Ma heard him going past her bed-room window alone, with his barrow, and saying to himself. "Da's gone, Isaac's gone, all gone." Kate is going to a small birth-day party this afternoon, where they will have dancing &c. Kate would like to learn dancing, as several of her little companions go to Mrs. Powrie's to learn it, but I have not let her go. The baby (Annie) is very good.
Ellie had a letter from Australia to-day. Their little one, Mary, who was born just after they reached Australia, died in July. Mrs. Parker has been confined of a boy, both are doing well.
We have had no rain, except two or three slight showers for six months. In consequence of this long drought the ground is burnt and parched, and many, especially children are suffering in their health. If rain does not come we shall have much suffering among the poor people through the dearness and scarcity of food. We are longing for rain, but the sun is still shining brilliantly, and there is no promise of a change. I have just sown all kinds of ordinary seed in my garden, but we are needing rain to make them grow.
I am wondering what Stephen is doing. I sent him a P. O. O. for £5 about two months ago. I do hope he will be able to get away to Australia. There is nothing but starvation in Weardale. It is a pity he did not go some years ago.
I have not got a young man yet. I wrote to the Com. a month ago, asking them to send Jos. Reavely, of Darlington. I had a letter from my uncle the other day, who is in better health than he had been some time before. He wears remarkably well. He must be about 72 years of age.
In consequence of the war in Basutoland we are pretty lively here at present. Several hundreds of the Cape Mounted Rifles, and volunteers have already passed through the town. About 150 yeomen came in yesterday, and are now encamped on the banks [of] the River. And about 600 volunteers from Cape Town, Port Elizabeth &c will arrive in the town probably to-morrow. There will soon be nearly 3000 white soldiers in Basutoland. Aliwal is the head-quarters of our troops, the place from which they are supplied with rations, and where the Commandant General will reside for some time. I hope the war will be soon over. There will be much expense & bloodshed. There are 40 or 50 at the front from Aliwal, some from my congregation.
I had at chapel last night several of the Yeomen, among the rest Mr. Howard Sprigg, the brother of the Premier of the Colony.
As we have completed all our alterations of the property I am getting on very quietly, and have more time for study. Our church is doing moderately well, though the war will make against us for a time.
I hope I shall receive a letter from you soon. Love from Ellie & Kate, and myself to you, Phebe, Cuth & wife &c.
I am your affte Son,
John Watson
Aliwal North.
Oct. 20. 1880
My dear Mother.
I wrote to you the other week saying that I had not received a letter from you for a year, when the next post brought me your welcome letter. The letter which you wrote after Annie's death has not come to hand. We got the American mail several weeks ago, but I believe only part of it was saved. I am glad you have taken rooms for yourself, as you will live quite as cheaply as at lodgings, and will at the same time feel more independent and comfortable. Mrs. Harrison, who lives near you, used to be very kind to me, and made me a comfortable home, when I was in the Sunderland circuit, at Seaton Colliery, where she and her husband then lived. Please to remember me kindly to her.
There has been, I see, a terrible explosion at Seaton Colliery. I wonder whether any of our members are among the killed. It is almost certain there will. Have you heard either of the new ministers in your circuit (Sunderland 2nd)? Mr. Guttery is a somewhat popular man. When you have any information about our minister or members in Sunderland or Seaham, please to let me have it. Every little detail is pleasant when you are from home. I get the general intelligence in the Primitive, but news as to individuals I can only get through my friends.
I was at Jamestown on Sunday. Ellie and the children came out to meet me in the conveyance which was sent from Aliwal to bring me in. But Kate is giving you particulars in her letter. I must also leave all gossip about the baby for Kate. As an item of household news I may tell you we have got a beautiful brussels carpet from Port Elizabeth. It was intended for the sitting room, but it is such a beauty that Ellie has put it in the drawing room, and taken the Drawing room carpet for the sitting room. Ellie has a woman making it to-day.
In my last I made mention of the long drought, but happily rain came a few days after, and we have had occasional showers ever since. If the drought had continued a bad state of things would have existed very soon. Now everything is looking green, and there will soon be plenty of grass for the cattle. It was also just in time for the gardens. Our vegetables are coming nicely. We shall soon have radishes and turnips, and beans and peas. The roses are coming out beautifully in front of our house. There is a bush just before the front door covered with red roses. It seems strange to be going into summer in October.
I have a couple of suits of clothes coming from my uncle. They have been in London for sometime, but a note from the Secretary informs me that he will send them to a Commercial House, in Port Eliz., with which one of our members deals, and they will be forwarded with his goods. Ellie and Kate have just got new dresses for the summer. Ellie's dress is a grey Alpaca, 1/3 per yard; and Kate's is a sort of Sateen Cloth, 1/9 per yard. Poor John has got nothing yet, except a little every day coat, but his turn will come. Annie, as Kate has informed you, has been well rigged out by our friends here. Ellie made her a white Cashmere Hood. The sewing machine is very useful; it is regularly at work.
I have to say that we have got a very good girl, who does all the kitchen work, and the most of the cooking. She is married and has two children She comes before 6 in the morning, prepares the breakfast, and while we are having it, she goes home for a short time to tend to her baby, which is under the care of its Grandma, as soon as dinner is over, and all washed up (about 2 ½ o'clock) she goes home again, and returns at 5 o'clock to make the tea. It is a great relief to Ellie to have a capable, trust-worthy servant. Every Monday a woman (black, of course) comes to take the clothes down to the river to wash. She brings them home clean and dry, for which she receives 2/- and her dinner. Our servant folds and irons all but the finer things.
We are much better off here than they are in Australia for hired labour. Help cannot always be got there for love or money, but here you can always get plenty of assistance. If we had to rely as they have in Australia upon white labour, we should be as badly off. Mrs. Caldecott, a friend of ours, brought two white servants from England at the beginning of this year, but they are like ladies here, and receive £2 per month wages, and have black servants under them to do the dirty work. One of them, a very nice girl, applied to Ellie a while ago for a situation, she having differed with her mistress, but she was too expensive for our means. Besides a real, good black girl suits better for this country. One of the English girls got engaged to a master mason soon after she came here.
I have got a private pupil to-day. She is a girl nearly 13 years of age, ad a very promising pupil. Her father, who has gone to a farm in the country, asked me to take her, as the boys were so rough at the Public School. I teach her the ordinary English subjects, and also Latin and French. Her father leaves the terms with me, I shall charge, perhaps, £5 per quarter. It will be of service to us now when everything is becoming dear through the war. I had one or two little windfalls lately. I married a couple in the house of the bride, and the gentleman gave me £3. I baptized a child yesterday, for which service the father gave me £1. These are useful in a time of need. You know how much it costs for a confinement in England. Well, here we paid the doctor a fee of £5-5, the nurse £3-10, a present of a dress, and her food for a fortnight.
We have just received about £60 worth of English books for our library, comprehending nearly every new book that we know of of interest. As I looked over them I scarcely knew what to choose first, there were so many attractive works. If you were here you would get lots of reading. Ellie and I never read so much before.
It is now 20 minutes to 9 P.M. I am writing in the sitting room. Ellie has been sitting in the basket chair, we bought at Madeira, in front of me, but having to go into the kitchen, she has put baby on my knee, who is just now very good, and Kate has come out of the bedroom, saying she could not fall asleep. She is now looking over her hymns for the Anny[?].. John Jun. alone is sound asleep in bed. Here I am at home every evening, except when I visit Jamestown, or Burghersdorp.
I am hoping soon to hear from you. Tell me all about Phebe. I hope she is getting strong again, and Cuth, & family, and Stephen. How is cousin John doing? What a lot of things you might write about. We join in love to you & Phebe, Cuth, & family, and all our friends.
I am your affte. Son
John