[Aliwal North]

[March 1881?]

[missing pages]

... by the more serious war with the Dutch in the Transvaal. We are kept lively here by troops passing backwards forwards. There has been an armistice for a week with the Basutos, in order to give them time to consider whether they would submit or not. I have not yet heard with what result, but I am afraid there will be no peace until they are thoroughly beaten, and as they are numerous, and have the advantage of a mountainous country, which has been called the Switzerland of South Africa, it will take some time to bring it about. The country is meanwhile spending lots of money, the effect of which will be felt when the war is over.

We have had rain less or more all the summer. This month we have a regular English sky, and rain every day. After this month we shall not have much rain for some time. The country looks green and fruitful. The river is very full. It rose, I am told, 12 feet yesterday. We have had a lot of grapes this season. For more than five weeks we have had as many as we could eat, besides giving away a good deal. The children enjoy the grapes very much. Annie clutches at them when she sees them, and enjoys sucking them. Our figs are getting ripe and will come in now the grapes are done. We have had a lot of potatoes this year, and have what will serve us for two or three months yet. We have a large quantity of Pumpkins and Vegetable Marrows, far more than we can use, but we shall dry them for winter.

I am very busy just now. I have two girls to whom I give lessons in the morning, and two boys in the afternoons whom I am preparing for the Elementary School Examination. But the boys are only with me for a few weeks. I have had a great many weddings lately. Many of them take place in private houses, as the law of the Colony allows of marriage anywhere. I go to Jamestown on Wednesday to marry a couple, if the rain will allow.

Annie was 6 months old last week. She is good and healthy. John and Kate are also in good health. Kate is still doing well at school I think we told you we had a lady staying with us. She is a remarkably nice person, and is very kind to the children. She and her brother, who is the Manager of the Bank of South Africa have been expecting to get a house, but have hitherto failed. He took a house at £5 a month - what would be regarded as a very poor house in England. But as the Landlord has had an offer of £6-10, it is likely he will run back. Think of £6-10 a month for a one storied house of 4 rooms and a kitchen, with no garden. Houses can scarcely be got. Our house would let at present for £140 a year. Everything is very dear. It costs us at least 7/- per week for wood for the fire.

My colleague has not yet come, nor do I know yet who it will be. I ought to have had one after last Conference, but it will probably be after the next before he comes. I suppose we must wait patiently.

It just wants a fortnight to two years since we left England. If spared other four we shall in all probability be thinking of returning. But I am afraid we shall for a time take badly with the English climate. We enjoy life here. We have very little really hot weather, and only two months of very cold. The rest of the year is delightful. We like the hot weather much better than the cold. We dread the winter nights and mornings.

I hope you take a lot of outdoor exercise, and get about among the people. Phebe and Cuth. are, I trust, quite well again. Let me have all particulars. Do you get your monies all right.

We unite in love to you and Phebe, Cuth and his wife & family.

I am your affte Son
John

Aliwal North.
South Africa.

March. 26/81.

My dear Mother,

I send you by this post two copies of our Aliwal North paper, of which I am the Editor pro tem. The leaders are written by me, and all the Local & English news, & Varieties, are either written or extracted by me. What with teaching, editing, preaching, & visiting, my time is very fully occupied. I shall send you the paper regularly, so that you may see what I am writing for our community about men & things. You will see a short account of an accident that occurred in the town to one of Willoughby's horse this week, who was shot by the Head Constable. The men were making an attack on the prison with knives to liberate their comrades, and if decisive measures had not been taken about 50 prisoners might have been let loose. Those men had been for months knocking about the country with outbeats[?], and when they got to a civilized place, they forgot themselves. They have moved on to the front now. Many of those troops are fine men, but they include lots of rough, wild men.

I had a rough journey to Rouxville the other week. In returning on the Saturday my driver and I came to a stream, swollen to a torrent, which we could not cross, some had, after waiting nearly an hour to see if the waters would go down, to return to Rouxville, a distance of 9 miles. Next morning I was too late for the morning service, and for the first time since I came one service had to be dispensed with. I was at the opening of a large Dutch church, in which I preached in the evening of the day of opening.

The Transvaal war is creating more interest here than the Basuto war. You will hear a great deal of it. In the accompanying papers you will gather my views on the subject.

My colleague has not yet arrived. It is likely that a Mr. Bradley will be sent out. I wish he was here. Mr. Kidwell[?] has been waiting for some time for a teacher, but he has now arranged to send his daughter to me for instruction. I will then have three young girls, whom I charge £4 per quarter each. It will help a little, though I have got no payments yet.

Miss Martin left yesterday for her own house. As she is living not far from us she will have John & Kate for frequent visitors. We miss her very much. She is such a pleasant and intelligent person. But she says she will often come to spend the evenings when her brother is out. We have a great many military officers, and their ladies, in town at present.

Ellie & the children, and myself are in excellent health. We had a letter from Australia this week. Mr. & Mrs. Parker and family are all doing well. he says he has had a newspaper from Stephen but no letter yet. I wonder if Stephen will ever get away from Weardale. I hope to receive a letter soon. Our love to Phebe, Cuth, & family, and yourself.

Your affte. Son
John

Aliwal North.

May 30th, 1881.

My dear Mother,

I have been anxiously waiting for further information about Cuthbert, as there has not any come from you since you informed me that the doctors had no hope of his recovery. Had you not stated this I might have supposed that the long silence implied that there was some hope. It makes us very anxious every time the mail arrives. I have no doubt long before you get this I shall hear something definite from you. It is very painful to be separated from one's family in times of sickness and death, One cannot be near to observe or hear of their circumstances, and one does not know what changes may have taken place while letters are on the way. I am glad that you and Phebe have been able to be with Cuthbert and his wife in time of trial. All that we can do here is to sympathise with and pray for them. I am glad to hear of Cuthbert's resignation to the will of God and peace in the prospect of death. That is after all the great matter. The changes of this world will come to an end, but the blessedness of heaven is eternal.

Our family are all in good health. It is winter with us now, but not as cold as it was last year yet. We unite in love to you and Phebe, and to Cuthbert's wife and family, and in dear love to him, if the Lord has still spared him.

I am your aff. Son
John

Aliwal North.

Aug 29th, 1881.

My dear Mother,

I have had two letters concerning Cuthbert's death - one from my uncle and one from cousin John Watson, but neither of them give me any information as to the position and prospects of Annie and the children. Will you, when you write, let me know what you can respecting them? It must have been an anxious and weary time for you all during poor Cuthbert's affliction, which was so long-continued as to excite within us at one time a faint hope that he might recover. It is very painful to us to have to wait in suspense for news with no power to render any help, and without the opportunity of seeing and speaking to those that are dear to us before they are taken away, The greatest comfort however is to know that they were, both Annie and Cuthbert, so well prepared for their change, and I trust their removal will stir up those of us who remain to prepare diligently to meet them and the Saviour in whom they trusted at last with confidence and joy. I hope you and Phebe keep in tolerable health and spirits.

Does Phebe feel better? I wish I had you either in this country or Australia where the climate is so much milder than it is in England for so great a part of the year. Cousin John says Stephen was down at Seaham. How is he doing, and what prospects has he of getting away from Weardale? If he had only communicated, as he should have done with Mr. Parker he would have been there by this time, and I am sure Mr. Parker would have done what he could for him. He was only enquiring about Stephen the last time he wrote, and saying that with the exception of a newspaper from him he had had no communication from him.

We are all in good health. I have a great deal of work, but as I am getting pretty expert in newspaper writing it does not fatigue me as it did at first. I intend to continue it. You will get a newspaper every week direct from the Office. It is a small paper but it will keep you acquainted with our local affairs. You will see we are not living in the wilds among savages, as some seem to have supposed. I wish we could send you our Photographs, but the artist we have at present is a poor one. I hear that a good Photographer is likely to come to the place. Peace seems to be definitely established at last. I hope it will be lasting.

There has come to the town a local preacher of ours from the Stanley circuit. As he knows a great many of the preachers in the North of England we find him interesting company. He has got the Tyneside burr very strongly. His name is Foggon[?]. Poor fellow! he came out to join his brother in farming, but found that he had fallen in battle. Soon after he came his wife and child died. Before he came to Aliwal he was at the Indwe[?] coal mines, about 50 or 60 miles from us.

My colleague, Mr. Bradley, is doing very well at Jamestown. He seems suitable to the work. Do you get the "Primitive Methodist" regularly? There was a letter of mine in it a short time ago which would give you an idea of our work. We had a very interesting sacrament at native Chapel yesterday. The attendance was large. The Rev. E. M. Rolland M.A., who has a perfect knowledge of Sesuto assisted me. It was most delightful to hear him leading the natives in their Sesuto hymns.

Aliwal is increasing in population. When we get the railway here it will be a stirring town, the most important of all the border towns. We have very pleasant society, consisting of educated people from all quarters - many fresh from the old country. There is a constant communication kept up with England. Every year there are people from Aliwal and the neighbourhood visiting England. A Mr. Northery[?] goes every year, in order to avoid the African winter. The way to England seems to us here like a well-beaten pathway, and were it not for the expense we should think no more of coming over to see you, and then after a few months returning, than you would of going up into Weardale. Miss Martin, our friend, has been in Australia, where she lived 18 months, back to England, and now to Africa, and would like very much to go again to Australia. You meet with many ladies here who knock about the world in this way, and who enjoy it. My wife and I would like nothing better than another change a few thousand miles away. Life is pleasant in these southern latitudes.

With love to Phebe, Annie & children,
I am your affte Son.
John

Aliwal North,

October 23, 1881.

My dear Mother and Sister,

I have been looking for a letter from you ever since Cuthbert's death was announced to us by Cousin John. It may be however that a letter has miscarried, as I think if you had been able you would have written to give us some particulars of dear Cuthbert's last moments. We have just received by post a letter from Annie, which has relieved us very much, as we were anxious to know something about her and the children. I am glad they have a prospect of being able to manage with the help of her friends.

We have had a somewhat anxious time for some weeks. Annie has been very ill of teething and Bronchitis combined. her Ma has not been at chapel for 5 weeks, and at times we have almost lost heart of her recovery. She has had one or two relapses. Only this week the doctor paid his last visit thinking she was in a fair way of recovery, but she took very ill of inflammation of the lungs, and we had to seek him again. He said she was very ill, and ordered a poultice and gave her medicine, which fortunately gave her relief, and now she is looking quite bright again, although we dare not take her out of doors. The doctor thinks with a tonic and care she will get well again, and may be stronger than before. She has suffered a great deal. We have been very anxious, as she is a sweet, bright child: her Ma is quite worn out.

The other children are very well and strong. John had a croupy cough a while ago for which we got some powders from the doctor. Children under 7 years are liable to croup, Bronchitis, and similar ailments, but it is chiefly colonial born children. Those born in England do not ail much. After they get to seven years the climate suits them admirably. But it is too dry for very young children.

Oct 30th. [1881]

Annie is, I am happy to say, a great deal better since I wrote the above. She has got out in her perambulator, and is beginning to look quite like herself again. Her ma got to chapel this morning for the first time for six weeks. Kate was very proud to-day, as she and other three little girls were taken into the Singers' pew. She will make a singer.

You will get the Northern Post pretty regularly. I still edit it. I was paid £12 for last quarter for my work, and will get that amount for the future per quarter. Were it not for these extras our salary would not be sufficient. Living is very high. I often go to the market in the mornings, and buy eggs, vegetables, &c. Cauliflowers have been selling for as much as 4/- or 5/- each. Milk is from /8 to 1/- per bottle. Butter from 3/- to 4/-. We are however very comfortable, and get plenty of everything, though at a high price. The principal difficulty is that the mothers of families have too much to do.

You will have learnt that Dr. Antliff is no longer Deputy Treasurer. The Rev. Robinson Cheeseman has taken his place. But you would be informed of this by Dr. Antliff, I suppose.

Have you heard from Stephen lately? I wrote to him some time ago, but have had no reply yet. I had a letter this week from T. J. Watson, of Bristol. He had written to me 8 months ago but I never received it. Occasionally a letter miscarries. I am afraid one of yours must have gone down with the Teuton. Is Phebe any better? Annie told me she had a pain in her side. She ought to get advice.

Ellie & Kate &c[?] join in love.
Your affte Son
John
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"Sister" is Jane's daughter Phebe

Aliwal North.

Dec. 26. 1881

My dear Mother & Sister,

It is 7 o'clock in the morning, and I have just come from bathing in the river. We are all preparing to go out to a farm on the Orange River for a Pic-nic. It is about 4 miles away, and Ellie, the children, the servant, and I, will be driven out by one of our neighbours. The first three days of this week are holidays, so that every body is going off for pleasure. We had a very hot day yesterday, Christmas Day, but this morning is beautifully cool and pleasant. There are a great many people going out. A wagon is taken out with lots of provisions. I hope we shall have a pleasant day.

Kate and John, & Annie got a great many presents from Father Christmas, but Kate must give you an account of them by letter. Their stockings were full of sweets. They are very jolly at the prospect of an outing to-day. Christmas does not seem the same here as at home. Midsummer in this semi-tropical country is so unlike mid-winter at home. But we had the Xtmas singers. The natives went round the town singing. They [sing] with far finer voice and in better time than the most of our English choirs. It was pleasant to hear them singing Moody & Sankey's hymns. Christmas dinners are also kept up. We had fowl, Pork, new potatoes (from our own garden) Spinach, Beet Root, and a big plum pudding, followed by apricots, almonds, and raisins.

Kate is now in my little school, and is learning well. John grows taller, and is as strong as a little bull, and Annie is a merry little thing, who makes everybody like her. We are all in good health, and doing very well.

Aliwal is growing very much in size. New buildings are going up very fast.

I have written this in a hurry in order to send you both the compliments of the season.

Yours as ever,
John

PS ~ I hope Phoebe is better.
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"Sister" is Jane's daughter Phebe