Aliwal North.

Feb. 14, 1882.

My dear Mother & Sister.

It is some time since I have had a letter from you, but I heard of you from Cousin John who said you were both in good health at the time of his writing. I should have written to you earlier, but the summer has been so hot - the hottest for 20 years past - that one has been inclined to put off doing whatever could be put off. The atmosphere is a little cooler now. One Sunday it was 106° in the shade; it was very hot work preaching. Still we keep in good health, and enjoy life better than in the winter. We have had a good supply of vegetables this summer from the garden. We eat large quantities of fruit. For the last month we have had from our vines as many grapes as we could eat, besides giving many away, and we have what will serve at least a fortnight longer. We have had also plums, nectarines, figs and peaches. Ma preserves a great many plums and peaches.

We have had lots of mealies this year. The children like them extremely. You should see what a quantity of them and other vegetables John can put under his belt. He is a fine fellow, and a great favourite with everybody. Kate is being instructed by myself; she learns very well, and is becoming a voracious reader Annie is a pretty girl, with lots of funny tricks; You would be charmed with her although she scratches and bites like fury. Kate and John & Ma all have scratches and bites on them that she has given them. She has got 16 teeth, and can almost walk; her affliction has kept her back.

Cousin John gave me some very interesting information respecting Cuthbert's affliction, and also about the Chemical works, which are now in my cousin's hands. I have seen a good deal about the Weardale mines in the Primitive Methodist. I am glad to see that a settlement is likely to be come to, though it would be well if a great many of the miners were driven out to some of these colonies where they would not have to live in poverty. There is one thing very gratifying here, one scarcely sees any poverty. The most of people live comfortably.

Stephen will have arrived in Australia by this time. As soon as you hear of his arrival will you let me know. I hope he will do well. He has gone to a fine country. I wish he would write a little more freely.

Feb. 20th. [1882]

I was not able to finish my letter last week. Since then there has been quite a change in the weather. It has become quite cool, with fine rains. John has just received an invitation to go to a Juvenile party this afternoon - it is the second he has attended. Ma thinks she will rig him out in a new suit. The children are a great source of pleasure to us out here.

You will see by the newspapers which you receive that we are not unlikely to have further disturbance in Basutoland. It may be averted if the Basutos within the time which will be given them fulfil the terms of the Accord. It will be a blessing when we come to an end with native wars in this land. I still edit the newspaper.

I hope Phebe and you are both in good health. We are all in excellent health.
Write soon -

Your affe. Son.
John
______________________
"Sister" is Jane's daughter Phebe

Aliwal North

April 8th, 1882

My dear Mother & Sister,

I have very sad news to send you by this letter. Our dear little John was taken away from us on Thursday morning. He was perfectly well on Monday until the evening & played in his usual way, and took a hearty dinner, but in the evening he complained of soreness in his bowels. We used various remedies for what we thought was only colic. Next day he was easier, though he lay in bed, watching his Ma doing some work in his room. I got him a powder from the chemist, but it did not operate. As he had an uneasy night, I got the doctor on the Wednesday morning, who thought he needed a thorough cleansing, but though from that time until his death powerful medicines were given, and strong injections, a passage could not be forced. His Ma and I sat up with him on Wednesday night, and I had the doctor up several times, at 2 o'clock I sought him, and he gave him an injection, staying with him an hour. We kept using bran poultices until the morning, when at about a ¼ to 7 he died. He suffered a great deal through the night, and just after shifting him he became convulsed. I got a neighbour in, and ran myself for the doctor, but before I got back my darling was gone.

You may believe what a shock and grief it has been to us. Poor Kate was almost distracted. Almost everyone in the town was struck with astonishment. He was known throughout the town, and people used to remark what a fine, manly little fellow he was. We do not remember his having an hour's sickness since he was born. He was up to his [?], the very picture of health and strength. The doctor says the cause was a twist or obstruction in the bowels, which caused inflammation. And I have no doubt the medicines, not operating, hastened his end. But the mystery is how the obstruction was caused. Whether he had eaten somewhat which caused it - unripe quinces - or not, we cannot say. We are reconciled to the will of God, and would not, if we could, have our boy back from the world of bliss to which the Saviour has taken him.

But, O Mother, it was a terrible trial. You can scarcely form an idea what a fine, noble little fellow he was - so gentle and yet so brave. On Sunday evening as I was preparing for the evening service, he was on the verandah with his Ma and Kate & Annie enjoying the beautiful moonlight, full of spirits. I had to call out once or twice to him to be quiet. He professed to be going to church, and was bidding them all good-bye. "Good-bye", he said to his Ma, "Kiss your son" (the first time he had used that form. He had always said before, "Kiss John"). Then he came up to Annie and said to her, "Good night, young lady", and then to Kate, "Good night, Miss Kate." His Ma called to him, "Are you going to preach?" "No", he said, "I'm going to hear Da preach." Just that morning Kate came into the bed-room laughing, and asked Ma to listen to John. So looking through the door into the next room, she saw him, marching the floor, with a hymn-book in his hands, professing to read, and was repeating with a loud voice, over and over again, "None but Christ" - "Christ for me." It was something he had heard sung at the school. Of course, I am not meaning that he had any religious meaning in it, but he would imitate almost everything. Ellie is very much broken down, but she bears this trial with truly Christian resignation. We cannot but sorrow when we remember his winning ways, but still we know that the Lord does all things well.

The enclosed portraits were taken just the week before his death, and little did we think that with the same post by which they would be sent we would have to announce his death. But we are so glad we got them taken. The one of him in the group does not show his features distinctly as he had moved his head when it was struck. Annie's is very good, and Kate's also, though the light seems to have affected her eyes. Ellie's and mine are both, I think, very good.

Kate wrote a letter to you last week ready for this post, but this sad event prevents her sending it. She will write again soon. Kate is a great comfort to us. She is so good and thoughtful - so conscientious and truthful.

Monday morning

I may add that the native with Annie on her knee is her nurse, she thinks a great deal of her. Since John died as we did not like John's portrait in the group we got other views of him from negatives which the photographer had. They are very bad of me, but they are very good of John. The one with the smile on his face is very like the expression he often wore. I send two for you & Phebe - showing him with different expressions of face. Since I wrote the first part we feel a great deal better. Ellie has had two good nights' rest which have strengthened her nerve. But we cannot but feel this morning when we remember last Monday morning at this time he and another little boy were playing in front of the house. He was then in perfect health. The doctor has said since that he never saw a more perfect specimen of a boy than he was.

Stephen's vessel arrived safely at Sydney, Mr Parker informs us. I would like to hear from him or about him. I hope Phebe is improving, and that you & she will get away for a change this summer. I intended to send you a small amount to close, but our expenses have been heavy lately. I will, I trust, be able to do so after a while.

With love to you & Phebe & Cousin John & family

I am your afft Son,
John
______________________
"Sister" is Jane's daughter Phebe

Aliwal North

Oct. 28 / 82

My dear Mother,

I am sorry to have to announce to you so soon that we have had another great trial in the death of our little boy, whom we thought would have taken John's place. He was a very strong boy, but he took whooping cough, which the other children have, and was too young to struggle through it. It was not until last Saturday that we dreaded anything serious. We had two doctors to see him, but they could do him no good. We were up with him all night, and at ¼ 6 last Sunday morning he died. Ellie has been very much crushed by this trial coming so soon after the loss of our dear little John. They are buried in the same grave.

This is, I am afraid, a very trying place for young children, the changes from extreme heat to cold are so sudden and violent. Annie & Kate have what we think is whooping cough, though Dr. Impey[?] thinks it is simply a severe cold. Kate is much better, and Annie does not exhibit any dangerous symptoms. We got the doctor to see her the other night, but he said that she would soon be all right again. Ellie is somewhat better than she was at the beginning of the week, but she still gets very depressed at times. I hope she and the children will get a change soon.

I have given up teaching this week, as I have to do all about the newspaper now, which we issue twice a week. To write two leaders a week, and provide other material for the paper takes up all my spare time. Kate will go to Mrs. Lobb, an English lady, a friend of ours, who is taking the rest of my pupils to instruct. I am very glad, as she is a well-educated lady. She intends to teach Kate music and drawing.

Will you please inform Cuthbert's widow of baby's death, and also Mr. & Mrs. Watson? I think I gave you Stephen's address in a former letter, I am glad he is doing well. I sent Mr. Hind a year's sub. for Primitive Meth., which he had to send to you regularly. Have you got it yet?

With love to you & Phebe, in which we all join,
I am your aff. Son,
John