[the letter is addressed to the young Annie Watson (daughter of Rev. John Watson) "via her mother"; the writer is an unidentified former neighbour of the Watson family]

[Aliwal North
South Africa]

[c1886]

My dear Annie

How nicely you write for such a little girlie. I hope you like going to school, fancy my little girlie going to school. Why it seems only the other day since I used to carry you about in my arms & put you to sleep, but you dont remember that, nor can you remember Dot, eh! he is Kathleens dog now & a very loving old dog too, she is fond of him and calls Dot, Dot, & he runs to her & kisses her, which she likes. How I wish you could run over & play with Lala's little girl, she has nice dolls to play with & a Noahs Ark, & then for a Carriage for her doll Nellie, she has an old Biscuit tin, her nurse Mary made a hole & passed a string thro' for her to drag it along, so when the Nurse wheels baby up & down outside, Kathleen drags her doll Nellie also. Her nurse is a very good girl, not a native but a poor white girl that used to go to yr. Dadas Sunday school, her name is Mary Dobie & she will stay with Kathleen until she is six years old. Yr old nurse that you had here is dead, poor girl, you must tell Mama this. You see if you ever came to Aliwal again you would have two little girlies to pet & spoil. Kathleen sends many kisses to her little friend Annie. & with fondest love from yr own loving
Lala -

When Kate writes again, you must be sure & write a nice long letter to me -