[Dick and Annie may have become engaged at Lymm on 14 February 1903.]
8 Pioneer Crescent.
Wallsend-on-Tyne
14 - 4 - 03
My own loving Nance
I resume my talk with you with great joy, although you will have to pardon me for being a day behind time. I really had'nt time yesterday. But this is the first thing I am doing this morning.
Dearest, I have been anxiously waiting for a word from you. I have been waiting since last Thursday, & I am waiting yet. What can be detaining you. I presume you are holiday-making. I hope you have had & are having a jolly time. The weather has been a little changeable, but nevertheless fine. On Friday it was something delightful. Mr. Emmett & his friends went down to Tynemouth on Friday & we had a most delightful time. And yesterday we spent the afternoon in Jesmond Dene. The Dene is looking most beautiful. All the trees, ferns, heather, & flowers & showing their youthfulness.
I suppose you will know Mr. Emmett's friend, that has been here this Easter-tide. They call him Mr. Gilley he belongs Manchester. He attends Wellington St Chapel. He was telling me he saw you at Higher Openshaw Bazaar.
We have had a special week-end this Easter-tide. We had a great Public Tea & Meeting on Friday. And on the Saturday Evening the Rev A. T. Guttery of N/C gave a most excellent lecture, "John Bull, a National Type." And we also had special sermons preached in the morning by a Mrs. Robson of Gateshead.
The 20th. of next month we have the Foundation Stone laying of our new schools.
Dearest when shall I see you again? I am weary with waiting. It seems to be an age since I saw you, since I had a sweet kiss & loving embrace. It makes me feel awful when I think of it.
I was just thinking of finishing my talk when the postman came, & thus I have received your letter. I see by the date you wrote it on Sat.
Dearest I am awfully sorrow to hear about Kate. It does seem awful that she should be affected with such a complaint. Mother is awfully sorrow also. Mother tells me that Grandfather died of it. [Richard Surtees: certificate gives cause of death as "chronic disease of liver".] I hope Kate will soon get rid of it, for I do like her so much.
And dearest when you told me the news my heart went out toward you, when I again thought that you were in more trouble, & I to be so far from you, not able in the least to manifest my sympathy with you, except in letter, & moreso was I touched to the depths when you told me you were out so very little. I know you must feel it very much but dearest look through this vale of tears to brighter days. I wish I had only been with you these last few days, to have seen you cross.
I have thoroughly made up my mind that you won see me in a cross & disagreeable state. No rules or resolutions, perhaps, can stay me when the testing time comes. I intend coming to stay a few days shortly after my exam, at the earliest possible time. I hope nothing shall delay me, for I feel so lonely without you. Oh for some of those nice long walks we have had repeated.
Tell Winifred to look out for her present on Thursday morning. I am just 20 years older all but two days. On Sat dearest, I am 22. I am increasing in years but I dont feel any more than 16 or 17.
Do write soon dearest.
With Best regards to All.
Yours Ever in Love Dick xx
21 North Road
Wallsend-on-Tyne
Feby 12th. /04
My own dearest Nance,
Yours to hand this morning as an awful surprise. I want to keep cool if I can, but somehow, it has so taken hold of my nerves, that I cannot keep still. I never knew how strongly my heart's love went out to you until I got this uncomely decision on your part. I never for one moment thought of such an action on your part. It has astounded me beyond words to express. I am just afraid you have done this hastily. Oh this pang which you have thrust into my heart! You have put it there, & remove it dearest, by re-considering your position, & removing from your mind, those low thoughts concerning yourself. I cannot consider this decision of yours without thinking of love, for it was through love we commenced our friendship, & have continued it; & now to cease to love, which I cannot do, would mean a very unhappy future.
I am glad you tell me you have not come to this conclusion because you dont or cannot love me. When love is true, what more is required of any young man or woman. You love me truly & I love you truly, an hundred other things may come as hindrances, as mountains to climb over, but be as nothing compared to love. I wish people would consider more than anything else, the love that exists between them, before marrying.
Now, respecting the two reasons you have given as the cause of your conclusion.
1st. Your violent temper. That may be so. But dearest, I, whom you love, do not think so. At least, if you have, I have seen it very seldom shown. I have, I think, a good temper, & therefore could prove a very good help to you. Perhaps you have a good temper, but short, eh! Your temper I have considered, but I should not allow that to be an hindrance, for I remember that "Love suffereth long & is kind." Rather than let you go alone & bear the affliction of your own temper I am willing to stand with you.
2nd. You say you are weak & nervous. I know you are not of the strongest, but, I reckon myself among them, & therefore could prove great benefit to you. The strong have to uphold the weak. What measure of manhood would I possess, & what quality of love, if, because you are weak & nervous I let you go alone? God forbid that I should allow such to part me from you! My mind has long enough been made up to stand with you, at all times, whatever be the cost. If once you try to bear this burden alone, you will sink under it.
Now, dearest love, you have throughout the whole of this letter, which I believe you wish now you had not sent, given me only the worst part of your nature. I ask you, to turn this dark picture with its face to the wall, & tell me the other side of the story. I look not so much on the dark side, as on the bright. Not so much upon your faults & failings as upon your rich qualities, or graces. I know you have done this in a haste, & now carefully consider your conclusion, & you will, I am sure, be brought to see that "Things are not what they seem". I wish you had been nearer, dearest, I would not have troubled writing but have come myself.
To release you, dearest, would mean a great deal to me. To think of your decision, which I fully believe has been done under an ill temper, strikes deep sorrow to my heart. To give you my decision now I cannot, for I cannot see sufficient reason for doing so, & the reasons that have been given I am willing to bear with as a true lover only can.
Carefully re-consider your position & let us be straight again.
I remain Yours Anxiously
In true Love
Dick. xx
21 North Road
Wallsend on Tyne
July 13th /05
My own true Love
Yours very thankfully received yesterday. Very sorry to hear you were not so well when you wrote me. I had much rather you had been able to post the letter yourself. But your father has done remarkably well to walk to Farnley Tyas. How many times have you been to any of the villages since I left? Those awkard hills somewhat mar the pleasure of walking to & from the villages. And nothing used to give me more joy than to help you to climb the hills. But those days have gone so quickly that it remains with me like a beautiful dream. The memory of those times & others which we mixed with them are quite joy giving. This last holiday with you has indeed crowned all, it stands as a bright star in the sky of my love. The days I was with you were shortened & illumined by your sweet presence, dearest. Not one moment of the time did I feel to hang upon me, & not one iota of the day was dark to me. Your presence charmed away such from me. I am quite overcome when I know you have been filled with similar joy as myself. Let our love grow from more to more! I feel that no one could love you more earnestly than I do.
I must conclude my letter very soon now, but will write you again shortly, as I am now to get ready for Hexham. It is to-day we have our Picnic & greatly wish you could have gone with me. The weather is promising & we hope to have a fine day. Father & mother are going. I saw Northumberland County & Oxford 'Varsity Authentics play at Jesmond on Tuesday. Sorry to hear Gertie is no better. Trust you are quite well now. Best regards to all, with much love to you. Yours Very Affectionately Dick xxx
21 North Road
Wallsend on Tyne
July 15th /05
My own dear Nance
After just finishing a sermon for Sunday morning, let me have a little communication with you. My letter shall be short but I hope sweet. Letters of this Kind which pass between you & me (Love-letters I mean) are a class by themselves. Their peculiarity carries a fascination which is enjoyable, because of the soul & life-giving element found in them. I speak here for what I have received from you, not what I have sent you. I leave that for you to judge.
It is wonderful how the spell of one's life affects another. The power of your presence, which was felt by me when with you, & I trust this power is only felt by me because of its deep current of love toward me, still remains with me. With passing days your magic power increases. All that you said & did lives very vividly with [me]. Oh! for a look into those loving blue eyes again, as I saw them the evening before my departure. Dearest, if you never said another word, the radiant countenance lighted by your bright eyes & sweet smile which were made thus by your deep & strong affection for me, are sufficient for my heart.
I never saw you so beautiful. You are the light of my night the bolen[?] of my heart. I long to see your face again. The richness that now possesses me will never be told, & what must the intensity of my love been like when with you? Oh! Dearest, attempt to tell me more of your loving heart. I so like to hear the story. It matters not if you tell me what you have done again. I deceive you if I say I live at Wallsend for I live with you, dearest. I am with you in many things that you do!
Best regards to all. With dearest
love to my fiancè from
Dick
P.S. Write soon to please me.
21 North Road
Wallsend on Tyne
Aug 2nd /05
My Dearest,
Again I take to the pen. I have often since Saturday, or Friday, wondered if you had got safely home. Tomorrow, I presume, carries a greater sense of brightness for you when your dear friend, Ruth, is coming. I trust you have a good time together, & find each other's company precious.
Another month has been broken into which enables me to count the days which have to come & go before I can look upon your face again. Think of it! It is less than two weeks! It is reduced to twelve days! The time seems to be passing much more quickly now than at the beginning of my vacation. I am so pleased it is. It has been a weary holiday because so long.
As the spring contains a freshness, & the rose its fragrance, so my heart still has its love. The worth of loving you is increased day by day. For my heart finds its true satisfaction in you. The longings of one's heart are peculiar to itself, needing a particular person to satisfy. Let me say, precious darling, that my heart finds in you what it longs for. The joy of loving you is great, but to have your sweet affections in return makes it greater still. I wait for a better way to express my love than writing you, a more practical way. And before our correspondence closes I want other three letters from you. Is that possible, dear?
I went to N/castle on Monday evening to hear Hebburn Colliery Prize Band & enjoyed it immensely.
Yesterday Grandmother [Elizabeth Surtees?] & I went to Seaton Burn to see an Aunt of mine. I had a splendid day. In the afternoon I went for a four miles walk. After tea a cousin & I went for a cycle run to Morpeth. The first time I have been in that ancient town. The ride was delightful.
Best regards to all.
Your loving fiancè
D---
Crown Lane
Horwich,
Lancs.
Novr. 11th /07.
My dear Love,
Yours to hand yesterday with many thanks. I was very pleased to hear you were much better & almost alright again. You must have been very ill. I trust my love is not so ill again. I was also very pleased to hear that Kate is much better & also the children. It's also very nice to hear that your father keeps so well.
I received your card with the photograph. I was in Manchester on Friday & was so busy that I was seated in the train on my return journey before I be thought myself of the photographers. I felt very stupid as you can imagine. But I go to M/c again to-morrow & will make enquiries then about it.
I went to the Southern Cemetery as promised. I got some beautifully white chrysanthemums & placed at the head of the grave. You might imagine me having many thoughts about you, my love, & your dear mother. As I lay the flowers upon the beautifully green grass I deeply felt it to be a tribute of love to you & your dear mother. I wondered then if your mother could see me, & if she could, did she receive my tribute with joy! Methinks she did! And as I stood there for a short time I lifted my heart to God in prayer, because I felt him so very near, for you my dearly beloved. Ere long I will go again if it please you. Even then, my love, I prayed that your dear father would live to see the day when he would see you safely united in wedlock & your future helpmate be myself. I feel I could help you in so many ways that I pray for the hastening of that day. I was very glad to serve you in taking a few flowers to your mother's grave.
I am pleased to hear you are preparing to have a good garden for the Spring. How delightful to hear that those ferns we gathered are still flourishing. It will be very nice to gather some more when I come.
How sorry I am to know I had been to Stretford when Mrs Eccles was there & did not see her.
I'm as busy as a bee now. I've not got one idle moment. I had another good help last week in my Effort to clear off the debt. I wrote the L. & Y. Railway Co. asking to be freed from the paying of one year's ground Rent which is £15. They have granted me half of what I asked for, which is really a donation of £7:10:0. I think this very good for the L. & Y. Co. Expect this makes about £40 I have now in money & promises. I wish it were possible for me to raise £100 myself. I should then feel quite safe for the £155 required. There's no telling what can be done. I go to M/c to-morrow to meet Mr Barker to consider the best means of raising the amount required. He & I are to wait upon Mr Lever & present to him our case. If we could only secure a £50 note from him, how releiving it would be!
I had good services yesterday. It was Missionary Anniversary On Saturday the Men had a good effort. They have cleared over £3.
Hope you are still keeping better & trust your next will inform me you are quite well again. We are having nice weather here at present. Its a little cold nights & mornings. I still keep up my cold baths. I dont feel like giving them up. Hope to continue through the Winter.
I am always thinking of you, & never cease loving you. My heart is full of love just now. If I could only be near you now to have one of your special kisses. How very pleasant it would be. You'll give me a lot when I come, dearest, will you not?
I remain
Your own loving fiancè
Dick
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