[During this period, Annie (with baby Kathleen) is staying with her sister Kate in Guernsey, caring for their aging father.]
51 Second Ave
Heaton
Newcastle on Tyne.
June 29th. 1912
My dearest Nance,
I came to Heaton last night, & as a result I had no chance to drop a card to you yesterday. I met Mr Hughes in Leicester yesterday morning & as the train did not leave for Newcastle until 2.10, I went to Thurmaston & had dinner with Mr & Mrs Hughes. I found Mrs Hughes well. There baby, which is a girl, is seven weeks old. Both Mr & Mrs Hughes wished to be remembered to you.
I arrived home last night about 7 o'clock. I was surprised to see mother looking so very poorly. She had had a very heavy day baking which helped to make her look so unwell. But she told me that she has not been well since last August. Father looks as well as ever, only his hair is becoming much grayer. Lizzie has altered considerably & Ted has grown out of recognition. But he is growing into a fine young man. He has just returned from a holiday in Dumbarton. Hannah does not look as well by far as she did when she left us. I suppose her work is harassing. I forgot to tell you in my last letter that Nichol is going to get married in August or September. Father tells me that Nichol is doing very well at his trade. The last they heard from him was that he had had a foreman's position offered to him. He was undecided what to do because it would mean less money for him.
Both Hannah & Ted are now taking lessons in singing. I suppose Ted gives good promise in this respect.
I do hope you are having a very pleasant time with Kate. I often think of you & Kathleen. My days are peculiarly strange now without you. Of course, all here have made many enquiries about you both, & regret you were not able to come. It is so strange to be home again. I am so pleased to see mother again. I hope she will soon be better.
I shall be pleased to hear from you again to know of your doings. Mother & all send love to you, baby & all. Sweetest love to my own dear & dearie
Affectionately yours.
Dick.
P.S. Write to me soon & often, please. D.
51, Second Avenue
Heaton
Newcastle on Tyne
July 2nd. 1912.
My dearest Nance,
I was very pleased to have your letter this morning. I was wanting to know what kind of hat & dress you had bought. I think I shall like them from your discription of them. One thing is very attractive about both of them -- they are wonderfully cheap. I told mother of your -- extravagance! & she is filled with amazement.
How glad I am to know that Kathleen is so good. I trust the cutting of her teeth will not cause her to be very troublesome. Bless her! I shall to be glad to have her again. My days are quite funny without you.
I am very pleased that Clifford is better, & that Winifred is doing so well. I trust you had a pleasant day at Cobo. I am sorry to hear that Mrs Dunn is so unwell.
I regret to have to tell you that mother is unwell. She had to go to bed yesterday noon & ultimately the doctor had to be sent for. Mother is having a distressing time. She has been poorly since last August. I am hoping that the doctor will do her good. She is far from being as stout as she was. Mother is quite upset because she has had to take to her bed while I am here on holiday. Hannah is remaining home until mother is better. All the others are quite well.
I, too, bought a hat, a silk one, last week. I paid 10/6 for it. Have I done right in getting it? I thought it wisest to get one, in order to appear respectable among these proud Northerners. An old lady, a member of Heaton Road Chapel & formerly a member of Ballast Hills, who knew your mother quite well & your father too, paid a find tribute to your father. She said that the best minister they ever had in Newcastle was 'John Watson'. She is the old aunt who gave Ethel that complete set of old china over a hundred years old.
I enjoyed my Sunday at Heaton Road.
I called upon Bob Cook last night. I saw both he & his wife. We had a nice talk together. Their boy Robbie is quite alright now. Bob is going to write Kate soon. I will tell you more when I see you. I hope to visit Mrs John Cook to-morrow. Today I go to Cullercoats to see the Rev. & Mrs D. Cooke. On Friday I go to Hetton & will be there until Monday. I will leave here for Leicester next Tuesday. The address at Hetton will be
| c/o Mrs E. Surtees,
82, Houghton Road, Hetton-le-Hole, Durham R.S.6. |
We are having rainy weather. I have not had a find day yet. I shall be so very glad to see you again. But the time seems so far away that I am afraid to reckon up the time.
I remain as ever,
Your old lover.
Dick.
c/o Mr W. H. Willett,
Hollow Road
Anstey
Leicester.
Wednesday. [10 July 1912]
My dearest,
I had a very pleasant journey to Leicester yesterday. I left mother much better than I found her. She needs a change now; as soon as she is able to travel she will go to Dumbarton & stay a few weeks. Of course, it is the 'change' that is troubling her so. I am glad to hear that Wilson is better. I wish I could be in Guernsey to help him out. You might tell him that I shall be pleased to do whatever I can when I come. I sincerely trust that he will make a speedy recovery.
I am delighted to hear that Kathleen has cut other two teeth so easily. I hope that other trouble is removed. I do want to see my little girl again. I know I shall see a big change when I come. I am so pleased, too, that you had such a pleasant day at L'Ancresse We must arrange a drive when I come. I do hope that Mrs Dunn will soon be better & Wilson quite well, so that my darling can have a more restful time. Ethel is expecting a little stranger. Whether it is soon or late I cannot tell.
I go to Mr Hughes' tomorrow & stay over night. On Friday morning, I leave for Malmesbury -- cycling if the weather is fit. I shall really be glad when I get back home. Really I have not had a holiday. I have been kept busy all the time, visiting friends. I shall have my rest when I get back to work.
I should really be very glad if I could find you home when I returned. This is what I desire. But it cannot be. I do miss you -- want you -- love you!!! Well I must -- 'dry up'. Give my love to all the others. Kiss & hug my little girlie for me. All the warmth & passion of my heart to my dear sweet wife.
Yours most affectionately
Hubby.
P.S. Ruth is getting ready for me on Friday. Dont forget to write to me. Dick
Malmesbury
Wiltshire.
July 15th. 1912.
My darling Nance,
I am feeling very hot & tired now. I have just finished my tea. I had thought of having a run out to Crudwell but the weather is so very warm & feeling as I do, I have put it off until Thursday or Friday. We are having a heat wave now without a doubt. I dont think that I ever felt the heat so intense & oppressive as I did yesterday afternoon & evening. A woman fainted in the service last night, & I must confess that I felt very queer. I preached in Malmesb'y in the morning & at Garsdon afternoon & evening. I went to printer Riddicks for dinner. I was there for tea, too, on Saturday. Last night I spent with the Adye's. We had a nice little service of singing, bible reading & prayer, after supper
What a surprise I had to find on Saturday afternoon that the Adye -- Riddick wedding had not taken place. I sent a wire from Hetton; but I find that mine was not the only one. Sydney Adye took very ill a week before the date of the wedding. He has just escaped reuhmatic fever. All being well the wedding will take place on Saturday morning at 9.o'clock. I am asked to assist the Rev. Skinner.
Boot Riddick asked me to go to dinner yesterday but I had already arranged to go to printer Riddick. Mrs Crouch called on Saturday evening. She wanted your address & also the recipe book. She too asked me to go in sometime. I arranged to spend next Sunday evening with them.
I spent 3 hours in the front garden this morning, weeding etc. It looked very bad. However it looks better now. The kitchen garden looks very much neglected. I hope to make a change in it tonight. After I have finished this scribble I am going to fetch the shears & do a little shearing etc. People yesterday remarked how well I looked. The Sun has certainly made an impression on me. We had about 50 at yesterday morning's service.
Now this is quite a long chatter about myself. What about you? Are you in sole charge of the house now? I hope that Wilson & Kate are keeping their 'peckers' up. What about you & baby? Are you both keeping well? I do feel lonely without you. I shall be jolly jolly glad when another month has gone. I have not seen you for 3 weeks now !!! Am I to expect a letter soon, dearie? Let me hear of all your doings & of Kathleen's latest trick. Dont forget me, my absent one! I am a lonely grass-widower.
Kisses for my Kathleen, & lots
of love for my little Queen.
Affectionately Yours
Dick.
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts.
July 17th. 1912.
My dearest,
How very glad I was to have your letter yesterday. So Clifford, Kate & Wilson are now in Sark! & my little girl placed in sole charge. I do hope that the change & rest in Sark will do them all good. I wish you would cease taking on so much work!! Remember that I sent you for a holiday as well as for a change!!
I am so glad that Winifred is to return with us to Malmesbury for a fortnight. I think Winifred is all there -- she knows what two & two make. However it will be delightful to have her & as many more as can come. I wish I had been able to be of some use to Wilson. It will mean much running about to fix up homes.
Kathleen is doing well! What a change I will see in her when I come! Bless her! she is a dear!! I wish I could have her now. I am afraid she will not know me next we meet. I suppose she continues to take her food quite well. You have weaned her yet, eh? Does she sleep with you? Does she cry out for me, or has she forgotten me?
I am sure you will be sorry to know that Mrs Hinder is ill. I suppose she will be going away to day to a Sanatorium. She has had a cold with a cough for the last 3 weeks. The doctor examined her yesterday & found consumption. He said it was an ideal case for the sanatorium treatment. With immediate treatment he (the doctor) is very hopeful of a cure being made. I do hope that she will be able to throw it off. She looked very poorly yesterday.
My mother is now in Dumbarton. She was able to travel there last Saturday. I am so glad she has gone, because I believe that it was a change that she was needing. I hope she will be able to remain there for a few weeks.
My darling, I am having a quiet life now. Really I am enjoying it after the bustle in the North. Yesterday & Monday I spent a great deal of time in the garden. I think it looks better for the labour put into it. I had a vegetarian dinner yesterday, consisting of peas, carrots & turnips. We have some splendid turnips this year. We shall have some broad beans on Friday when Ruth comes. I cut the first lot of sweet peas this morning. They are so sweet & pretty. I wish you could be here now & enjoy the garden. It is now at its best.
I have not been able to do much reading yet. I begun "Mosses from an Old Manse" by Hawthorne on Sunday. I am just recovering from my time of dissipation in the North.
Dont make yourself so busy darling, that you wont be able to write to me. I not only want but I need your precious letters. If Kathleen has forgotten me, dont you forget me too. I love you as well as miss you, & shall be glad when I can give you a very hard 'squeez'.
Many kisses to my little girl &
much love to my dear wife.
Yours affectionately for ever
Dick
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts.
Thursday [18 July 1912]
My dearest,
I have just been rearranging my sleeping apartment for tonight. I have been sleeping in the front bedroom since last Friday & have decided to sleep in the middle room until ---- I feel tired of it. Somehow I think that I can sleep better there. The room is not so large for our things & then I imagine (?) [sic] that I am more rested when I sleep on a hard bed, that is when I am by myself. So I have put there the little things I like to have about me, such as the photographs of you & baby, Winifred & Clifford etc. etc. Can you picture to yourself where I am?
I went out to Crudwell after tea & got the Chapel ready for Sunday. I swept out the place from top to bottom. It was in an awful state. You should have seen me. We have no-one there now. The man who used to look after it a bit has removed out of the village. Yesterday I was visiting in Tetbury. There was a service planned, but owing to every body being busy haymaking no-one turned up. So I am having quite a slack time at present.
It has been much cooler today, & it has been quite a relief; for it has been very oppressive heat all the week until today.
Did you know that Miss Coley (?) [sic] with a lady friend of hers has bought the business from Miss Wakefield? I suppose they are doing very well.
I dont forget that by the time you receive this letter, our dear Kathleen will be 8 month's old. I do wish I could be with her that day. Do kiss her hard for me so that she will remember it for a long time. Hug her quite excitedly so that she will think that it is her daddy do it to her. I do miss you keenly on these occasions. I had a special sense of loneliness on July 6th and I shall do again on the 20th. I do hope that nothing will prevent us being together on August 21st. Now it is getting near supper time & I must stop my 'chatter' for the present.
Friday
I was delighted to have your letter this morning. I thought my darling would be feeling very tired before the week was over! I suppose Kate & Wilson will be returning today or tomorrow. I heartily agree with you -- that our arrangements this year have not been the best. The separation is certainly too long. I feel it very much so I dont think that it is a good thing for either of us. However, you must make the best of the present, my love. It wont be so hard for you when Kate returns. I am glad that Kathleen is so good.
I have just had Mr Price here. He brought quite a large quantity of peas for dinner. He wanted to know if I would like some beans for tomorrow.
It is quite a surprise to hear of Clement Gerrard's engagement.
Now I must bring this scribble to an end. I have a lot of preparation to do for Sunday. We have a Camp Meeting at Seagry.
Dearest & fondest love to you & my girlie.
I remain ever
Yours Affectionately
Hubby.
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts.
July 20th. [1912]
My darling,
I have time to write you only a few words. In fact if I had more leisure I could have very little news to send you.
I trust my girlie is on her best behaviour today, & that her mother, auntie & all those about her are specially kind to her seeing that she is eight months old today.
Miss Hilda Maud Riddick & Mr Sydney Albert Adye were certainly wedded this morning at 8.45. It was quite a nice wedding. Miss Riddick looked pretty. Neither of them seemed nervous, but rather seemed to enjoy it. The chapel was well filled. The old music teacher of the bride & bridegroom presided at the organ. The chapel was sweetly decorated with flowers. I went to Mrs Riddicks & had a cup of coffee etc., & wished the happy couple goodbye. As the motorcar was driving away Fred & Frank Riddick attached something -- I believe a couple of wooden spoons with something printed thereon upon cardboard. But I suppose Jack Adye who went to Swindon with them was going to have it removed when they got out of the town. Then I suppose last night when everything, clothes, etc, were supposed to be finally arranged for going away in their trunks, quite a lot of confetti was placed among them by Miss Riddick & the Misses Adye. So they have been up to their games you see! Mrs Riddick has one of her bad headaches today.
I trust you received the little parcel I sent on for Kathleen.
Ruth was here yesterday. Did you know that we had to have her insured? The Woodmans & ourselves will pay the Insurance between us. It runs 6d. every alternate week for us. That means a little 'stamp licking' for you when you return home.
I have just been out & cut some sweet peas & roses for the weekend. I really must have something sweet about me !!! The first bloom of the roses are just about over. The sweet peas are of very nice shades. I am out all day tomorrow at Seagry; then Monday I go to Didcot for the District Committee Meeting.
I am now busy reading Southey's Life of Nelson & Mrs Gaskell's Cranford. I am trying hard to make the time pass quickly to have you back to me again. Many kisses to my sweet Kathleen & much love to her mummy.
I remain ever your fondest
Dick.
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts.
July 23rd. [1912]
My little darling,
I cannot possibly tell how delighted I was to have your letter this morning. It was very pleasing to hear such good news of you & baby, also of Kate, Wilson & Clifford. I am so glad to know that Wilson's stay in Sark has proved so beneficial. I expect you were pleased to see Kate back again.
I have been having a very busy time since I wrote to you on Saturday. I was at Seagry all day on Sunday. It was their Camp Meeting. We were not able to go into the field until the evening, when we had a very good service. A large company of people gathered around us. Then I went to Crouch's for supper. I had a nice little time. Mrs Crouch was so nice & Mr Crouch was better than usual. Their baby has not cut any teeth yet & gives no sign of any. I told her of Kathleen & she was so surprised.
I went to Didcot yesterday for the District Committee Meeting. I cycled to Swindon & back. I left at 7.45 in the morning & got back home again at 8.oclock at night.
I was feeling very lonely & love sick on Saturday night! I did so miss you when I went for my Saturday's walk. I do hope that you will never leave me for so long time again!! I cannot help it but I do miss you so. I do try to find comfort in the thought that it is only 3 more weeks; but it does seem a long time to have to wait!! Bless you, my love! You are precious to me! I could never have believed two years ago that you could so enter into my life as to make me feel so lonely & -- yes, miserable, without you. Yet I am compelled to believe that the change will do you so much good. So I must bear it with a good grace.
I have no more news today. I go to Hawkesbury this afternoon so it will possibly be late before I get home tonight.
Many kisses to my own Kathleen & very much love & affection to my own darling wife.
I remain for ever
Your loving hubby
Dick
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts
July 26th. [1912]
My dearest,
It is several days ago since I wrote you. There has been nothing special to write about, & being lazy together, several days have passed without sending you a line. Things are going as quietly as ever, only much more so. How are things going with you now, dearie? Have you been to any of the Bays this week?
Mrs Hinder did not leave Malmesbury until Tuesday of this week. The doctor made a thorough examination again on Tuesday morning & gave a better report. He said that he could not find any thing on the outside of the lungs but possibly there was an affectation on the inside. The heart was in a very weak state. She has gone to stay for a time at a farm house right on the hills. The doctor thinks that if that agrees with her she had better remain there & not go to a Sanatorium. Mrs West is taking charge of Cyril.
One of our oldest Local Preachers died on Wednesday morning, & is buried tomorrow afternoon. It is Mr C. Barrington of Seagry. Wilson will know him. He was blind & had been for 36 years. Though blind he has been a very useful & acceptable preacher. I bury him. Then on Saturday afternoon, too, we have a large Liberal Demonstration at Easton Grey. The Hon Mr Runciman M.P. is the chief speaker. I hope to be present. He does not give his speech until 6. o'clock.
Sherston Sunday School had their Outing yesterday. They went to Cherry Orchard. I went over & spent the afternoon & evening with them. The day was very fine.
Ruth came yesterday instead of today. I spent Wednesday evening with the Riddicks on High St. I go there on Sunday for dinner etc.
I am having quite a lot of beans & peas at present. I have them almost every day. I wish you were here to enjoy them with me. I expect there will be some Marrows when you return. They are growing very quickly now.
Well I have given you all the bits of news I can remember, & collect together. I am thankful to find that almost another week has passed away. Had you been at home I would not have troubled about any more holidays this year.
Give very many kisses to my smaller angel. The bigger angel can have heaps of love. Let me hear from you very soon, dearest.
Yours etc
Dick.
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts
July 29th. 1912
My darling,
I was delighted to have your letter yesterday. It put me in good cheer for the day, for you seemed to be much nearer to me in consequence of it. I am so pleased to hear of Kathleen's tendency to make mischief. It is quite a great joy to hear of her accomplishments. I hope she is able to say with perfect ease 'daddy' by the time I come, & understand who he is when I appear, else I shall have to say that her "mam" has not completed her education. So beware!
I am so sorry that Wilson has had such difficulty in providing homes for the delegates. I think he has do the best thing to give it up for the present. Of course it will mean now that I shall not be able to attend them. One benefit is that I shall be able to devote more time to my wife & bairn.
I am sorry, too, to hear of Mrs Dunn's misfortune. Kate, I presume, will be thankful when she has safely passed through these series of drawbacks.
I was preaching in Malmesbury yesterday. There were good congregation both morning & evening. I went to the School both in the morning & afternoon. We have decided to take the children for their field-day to Brokenboro on Thursday week. I spent the whole day at Printer Riddick's. Think of it! we had duck & green peas for dinner. I had a happy day.
After attending to the funeral on Saturday afternoon I hurried back & went to the Liberal Demonstration held at Easton Grey, at Mrs Grahame Smith's. The grounds were thrown open. It is really a grand place. The gardens are very pretty, & the grounds & walks are on a very large scale. One can understand Mr Asquith coming to such a place so often.
There was a great number of people present. Mr Runciman gave us a splendid address, upon the Land Question.
I am supposed to go to Inglestone Common today. It is their School Treat. But the weather is now very stormy. I hope it will change before the afternoon.
Last night we took up a retireing collection for our South East London Mission to help them in their task to meet the increased distress. The collection was 10/1. I expect another shilling or two. Then I will send it off.
Yes, I am anticipating Aug 12th.
with much joy! I shall be content when I can trouble you once
again. Send me quite a heap of letters so I shall be happy all
the days. I miss you much, but I love you much more. Give my love
to all. Accept as much as you like for yourself from your own
fond
Hubby
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts.
Augt 2nd. 1912.
My own Love,
I was delighted to hear from you yesterday. Your letter found me in good cheer though alone. I seem to be getting along much better now. I don't know why, unless it is because I am rather busy. Perhaps, it is partly explained by the fact that I am becoming accustomed to myself. I am afraid such a life as I am living now has a strong tendency to bred selfishness. So if you see that side of my nature rather prominently when we meet again you will be able to understand why. It certainly does keep one humble & less selfish when one has a wife; & it most certainly makes one taste the intense sweetness & joy of life to have a wife & daughter near to one. Oh, & I have both sometimes.
My dear wife, you are precious to me!! so very precious!!! And what a sweet little cheery girl I have! God has been so wonderfully kind to us, dearest, to give to us such a sweet girl! She is a blessing to us! oh may she become a blessing to others. And our Heavenly Father, has been so gracious to me in giving to me both of you. Life is so sweet & rich with you both near me & about me. So can you be surprised when I sometimes feel so very very lonely & miserable? I am now living & working under the happy spell of a dream. I am thinking always of you & am most conscious of the fact that we shall see & embrace each other soon. This prospect helps me wonderfully.
How very very sorry I am to hear of father being unwell. I sincerely trust that he is now better. I look forward with joy to the prospect of seeing him once again.
I expected Ruth yesterday & got things arranged for her but she failed to turn up. This wasted a little time for me. She has come now.
I am sorry to hear that you are having no peas. We really have more than I need. I sent quite a lot to Mrs Crouch yesterday, & a lot of beans to Mrs West today. The peas & broad beans will be over when you return. But the Kidney Beans will be ready. I hope to have some of these next week.
I went to Brokenboro. last night walking there & back. It was fine but cold. I am getting along fairly well with my collecting for the Demonstration. I hope we shall have a fine day. Remember me to all.
Sincerest love to you & Kathleen
Yours ever
Dick
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts.
August 4th. 1912.
My dearest Love,
I was hoping to hear from you this morning; I must now exercise patience until Tuesday morning. I believe the spirit of "Oliver Twist" is strong within me, especially if it concerns you. I am doing this morning what I scarcely ever do - to write a letter on a Sunday. I ease my conscience when I inform it that it is a 'Love Letter' that I am writing.
I have collected over £2 for the Circuit Demonstration. With Mr Price's £1.1.0 it comes up very well. Harry Bowman gave 10/., Mrs Bowman 5/., Wilfred's 2/6. Don't you think I have done well? But Printer Riddick wouldn't give anything. Alas!!
Of course, now, special attention has been turned towards tomorrows Event. The weather at present is anything but cheering. It rained almost all last night. This morning it is not much better. The prospect is not bright. I do pray for it to be fine. Of course we must take what comes & be content! I am out at Inglestone Common today. I am going to the School this morning then return to arrange my dinner!
Mrs Hinder continues to improve. The first week she gained 3 lbs. I suppose she will not be going to a Sanatorium now, seeing that this change is doing her so much good.
Mr & Mrs Adye are expected back tonight. I suppose they have had a very good time. They have had favourable weather. Mrs Riddick (boot people) has had a touch of neuritis(?) [sic]. The doctor had to be sent for. She is better now.
Well, I think I have gathered together all the bits of news there is. I have nothing to say about myself further, except it be that I am jogging along, & anticipating with great delight the prospect of seeing you all again, especially my two dears. I hope father is keeping better & trust that all the rest of you are flourishing.
My heart's love to you & baby.
From your ever affectionate hubby
Dick.
Lyndhurst
Malmesbury
Wilts.
August 7th. 1912.
My dearest,
How pleased I am to hear from you once again. The day is so much brighter & seems so much shorter when I have heard from you. I never realized it before that I am such a socialable being. But so it is. What I would do had I no books to read, I really dont know. I am really glad to find the time is passing, & that the end of this state is drawing near.
Monday will soon be here now, then, all being well, we shall all be together once again.
I am so glad to hear that you are weaning K. [daughter Kathleen], & so pleased that she is taking it so well. I hope the worst of your suffering is over now. Indeed, I hope it is all over! I will take charge of babs when I come. She is doing well with her teething. I will see a great change in her, no doubt.
I am glad to hear that father is a 'little better'. I am so sorry he wont be able to come to Malmesbury. I shall be glad to see him again. I feel him to be my own father, dearie!
Dearest, will you kindly tell Wilson that I shall be delighted to do all he desires me to do. I hope they will have a successful Missionary Meeting.
The weather is very unsettled. It seems to get worse instead of better. Yesterday it rained incessantly in torrents all the morning & afternoon. I went out for a walk immediately after tea, having no appointment in the evening. It was so cold that I put on my overcoat & then felt none too warm. I had a fire all the day, & there was a great deal of comfort in it.
I shall have a fair amount to do now for the rest of the week. Today I go to Seagry, tomorrow the S.S. [Sunday School] has its Field Day at Brokenboro. I hope it will be fine for them. Then, on Friday, I go to Startley. I must get another sermon made for Sunday. I am in Malmesbury all day.
I read J. T. Meads "The Lost Square" last night. It is a decent tale. The night before I read Rev J. Day Thompson's "The Church that Found Herself". It is a record of the Centenary Celebrations. It is most interesting & will be valuable. "The Faith of R.L.S." by Kelman is most helpful. It is a big book. Last night I read the Chapter on "Sympathy & Appreciation". This book is really indispensable so far as a knowledge of R.L.S. [Robert Louis Stevenson, the author] is concerned.
I hope this letter will find you quite well & free from your suffering. I shall soon be with you now, then we shall be able to tell each other everything!! I expect you are writing to me today. That I will get on Friday. I look forward to its coming. I shall want to kiss you a good many times & hug you quite a lot when I come. So get ready.
Sweetest love to my darling,
Yours affectionately
Dick
[estimated date: end August 1912]
Lyndhurst
Burnham Road
Malmesbury
Wilts.
Monday
My dear Wife,
I arrived here safely on Saturday night. I had a fairly pleasant journey. The fog bothered us shortly after leaving Guernsey, & was with us until we were almost within sight of land again. Then it became clear & very hot. From Weymouth to Malmesbury it was terribly hot; hotter than ever I felt it in Guernsey. We landed at Weymouth at 3.40, & were leaving the docks at 4.5. Dont you think that that was quick work.
Ruth was here on Friday & waited for me. The house is spotlessly clean. She had got a loaf of bread for me. There was nothing else in the house to eat; so I went to get some butter. This was my supper with some fruit cake. This course was repeated on Sunday morning & evening & again this morning. But I had a change for dinner today. I ordered the groceries; & fried some bacon, cooked some peas & beans & had a very satisfying dinner. The broad beans are just nice for eating. The peas have all dried up -- three rows of them. One row only is left but owing to the dry weather they wont come to much. The sweet peas are all over, for they have never been cut; & have consequently run to seed. The kidney beans will be ready by the end of this week. Owing to the drought the lawn hasn't done much. This morning I watered it well, & I feel sure that great good will be done. At the front there is an abundance of flowers. The fragrance in the evening is simply lovely from the tobacco plants & scented evening stock. The rose trees have a fair quantity of bloom & they look well.
I found 2 bills waited for me when I returned -- the gas bill & doctors bill. The first was 16/6, which is 10/- less than last quarter, & the doctor's bill which was for both of us £2-10-0. I have paid them this morning. I took my boots to Mr Riddicks this morning, & carried out your instruction & bought a pair of slippers at 2/11.
I had a good day yesterday at Sherston. There were large congregations at both services.
How horribly queer to return to Malmesbury without you! I was reminded very much on Saturday of my bachelor days -- leaving you behind in Guernsey. Now I have entered upon a lonely life once again. I wont be sorry when you return to me.
I hope you are still keeping well my dear? I am thinking of you all the time. The dish & jug arrived here intact. Mrs Hinder told me this morning that Nurse Que [?] was in Gloucester Rd. at present.
I have no more news for you at present. So Adieu. I am going out to Cleverton to night. Love to you, my darling. Remember me to all the rest.
Yours most affectionately
Dick.