Badsey
Evesham
Jan 13/85
My Dearest Wife,
I was glad to receive your letter at the office by this afternoon’s post and to hear you had managed a short railway journey. I will to-morrow get a P.O.O. for 50/- and enclose it. I think perhaps you had better go by train to Vauxhall and take a cab straight to Paddington, allow yourself plenty of time and then you will be able to secure a corner seat in a comfortable carriage do that as soon as the train is made up as if you don’t want to get in a bag will keep the seat, keep Kitty on your knees before the train leaves London as it is there she would be most likely charged for if anywhere, via Richmond & Holborne Park would in this sense be better but perhaps colder and more tiring for you, mind you ask for a fast Worcester carriage, the actual cab fare from Vauxhall to Waterloo is 2/- but give the man 2/6 as it is worth it, also 2d apiece for each parcel outside but make the porter put all small things inside.
I shall meet you with a fly at Evesham and oh, I shall be so glad to get you home. Radleigh returned yesterday but I must go up to-morrow morning & probably next day to show him about the mashing, however Sadler begins to understand now. You will be glad to have dear little Kit with you give her a kiss from Papa and tell her Jack and May are very anxious to know what she is going to bring them, I hope she will like the children’s party on Thursday, May wishes she could go.
My cold does not quite go away but it is not a very severe one. I will send Charlie’s bag by parcel post, I left the strap at Ash but have written to ask them to send it by post, direct to Surbiton, please tell Fanny this.
To-morrow is the rifle corps dinner and I have promised to go, last year if you remember I was laid up with lumbago. The chicks are quite well, I expect you will find them all grown, Baby especially, he certainly is a bonny little fellow but Phillis says he is a “little Turk” and fights like anything with Ethel, the latter will try and say almost anything you tell her but does not speak very plainly yet. I hope Fanny will follow out Dr Priestley’s advice and derive benefit from it give my love to her and with much for yourself my dear old wifey believe me ever
Your loving Husband
Julius Sladden
Mind you are not travel on Saturday if you are unwell or are afraid of the cold.
