Badsey
Evesham
Dec 14/99
My Dear Ethel,
We have winter come at last, on Tuesday morning we found quite a respectable fall of snow on the ground, much more than we usually get in this district and as it has frozen sharply, after a primary attempt to thaw, the roads are bad going, I went to Bromsgrove and Droitwich to-day and found it very cold travelling.
Baby was greatly astonished at sight of the snow and looked out of the window for a long time at it, seeing a horse being led along she got very excited and said “poor ge-ge in the mowey mowey baby kiss it.”
Kit Savory is dangerously ill with pneumonia after influenza, his father and mother are both at Worcester and of course most anxious about him, Mother saw Cynthia at Aldington to-day she said he was about as bad as could be.
I must enclose your journey money 17/- I suppose you will arrive by the 7.23 on Thursday, if the roads are dry and the weather fine some of them will meet you to walk down and the cart must take your luggage, this may have to wait till morning so put some things in a bag for the night.
I hope Kathleen has got through her French exam well, it will be a good thing to be rid of that subject next term.
The war news is not so satisfactory as one could wish, I hope the Natal force may soon score decisively, I think still more soldiers may yet have to be mobilised and sent out for it is absolutely necessary that the country shall re-assert its absolute supremacy in South Africa and the Boers are more numerous than expected and fighting with skill and determination.
With love to you both
I remain
your affectionate Father
Julius Sladden
