Seward House
Badsey
19th June 1881
My darling Husband,
I was very glad to get your telegram announcing your safe arrival yesterday & shall hope to have a letter tomorrow morning. I am so glad you have managed to get away for a little while, & hope you will come home much the better for your change. I have not heard yet by what train Florence is coming. Mr Ridgeway sent me down the papers yesterday, but there were no letters.
The children are all well, Jack & May came down to breakfast with me this morning & each send you two kisses. Jack said “Papa” as soon as he got into the dining-room & I told him Papa was gone in the train. He was very good at prayers till Cody disturbed his gravity by appearing at the window, then he said Co Co.
They both went into the garden this morning with the new girl & seem to be quite friendly with her now. I took some Gloire de Dijon* into Mrs Byrd’s last night, she looks very seedy still.
I hope you found George & Lizzie flourishing, & Charlotte not quite killed by her long journey, my love to them all. I quite forgot to put in the sock for Charlotte, but will enclose it in my letter tomorrow. The girls will post this letter in Evesham before going to church. We have got a fillet of veal for dinner today & some of the new carrots & presently I mean to see if I can find a few strawberries for the chicks. Being Wickhamford morning, I am going to afternoon service. I called Jack a saucy boy this morning & he said “Mama Ian”.
Now my very own darling, I have nothing more to write about, so with fondest love & many kisses
Believe me
Your loving wife
Eugénie N Sladden
