Seward House,
Badsey
15th November /98
My dear Ethel,
I was very pleased to get your nice long letter & to hear how nicely you are getting on; it is a great pleasure to Father & me to find that you are really taking an interest in your studies & trying to make good use of your opportunities; how goes the music? You have not said anything about that lately. I suppose you do not go to the dancing class? But no doubt you will learn a good many dances on Saturday evenings. Father has been telling Kathleen all about Jack’s going to Ramsgate so I must not go into that; we shall miss him very much after having him at home for so long. I am afraid the poor poultry will suffer from his absence, however we must try and make Cyril look after them properly. May went up to Evesham yesterday shopping, she had brought two nice photo frames for Jack’s birthday, some that will hold Father’s and my photographs. For Baby she got a picture book & I believe Jack intends getting a purse for May from all of you as that is one of the things she wants. We had a visit from Nurse Churchill on Sunday, she walked over from Bretforton where she was nursing; she was delighted with Baby & thought her looking so well, but she was shy & would not let nurse take her for long. She has another tooth through at last, that makes six. We went to the Literary at Mrs Adkins today, there were 28 there, the reading was “She stoops to conquer” which has been read before & it was a little same. Mrs Savory & Cynthia were there, the latter is going to Germany shortly for some time. This is the C.E.A. week; May is busy doing her pinafore work & last night I finished a little cap which I began years ago for Cyril, & which can now go for their sale. I have been begging for vegetables in the village, as I want to send some to the Orphanage this week, several people have promised me some but so far, only one lot has turned up, a large basketful of onions from the W. Keen’s. You must have misunderstood Father’s letters, it is Grandma who was not well, not Aunt Lottie, she is better now.
With much love to you both,
I am
Your loving mother
Eugénie N. Sladden
