The Hostel, Christ College, Brecon
March 12th 1892
My dear Mother
I got here quite safe and without any mishaps last Wednesday. I expect you will be surprised to hear that we go home on the 5th April. I shall have had just 4 weeks of it here. I do not seem to be able to go anywhere now without there being illness about. There is measles in the school, about a dozen boys have got it. The top of the Hostel has been turned into a hospital and there is a nurse there to look after the boys. The last football match was played on Thursday, our seconds against a scratch team from Merthyr we got two goals against three tries and they got nothing; it is the first match our second fifteen have won for a long time. A good many boys have gone home, frightened by the measles so that the school is rather small just now. There are five new boys in the Hostel this term three of them are brothers of Griffiths one of the Hostel boys another is a brother of H. M. Jones who is also in the Hostel, and the name of the other is Macfarlaen.
I am taking the quinine regularly, and I feel stronger; I have scarcely felt any faceache at all. It is doubtful whether the Sports will be held this term on account of the number of boys that are away, they will most likely be held at the beginning of next term. There are only about fourteen boys in the Hostel this term, as two or three boys have left. We are having lovely weather here, it is almost like summer but I expect it won’t last much longer. I send my love to all and hoping you are all well, I remain
your affectionate son
John D Sladden
P.S. Mr Clarke is paying the pocket money this term he gave me all I should have had before yesterday. I am left top of the third form. I have found all my books but a French Grammar. J D Sladden.
