Badsey
Evesham
Oct 27/97
My Dear Kathleen,
Cyril is sitting by me and he sends word that he “has been waiting two weeks for the letter you promised”, he also sends his love and wishes me to say that his Guinea fowls can now make “their proper noise”. Ethel and I have just returned from the poultry show at Evesham, she entered in the local class (radius of six miles) a Dorking cockerel in the class for cocks any variety, and a yearling Dorking hen in the class for hens, any variety, the first named was highly commended and the hen received third prize; in the class for dressed poultry (open) her ducks received the “reserve prize” which means they would come in if any of the first three were disqualified.
She has just sold 5 of the Dorking cockerels for 21/- and to-morrow morning she is sending to Mrs Marsh the said couple of ducks and a couple of fowls, so you see business is brisk in the poultry line and she hopes soon to clear off some of the excess of debt.
I am glad you did not drop below 1st in form after all and you were quite right to speak to Miss White and have the error rectified. I daresay George has written to you by this time, he is very cock-a-hoop that the boarders have licked the “day bugs” at football; he was going to join in a paper chase soon he says, he also considers Arthur “quite an up to date young man – taking part in the opera”. Fancy, Dip was top of his form last week, that was capital, he hopes to pass a good review this half term. I hope Jack is getting on well I expect he will write an account of his doings in the exam as soon as it is over. I hope Miss Pollard may be able to see you on Saturday or Monday and in any case I hope you will spend the little break pleasantly, although you do not get away this time.
I have just begun to shift some of the roses, preparatory to levelling the ground and forming the new rose beds, the weather is good for gardening operations now and I want to get on with the work when I can. I suppose Tom Sladden sailed from Southampton on Saturday in the Garth Castle, uncle Frank was to see him off.
I must leave any other news for Mother to give to May, so good night, much love to you both
Your affectionate Father
Julius Sladden
