Badsey
Evesham
Mar 16/98
My Dear Kathleen,
I am going to enclose various articles for which you asked Mother. My cold is better but I do not feel quite right yet, this evening Cyril is rather dull, he has had the cold hanging about for a time, he went to school to-day but has otherwise been kept indoors, I have finished reading his “Children of the New Forest” and have now begun “Robinson Crusoe”.
I am glad you were again top in form last week and “Dip” too secured that place, he was second in half term order. We heard rather a better account of uncle Charlie the other day and that he hoped to go to Fanny’s wedding. I hope the shorthand will come in useful to you. May, Arthur and George join with you in voting for “Hamlet” so I must see about tickets before the ballot for seats takes place, Ethel does not like tragedies and I think Mother must take her to the “Merry Wives of Windsor.” How did your pianoforte solo go? Mother got through hers all right. I think Mother may try and manage for you to see Baby in her long clothes once more, her arm is getting better from the vaccination and has never been really troublesome. Ethel has got quite a pretty little gold watch and chain for £3 she saw an advert in which they offer to present a £5 gold watch if you buy a £3 chain! and you could return the articles and have your money back if not satisfied, however she seems pleased with her purchase.
There is some uncertainty about May stopping on at Croydon, it seems they cannot lodge her next term and (rather shabbily I think) propose that she should pay her own lodgings, we have written to say that although we should like her to stay on for a time it must be on condition that they provide board and lodging, so there the matter stands at present, I fancy Miss Jenny Waters is a bit of “an old soldier”, Mother wrote to consult Miss Smith about the matter and she wrote a nice letter about May and was rather surprised at the paltry offer she had received.
The servant is better, she has not yet intimated if she wants to go at the end of her month.
With much love from us all
I remain
your affectionate Father
Julius Sladden
Thursday Morning
We hear diptheria has appeared at Brecon and Dip is to come home to-morrow. The school will re-assemble on Apr 15. May hopes to take Clewer for a day or two on her way home.
