Badsey
Evesham
Oct 25/99
My Dearest Wife,
I sent off the children’s letters by early post thinking you would get them on your arrival at Fanny’s and now I will write myself, I have a cold in my head, since Monday evening, and am stopping at home after early dinner as there was nothing particular taking me up, of course Mr Collier extended his holiday and is to return tomorrow. I was glad to have your letter from Bourg and May the subsequent one written after your return to Paris, I am glad you were able to get a glimpse of Fred.
It is a bright calm day here, fairly warm, so I hope you are having a good crossing.
I have rather had those school bills on my mind lately and don’t quite see how they are to be discharged if we are to provide for ordinary outgoings and make some other necessary payments between now and Xmas, do you think you could get Fanny to help we really want £40 to clear these and then I think we could rub along, I might be able to repay part of the money in the spring if the accounts make up well but I should not like to make any definite promise, it is not nice to ask I know but one can do it better perhaps for educational purposes and you can say that Charlotte and John and others have helped so much that I cannot go to anyone my side of the house. I hope in any case Fanny will not discuss the matter with the Richmond folks, it is bad enough to feel the financial pressure without having it discussed by all the family, you may tell Fanny things are really better with us than they were but school bills are a great strain.
George forwarded me a letter, sent on to him, from Tom Sladden, he was in Johannesburg Sep 23rd when he wrote, but was contemplating an early move into Natal where he thought of trying to join a volunteer corps, they must be anxious to have further news of him and I hope he will get out of it safely. John Roberts is at Aldershot, not yet ordered out so perhaps he may not have to go.
You will not I presume return before Saturday and if you want to stay over Sunday do so although we shall be very pleased to see you home again, dear.
I heard from Mr Gepp this afternoon they have had such a sick house this summer, finishing up with chicken pox of a bad type after Blanche’s attack of scarlatina which has left her with a weak heart.
I have promised to go to a Conservative meeting at Blockley to-morrow afternoon and hope to do so as my cold is certainly no worse and, beyond the discomfort, does not make me feel bad.
All are well dear little Babs is very good and happy and will I am sure be glad to see you home, she always welcomes May when she returns from school, she sends her love and a kiss.
Give my love to Fanny and with much to you dear and from all at home
I am as ever
Your affectionate Husband
Julius Sladden
