Badsey
Evesham
April 7 1901
My dearest Wife,
The young folks have gone into the drawing room after supper to sing some hymns and while they are there I will begin my letter to you. The girls had a pleasant surprise for me at breakfast time and gave me as an Easter card the enclosed charming photo of dear little Juliet, I call it a speaking likeness, this is only the proof and the others will not be delivered for a few days however I am going to be very good and send it on and May can take it to Orleans, and I can have the copy which the girls would have sent her.
I hope you soon got over the effects of your rough crossing and that the elements will be more favourable on Friday.
We have had a fine warm day here although it is still windy, we all got up about six o’clock and went to the 7 a.m. celebration, Cyril looking after Baby, the girls went at 8 a.m. at these two early services there were 98 communicants and I believe about 30 at mid-day. We went in a body to the 11.15 service and the church was well filled, this evening the girls have been accompanied by Arthur and there was again a good congregation. The girls are keeping house well, we say they “do us capitally” and to-day they produced quite a grand dessert, we all think it seems strange without you, dear and little Babs, good as she is, rather hankers after Mother at times, perhaps your “old man” does so a bit also!
You should get this letter on Wednesday morning at latest there being no early mail to-morrow and unless you send some other address we will post again in a day or two to your present lodgings, so that you may have news of us on your return from Bourg, you can of course get the letter on Friday from there even if you stay elsewhere.
Ethel will write to May in a day or two so that she may get a letter at Orleans this week. I have begun to make a little impression on my rose pruning and am hoping to have a field day at it, if fine, to-morrow. Jack will take the last train up on Monday from Badsey station I think he is enjoying his little break, he can use my bicycle if he likes as I shall not go beyond my garden. I hope May and you have had a nice Easter Day and that you are enjoying yourselves generally, also that the lodgings are comfortable, how does May like Paris? we shall want a full account of all your doings when you return as of course you cannot give it all by way of letter.
With much love to you both
I am your ever affectionate Husband
Julius Sladden
Monday: Your letter of 6th to hand, I hope the weather has improved with you it has been blowing hard for twelve hours but is dry now.
