Seward House
Badsey
Evesham
May 22/13
My dear Juliet,
You will be expecting your letter from home so I will write before bed time.
We were glad to get Ethel back on Tuesday and to hear of all of you through her, also of her various doings. She lunched with Mrs Lee at Oxford on her way down, just had a little time at “the eights” and arrived here soon enough to appear at the Bazaar committee meeting held that evening, so you see she soon entered upon her parochial labours.
Yesterday they held the last of the series of working parties which was well attended but they will be too busy to come again, we hope some of them will manage to finish off at home the work that remains.
Mother has been able to do more walking lately, she had a little turn this morning and this afternoon went round as far as the MacDonalds, where she rested a little, and then home by the back of the Church she has a little cough at times the result I think of a little cold, however Ethel thought her looking much better than when she went away.
I hope Boo managed to see his lady love on her way through London to-day, it is tiresome Mrs Sturges-Jones will not spare her to come here for a week end while in Gloucestershire for then no doubt Cyril would have run down.
It appears that Mela is quite a favourite with many people in Badsey and these are very pleased at the engagement.
I was interested to hear about your work and am glad your subjects will now be generally congenial, your ambition to go to college later on is quite laudable but it may probably have to depend in a great measure upon your obtaining some assistance in the way of an exhibition or scholarship, however work away well and we will hope the fates may be propitious, I think History must be quite an interesting subject to take.
I have been gardening this afternoon putting in some chrysanthemums &c we want to get the bedding plants in as soon as possible and the job is well begun.
You will be sorry to hear that poor white pussy got so very ill it was quite necessary and merciful to have him destroyed, he is buried in the usual spot in the back orchard.
I will try and enclose to-morrow morning a few sprays of lily of the valley from your garden I picked a few of them the other day and presented them to Mother on your behalf.
Arthur managed to run down to Dowlais for the last week end, while there Hubert Phillips called him in to a case as consultant so his agreeable little trip was also made a profitable one.
Edith Young is coming to stay in about a fortnight she will be a great asset for the bazaar.
May is very busy with the Cadman play, the children and their parents are quite keen over it.
With much love from us all
I remain
your affectionate Father
Julius Sladden
