Roslyn

Claremont grove

Woodford

13^th May 1898

My dear husband,

I am sorry to find that my forbearance & silent endurance this past week has not produced a better & kindlier spirit in you, sorry to see that there is no shame or repentance for the months of inconvenience & suffering I have borne since we have been in this house only.

Remember if you have worked hard, so have I, as those who have seen me at work can testify - & also that for nearly nine months I have earned my own living - & now, when I have given up that living at your request  you calmly refuse to maintain either myself od the child, and you can sail out in the morning & leave us to obtain our dinner from anyone who is charitable enough to give us one, knowing you can get yours comfortably enough in town.

Now it is the end of the week again & I am in the same predicament as I was last Saturday, & I must take the same means of making provision.

I wish to be candid, to give you no grounds for your usual accusation – on Saturday last I borrowed the money to telegraph to my parents that they must either bring or send me money & of course my mother brought it & whatever we have had for our dinner I have provided with that money.

The account that is running at Mrs Chapman’s by no means provides us with suitable living – could you live on bread & butter & tea, or rather do you?

You are no doubt full of dark & bitter thoughts against myself, - take a little while to think over your own shortcomings & failure, search your own heart & see what it reveals.

Yours sorrowfully

Georgie Hockley

On a scrap of envelope is written in pencil..

You say that you have no money. I do not believe you. However, I leave you some as the butchers shop is not yet open I find

The Last part of this letter........

P.S.

The enclosed came this morning (Thursday) I opened it because I thought it would be better for forwarding, & I thought you would not mind as I already know of the matter.

Artie has got diarrhoea shall I give him castor oil or not? He is rather nasty tempered – perhaps it would do him good. I don’t want to weaken him either.

Part 2

So.. still all terribly sociable. Artie doesn’t seem so well, and there is a new name ‘Bell’.

…………………. Mrs Jeffrey came over & enquired after you. Oh! & Mrs Robins came over tonight in consequence of what I said to Bell & said how sorry she was to have appeared rude or unkind.

Dr. Marmion came yesterday but as Artie was asleep would not have him disturbed. He said eczema should be kept as dry as possible, no water at all when the ‘weeping’ produced scab, that should be moistened with sweet ril until the scab could be gently lifted off with a piece of white paper, i.e. an envelope. I told him the ear seemed to be progressing most favourably & that if I required him I would send for him; at the same time I asked him to rate the medicine as if I found the boy wanted a tonic I should send for some His ear is nearly well all the puffy skin is worn off, the only sign of there having been anything, being a very slight redness of the skin. At present he is developing no more. He does not eat quite so well as when you were here & when the cab had driven away on Monday he sobbed & cried till I didn’t know what to do with him. He is now in bed & his message is “that he is going to write a letter to you by the first post in the morning”.

By the way, dear, did you take your dirty nightshirt? I cant find it anywhere. Perhaps the table spoon is wrong – I have not that time to examine. Have you heard from your mother yet? I feel anxious to know where to spend Bank Holiday. I hate the excitement brought on by having tidings of you at last, has not made her ill. She is very old you know. I feel that you ought to go to her quickly.

I have remembered what you told me when you left – though there is no sign of anything wrong. I should imagine that owing to the frequent rubbings & strokings previously inflicted upon the organ in question by myself, all calculates to harm, had been cleaned off. My dear Duck I wish you were here now. With very much live, believe me your loving Geo

25/07/1896

Part1….

 It seems that Mr & Mrs Hockely have been terribly sociable....

Bobbing

Wednesday

My dearest old man,

Your parcel received this afternoon, for which many thanks! I was very glad to find that all was well as regards your being late but of course, I thought it would be. I wanted very much to run down to the gate but I was not washed & neither was Artie, besides which he had not had his breakfast. So though I very much wished to do so, I was forced to abandon all idea of it.

Fancy that old Watkins! Did you tell him the previous Monday that you would be away? What is it to him whether I am at home or not - & what other questions did he put? Surely it is not possible for my father to have seen him; if he so wished he could learn more from Catts than Watkins - & he would have to make enquiries first as to who was our landlord. I should say, myself that Mrs C. or someone else told him (Watkins) an exaggerated story of what occurred a time ago & he doubtless thinks I have skedaddled. Ah! If only he knew!!

The vicar come in about ½ past five this afternoon so of course I gave him the seeds & cigar. He was so nice, & he told me to thank you very much, he said he thought he would sare the cigar and smoke it with you when you came again, unless it tempted him very much.

Mrs Goord came in this evening to ask me to thank you for the umbrella. She is most awfully in love with you – I shant say all she said - & gave us an invitation to tea at any time. Mrs Knight came in on Monday & again on Tuesday, made very kind enquiries after you, asked when you were coming again was quite effusive in fact. He has not yet put in an appearance. All the waters were at the gate, to see you off, but you could not see them & the old man watched the train go by……………………………

Skedaddled - love this word, not heard it since I was a little girl!

Please pay special attention to the picture on here, and see how Gerogies writing is losing its neatness – I kind of imagine here sitting there with her handkerchief to hand!

Envelope

Post date 08 Sep 1898 from Brentford

A. Hockley Esq

“Roslyn”

Claremont Grove

Snakes Lane

Woodford

Essex

Brentford

Thursday 8^th 98

My darling husband,

They want me to go to Gainsboro’ – I have had another letter this morning – must I go? – I will not stay here, & the managers seem all right though they want a lot for their money. I’ve also heard from Exeter again but I don’t care about it much.

Oh my dear husband wont you let me come home instead – oh I’m quite sure I’ll be good & I wont want my own way or anything else & I’m sure I’ll do exactly as you tell me & so far as my parents are concerned I’m sure I never will deceive you.

I cant write any more – my agony of mind is too great but oh ! my dear, my dear if I am to go – let me see you before, say good bye to me – if I once go I feel as if it would be forever  there I cant write anymore

Always yours

Georgie

They want me on the 19^th inst

Small School, with House, WANTED Sep-

tember, Elderly Certified MISTRESS. Good refer-

ences. Essex or Cambs preferred. – Mistress, Laindon

Hills School, Romford                                    67d

Part 2...

……… Now until I can earn my own again, what am I to do? Indeed, I had no money, until I took steps yesterday to obtain some – steps I was forced to take for the child’s sake – our dinner during the week swallowed the amount I had reserved for the washing, and I could not be with nothing for today.

If you think it will be better or rather, that you will be better, if I relieve you of my presence at once, say so, candidly & honestly – but you know, last year, when I spoke to you on the same subject, you reminded me that I know you had this house on your hands - & that fact is before me now – but perhaps you may be able to make other arrangements – if I have failed in my duty in any way, I cannot help it – I have done to the best of my strength & ability – as far as anything else goes, I can only say I am human, very human, with the exception of my honour & there I am not quite so human for I show a perfectly clean sheet.

I have just read over what I have written, but it does not in any way express what I feel, & what I have been experiencing – I am heart broken – for you know, as I have always told you, when you have been angry, I always remember the times, years ago, when you were kind to me & in thinking of the good put away the bad. Why, it is three years ago since you kissed me! Think what that means to a woman & a woman who is naturally demonstrative & affectionate & who only loves once in her lifetime. But you will never, never understand your nature is different altogether you cannot enter into my feelings & this is all beside the question of what am I to do until I can provide for myself.

Always your loving wife

Georgie Hockley

Part 1....

Mr A Hockley

H.M. Customs

Crutched Friars

Cigar Warehouse

London

E.C.

Post dates 19/08/1896

Roslyn

Sunday

 My dear husband,

I do not know whether you will believe me when I tell you that the events of the past week seem to have broken me up altogether – I feel totally unfit for anything, indeed at times I am almost afraid I shall lose my reason. I write this in all seriousness, though you may put it down to “acting”. Up to now, I have not had the energy to clear that dreadful mess in the kitchen & indeed, where can it go if I do clear it? what was the cause of Fridays night’s scene I am honestly totally unconscious – I certainly did not say anything to you - & if, outwardly, there appeared anything offensive in my manner, there was no intention of any such, as all day & all the week in fact, I had been feeling most depressed; and I thought that by keeping out of your was as much as possible matter might perhaps tight themselves.

If I had thought you wished me to keep on with school, of course I should never have resigned & then there would have been no necessity for me to apply to you for money ----- but I thought you said it was no benefit, & that you would rather me be at home, hence my course of action.............

Hello all,
Time is precious once more this week.
Part 1 of next letter coming up!
Margaret

Apologies. Hectic week here in Woodford with not enough time to copy out letters - will be much easier when the children go back to school and I'm not having to entertain them!

Bobbing

Monday

My dearest old Man,

I waited till tonight to see if there were a letter from you and as that ‘longed-for missive’ has not made its appearance, I concluded I might as well send off my weekly news.

First, thanks for papers which of course arrived all safely – I have applied for those two London ones – though I don’t know whether they are at all suitable as far as locality goes – but somehow I feel as though I were going to have a run of ill luck – nothing from Stratford, - how I wish I’d been on the spot! I am sorry to tell you that ive been rather poorly for a few days, so faint & trembling – indeed, I was so very queer last Thursday night that I got quite frightened & sent for Mrs Robins – she was exceedingly kind & the old man went all the way to Key Street for some Brandy for me. I am a good deal better now I am glad to say.

Last Monday I went to the Vicars to tea – they were so nice & kind – I am giving lessons on the evening to one of the elder sons, a boy about 14 or 15.

Mrs Knight has been to see me twice & brought me some most delicious strawberries & Mr Knight came & fetched me down to the Court last Tuesday & I brought away some fine hothouse grapes & roses. Still I’m rather afraid to be quite myself in case Mrs K shouldn’t like it – for Mr K is so very gallant & he looks straight down into ones eyes in such an admiring sought sort of way  that I wear the ‘Schoolmistress’ more than I otherwise would.

I am quite surfeited of strawberries, every day some are sent by the parents & Artie does not like them, wont eat one. He does grow so, & I am afraid he does not eat sufficient to supply the continual waste, for he is always on the go. I am glad to tell you, he is quite a good boy, he is leading the girl a better life, but it is because she behaves better to him. They don’t understand him, you know & want to treat him like a baby, & he wont put up with it. he really is a dear little boy - & he frequently talks about ‘poor father’ but is quite decided about not wanting to come back to ‘44’. Tell father this is not a dirty old stove – this is my order.

On Saturday the Bishop of Dover visited & opened the new burial ground. There was such a nice service & his address was extremely good.

The weather has been so warm & I often wonder how you are bearing up against the heat for I know it knocks you up. If I got paid, I should like to come home on Friday – that is if you like. When are you coming down – the Cherries weill be in full swing the 1^st 7 2^nd week in July, & surely a few days will be of benefit to your health. Of course unless I get paid, coming will be out of the question, on Friday.

Perhaps dear, you will kindly drop me a line early in the week.

With much love from Artie & myself.

Believe me

Your loving

G.G.

**********************************************************************************
NEW WORD FOR YOUR DICTIONARY..!

1.   surfeitedpast participle, past tense of sur·feit

Verb:

Cause (someone) to desire no more of something as a result of having consumed or done it to excess.

Highclere

Brentford

Tuesday

My dearest Georgie

I daresay you are thinking that somebody is late with a letter from home (of course I have been waiting to see which way the cat jumped) Well Pa said to me this morn who is going to write to Georgie today to tell her that it will be impossible for me to come over tomorrow, he says there are too many frothing and prying about now, that he don’t like to be away so long since its been a Limited comi its not like the old days. Pa says he will love to some when he has a free holiday and can make a whole day of it (a market one) He will thoroughly enjoy it, so I suggest one day out of his three weeks, it will be a jolly little outing for 1,2 or 3 of us.

The Dear G, Pa wrote the enclosed addresses this morning he thinks it will be a better plan to write to him and explain matters to him for Pa says you might go any amount amount of times and not see him; and of course time & the other matters stand in the way as you are so far away – so Pa says if you like he will draft out a letter for you if you fancy you cant manage it yourself, let Pa know soon then he says he will write to you.

I say the idea of that girl turning out a thief “did you get the pram back” – oh what a pity you cant get somebody good. I keep worrying & wondering how you are getting on, how I do wish that I could have dear Artie here with us during your driving times bless him I know I could manage him, he, would soon love us and be alright. I  have made a few enquiries about a girl but you see dear Georgie it’s so far from their homes they appear afraid to come. I wish I could find a help for you for it breaks my heart to think of you in any trials I do wish and pray that I might make them lighter for you. I would come in a minutes myself to help to make things & life more easy for you if circumstances admitted “you know that old girl”. If you could only get a nice good servant and a little trap it would not seem to bad – you could drive about yourself, come & meet us, don’t you think dear old Georgie it would be a good plan to enquire of the shops about for a girl. They are most likely to know about their character than anyone else “their honesty I mean” I always got my charwoman from shops. With fondest love to you and Artie from all / in awful haste – Old Mater

Part 2

...............Winnie & Emma went to Brompton last Tuesday to her old school to see the musical drill of her children that she had prepared for the entertainment – she was so pleased they did it so splendidly – when I saw you I told you that she was doing nothing but “Musicing”

I think Win & Annie Gamble are going to the Royal Academy next Saturday – I am glad to say that she is much better (I mean Winnie) than when I saw you. We think she will be happy in her new school, she is going to tell you all the particulars herself. My dear Georgie, we think & told of you and wonder how you and the dear boy are getting on, trust both of you are well, hope you will write very soon tomorrow.

When do you break up? Win’s school keeps on until the very end of the month.

All going well we have made up our minds to spend a day with you and our little boy during the holiday and we hope you will manage to come over to Highclere. Perhaps he will let you bring the boy, “live in hopes”.

Have you got your servant yet – u shall be thankful to see the back of these worrying worthless. I hope it will look all the better for the trouble. I am waiting to put the kettle on for a cup of tea and they are just in the way – Dear Georgie you said you wanted me to so something to a black skirt for you, I want you to send it to me I will do the best I can with it and be pleased to do it. I will pay the carriage mind now I must stop with fondest love from Pa & Win with mine parson all.

Loving Matu

Write Soon

p.s. tell us how you got on with that storm your way. Wish we were going to see you tomorrow for a long chat – our visits are so short we cant say half enough can we! Good Bye take care of yourself & boy. I shall be looking for news of you. I feel so queer.

Apologies, but today there is only half a letter.. I am normally very organised and type up 7 letters for the following week, but this week however I've not had time to do this and have tried to find time every day to do one letter. The reason for only half a letter today is that it is from Georgies mother and her hand writing is difficult and time consuming to decipher!
Margaret

Highclere
Brentford
Monday

My Dearest Georgie

I know you have been looking for a letter from me long before this, but please forgive me for I have been “oh” so bothered, these dreadful workmen you ought to see the mud …was are in, and have had a heavy wash too 15 day went through and to make it worse I have felt ill nearly all the time, it seems ages ago since the day I saw you. I often wish that we were within walking distance where you & dear boy could often spend a sly little time together. I got home a good time to get tea all ready by the time Winnie came home. What a dreadful storm we have had that night, altho’ I was not in the least bit frightened it seemed to upset the whole of my poor inside frame. It was an awful time for poor Robin and I never saw Pa so terrified at a storm before. They say pretty well all the town was up, there was a dreadful fire at Madfords Coal place, fired by lightening £3000 damage, 3 fires at Isleworth also. The election is on today so there is plenty of confusion in the town also our windows are plastered over with great bills, from BIGWOOD of course! Mrs carpenter gave Pa two tickets for the great Rose Show at the Crystal palace. Win + 2 went – it was lovely. Both Palace & grounds. How we wished you were with us, if I felt well 2 should have enjoyed it 10 times more……

Bobbing

Wednesday

My dearest Old Man,

Thanks for your letter of this morning. I have arranged to come by the 1.18, as it will be nice to get home soon – but don’t you rush over to Holborn, I shall manage quite well to Fenchurch St so that if you are no where to be seen when we get to It.

I shall hail a cab & come right off , but what ever you do, pray don’t rush about in the heat; its enough to knock anybody up.

Artie is fairly f well, but what do you think he said this morning. While I was washing him he said “Mother I don’t want to go to 44” “Good gracious” I said “why not” “Oh because Mr Catt teases me, he said he’d cut my head off that day when we had steak for dinner” So he has been out where the sticks are & has selected m one to bring home in case Mr C might need it.

I think lamb will be nice for Sunday – I am bringing a duck – Mrs Goord I kindly sent word this morning that she would send me one tomorrow, if I’d be pleased to accept it & Miss Price brought me some apples & plums & a small marrow – so I shall be loaded.

I am longing to get home & hope the home coming will be a happy one – I am not coming in at all a horrid spirit, so don’t you go saying I’d got a nasty look on my face when you saw me, if when I get to Holborn I am a bit tired. I have a great deal to do so please excuse haste. Fondest love

From yours as ever

Georgie

This Document is still literally just about one piece of paper....I had to handle it with great care!

IN THE CITY OF LONDON COURT

No of Plaint Y11473

Between             Arthur Hockley                                                                                                                  Plaintiff

                                                And

                         Messrs Hudson Bros

You are hereby required to attend at the Court House, Guildhall Buildings, in the City of London, in Wednesday the 25^th day of September 1895, at the hour of eleven o’clock in the Forenoon, and so from day to day until the above Action is tried, to give evidence in the above cause on behalf of the plaintiff and also to bring with you and produce the several documents hereunder specified, and all other books, papers, writings, and other documents relating to the above action which may be in your custody, possession or power

In default of your attendance, you will be liable to a Penalty of Ten Pounds, under Section 111 of the County Courts Act, 1888, payment of which fine may, under Section 167 of the Act, be enforced upon the Order of the Judge in such manner as payment of a sum adjudged to be paid on summary conviction may be enforced under the Summary Jurisdiction Acts, that is to say, by distress and sale of your goods, or in default, or in lieu of distress, by imprisonment.

Dated this 24^th day of September 1895

To Charles Kemp                                                                              J.ANSTEY WILD

of 94 Milkwood Road                                                                                                     Registrar of the Court

Loughborough Junction. S.E.

Here insert List of Documents required to be produced.

A book to prove the starting time of the 1.25 pm train to Sittingbourne on 13^th July 1895.

Blue italic is hand written

I Love the detail on this headed Letter!

Hudson Brothers

August 2^nd 1895

Mr Hockley

Sittingbourne

Sir,

We have been charged with sundry expenses by the Railway Company, in connection with the Ham, now lying at Sittingbourne, and beg to give you notice that the ham will be sold to defray these expenses if not claimed with-in three days.

We are, Sir.

Your Truly

J Hudson

Today we find out what 'Old Mannie's' name really is! This is the first item that I have come across that actually has his full Christian name. I know that you all most probably guess what it was , and you were right, its Arthur.

'Arthur' isnt very happy.....

Bobbing

Nr. Sittingbourne

18^th July 95

Messrs Hudson Bros.

Gentleman

I have waited to receive some explanation in reference to my complaint of 15^th inst. As that however does not appear to be forth-coming and as you have moreover thought proper to ignore the conditions under which I offered to take the ham in question, I have now simply to inform you that I refuse to have it. now . I sent a journey of 4 miles & was more than astonished to find you had been so shabby as to have the carriage for me to pay; and so quite naturally and reasonably expected concluded that you had also taken no notice of my request with regard to the butter.

I have therefore to request the immediate remittance of the amount (6/10 ½ paid for ham plus 8’ value of butter) = 7/6 ½  and at the same time beg that you give notice.

I shall make no further application to you for it; but immediately on my return to town take steps to resolve it in a court of law when the amount may possibly be a little larger.

I am gentlemen

Yours

Arthur Hockley

I do hope you can see and read the above. They are all the same document for what it seems is a 'fine'!
More to add to this story in the next few days..

I do hope that you are enjoying reading them!

Mag

44 Eleanor Road

Stratford E

7.3.95

My Dear Father,

Your letter of the 4^th inst duly to hand. I must say I read the contents with a mixture of surprise, indignation & a great amount of impatience. Surely I have only to remind you that you wrote to a wife of her husband & to ask you to recall to your mind the substance of your letter, for you to thoroughly understand my feelings upon the matter. Even if all you wrote had been true, the letter would have been out of place.

I would beg you to remember that it is my place to take the initiative against my husband if I desire to do so, were there occasion. There is one very special charge in your letter to which I take very special umbrage, “systematic ill treatment for the last 4½ years.” This is most unjustifiable & a gross libel. No one who knew my husband at all could possibly charge him with being cruel systematically – his temper is most different from anything akin to that.

Doubtless you thought you were doing me a good turn, but believe me, you might have brought the greatest grief I could have experienced into the house. Regarding the promise of not visiting the house, I wished you to take no abject position – you were merely to write to me & say you would not come to the house. And considering all things, I do think that was asking you very little.

Now of course, two ways lie open to me, either I must endorse all in your letter, & thus sever myself from my husband; or I must take up my husband’s cause as my own & sever myself from all I used to hold dear. And as my husband must of necessity stand first to me, you will not be surprised that I should decide to acknowledge myself his champion. You must therefore thoroughly understand that unless you make me the promise I asked & acknowledge & apologise for (to me) the obloquy cast upon my husband, all correspondence between us must cease. It is entirely your fault – I held out the olive branch – you would not take it. I am sorry for I know what grief it will cause you all – but you know the remedy – take it or not as you choose.

With kind love

Your affec daughter

Geo Hockley

Anyone heard of this word?

ob·lo·quy/ˈäbləkwē/

Noun:

Strong public criticism or verbal abuse. Disgrace, esp. that brought about by public abuse.

******************A Letter to her Father today - she's obviously not very happy!*************

44 Eleanor Road

Stratford

E

5^th 27 3 4 95

Dear Father,

Your letter of the 15^th ree:

The first thing I have to do is to utterly repudiate & deny the charge brought against myself in yours – viz that I had written to my husband’s dictation. The contents were entirely my own composition, & until he returned home from business, my husband did not even know that I had written at all. So that your recognition of his parrot like phrases fells rather flat & is certainly a poor compliment to me, this I wish to make perfectly clear to you – that whatever was contained in that letter emanated from myself, however parrot like it may have been.

The remainder of your letter is unworthy an answer at all & can only be the outcome of pique. You touch upon things of which you can have no real knowledge & give judgement without being able to occupy the position of judge.

I am weary of these long epistles & disgusted too - & desire that this should end the matter – no possible good can come of keeping it up & to save myself the pain of reading ay more defamatory & malignant accusations against my husband, any other letter, henceforth, will be returned unopened. And if you visit my husband’s house to see me, I must decline to see you. You yourself, have compelled this course of action. All would have been right if you had not thought proper to make it wrong, & I conscientiously feel that I’m duty bound, this is the only line of action I could take.

I remain

Your indignant daughter

Georgina Hockley

G. Knight Esq

Highclere

Brentford

 *********************************************************************************

 Another New Word for me!

1.   re·pu·di·ate/riˈpyo͞odēˌāt/

Verb:	1.    Refuse to accept or be associated with. 2.    Deny the truth or validity of.
Synonyms:	deny - reject - refuse - renounce - disclaim - disavow

44 Eleanor Road

Romford Road

Stratford

E

27^th July ‘95

Dear Sir

The notice of a parcel lying at Sittingbourne Station was forwarded on to my address & I received it in due course. In reply I have only to say that I informed Messrs Hudson Bros (by whom I presumed it was sent) so long ago as the 18^th inst. that I declined to accept it so it had been dispatched quite contrary to the conditions contained in my letter to them of the 15^th inst. And you will therefore kindly understand that I have no intention whatever of taking delivery of the package in question.

I am, Sir,

Yours Faithfully

To

Mr J Ford

Station Master

Sittingbourne

********************A LETTER FROM GEORGIES MOTHER********************

Not too much punctuation on this one, and some words difficult to decipher

Envelope dates 26 April 1895

Mrs Hockley

44 Eleanor Road

Forest Gate

London E

‘Highelero’

Brentford

April 26^th ‘95

My dearest Georgie,

I am sure you must thin it strange that I am so long answering your last letter, I ask you to forgive me, for I am ever so sorry but really dear Georgie I have been so bothered one way and another, I have been quite laid up with a very bad throat, in dreadful pain with it, then we have had the spring clean ‘oh dear everything up side down’ and together with the holidays and with them all at home, and several visitors staying, so you can just guess what I have been doing with my time, I see much as if I could not get one quiet moment to myself. We have even had some then maudleing about the past three days bringing in various aditions for the house,

But my dearest Georgie every thing fails to make me happy, for I fret night and day on account of the past upset – oh how I wish that I could have power to clean the heavy cloud which is overshadowing us, and bring bright sunshine instead.

My dearest Georgie, I want you to know and feel that I thank you and your husband very much for holding me blameless it seems to give me something to cling too, and God knows it has always been my wish and desire to have lived & loved in the greatest friendship, for my part I feel that life is too short to be wasted on quarrelling – my dear Georgie I somehow feel that I dare not bring my mind for one moment to believe we (you & I) are to cease our correspondence and never see each again in this lower world, it is too hard to have to suffer ????? and the burden seems greater than I can bear – “what does your husband think about it, does he not think you are too severe on me, and I feel sure that he would not wish to break the great tie which binds us, I pray that you will talk the matter over with him, I do not wish to be clandestine, but open in all dealings, I assure you (and god know I speak the true feelings of my heart) that I would herewith from doing anything which would cause any unhappiness or contention in any family, much now among my beloved children.

I entreat of you my dearest Georgie to think better of those 2 or 3 words which are breaking my heart, I shall be anxiously looking for a letter to console me and give me some hope of seeing you soon,, I never mind how you I had to come, so long as I could just see you, it seems to make me feel so happy I hope you are all well and happy

Always your loving

Mother

With fondness & love