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