Seward House
Badsey
1st March 1899
My dear Ethel,
It is my turn to write to you this week, so having come back from church & since then practised the duet that May & I are going to play at the Wildings next Tuesday, I will sit down & try & get my letter done before prayers.
We are sending you 5/-, half a crown each, which is rather more than your usual pocket money up to the 16th of April; Father thought you both sounded rather hard up, so that you should have a little more than usual this time; I also enclose a few more stamps.
Isn’t it jolly about Jack? I somehow always thought he had rather a good chance of being put on the list.
Baby is quite jolly again now & has been walking rather more by herself, but she is rather timid about it & prefers to have a hand or chair to help her along.
Eric is staying at the Woods & this afternoon he & Lily went out with May, Baby & Cyril, & May said it was most amusing to see Baby smiling at him, saying “Baba” & trying to attract his attention, but he was shy and would not take much notice of her. Afterwards May took her to see Fanny & she was very good there; Fanny had not seen her for months & thought her wonderfully grown.
Father went down to one of the meetings for men only at the Parish room yesterday, & gave them a little lecture about the stars; there were only six men there, but they seem to be interested.
You are a good girl to keep your place so well, I hope the dreadful literary paper will not bring you downwards.
I have another lot of marmalade to boil up tomorrow, I am making it in several small lots this time, it is not nearly such a bother, as I put it on in the big pot & it can boil away as fast as it likes with only an occasional stir & no fear of boiling over.
I seem to have come to the end of my news, so with much love to you both
I remain
your loving mother
Eugénie N Sladden
P.S. I hope you may get asked to Slough on Saturday, have you heard anything of Miss Pollard.
