The Steam Brewery
Evesham
Dec 2 1878
My own darling Wife,
Although I hope to see you to-morrow afternoon yet I cannot let the morning pass without your receiving my earliest possible congratulations on the event. God bless you my darling! And grant you many, many happy returns of this the first birthday that dawns upon you as a wife and (double happiness!) as a mother also, I think you know full well that your husband will not forget the day in his waking thoughts.
Enclosed is a very small souvenir for the occasion but I think it will perhaps do to hang on Walter’s chain and may serve as a receptacle, first for our dear baby’s hair, and by and bye for his first portrait also. I shall be so pleased to come home to-morrow and give you a good kiss and my best wishes in person.
I will not write more now as I shall so soon be home again, so with a kiss for “little Jack” and all the fond love which my darling wife would hope to receive on the occasion of her birthday.
Believe me ever
Your loving husband
Julius Sladden
P.S. Give my love to Polly, I hope she will have a good journey.
