Badsey
Evesham
Dec 1st/98
My dear Ethel,
Thank you for your letter, I am glad you liked the thimble. Thank you very much for the purse that you & the others gave me.
You say you have got the music exam book for the lower division, is it of the Local Centre exams or the local schools? I should think it must be the former as the latter would be too easy for you I think. It was good for you to be top again last week, I do so hope you will be moved up next term.
We went to the Literary at Mrs Hope’s last Tuesday, there were only sixteen there. There was rather a row about the whole affair. Mr Price was asked to read Marlow & only on Saturday he discovered that he would have to make love to a barmaid & he would not do it so he went & told Mrs Hope that he wouldn’t go. Mrs Hope however, knowing very few were coming, said he & Mrs Price must come, the play should not be read, & she would send her carriage to fetch them. So when we got there they had all the musical part of the programme & everyone wondered what would happen next & at last it was arranged between Mr Taylor & Mr Price that they should read the play, missing out the objectionable act. So the parts were rearranged on the spur of the moment & the rest of the evening went off calmly. I had to read Mrs Hardcastle.
We have got a nice edition of George Herbert’s poems for Mother’s birthday present. Father is going to give her an umbrella.
We have got a hatch of twelve little chicken, a hen stole a nest under the cart shed & we never knew until she brought out her family of twelve. I hope the weather will not be too cold just yet or we shall hardly rear them.
There was a magic lantern entertainment on Monday at the old school. Mr Price asked Mother to play so she & I played a duet, & she played another piece the duet was very easy luckily for I had to learn it in four days.
I am so glad you liked the dance, I wonder why you were so alarmed at the idea of setting out with Miss Allen & Miss Cave, I don’t know what Miss Cave is like, but I know I never thought Miss Allen very alarming. I do hope the play will go off well, I should like to be able to fly up to Windsor one of the days just to see it. Are bouquets going to be given to Miss Smith & Miss White like last time?
I am glad it is December, the holidays don’t seem far off now. I am longing to get you & Kathleen back.
Much love to you both
your loving sister
May E Sladden
