Incomplete letter from Emma Evans to her cousin, Arthur Phelps.
Transcribed from a scan of the original in May 2014 by Penelope Forrest,
born Phelps, great granddaughter of Arthur.
... wrong till I had drilled 30 holes. Satisfactory that, so I have ordered
another. Your fuchsias have grown already perceptibly. I take great care of
them.
I liked Kitty1 so much this time.
She seems to me very much improved. Mr B I always did like
exceedingly. The kitten is very well & charming, though Tigger does not think so
yet. It is sitting on my lap purring now.
Were many of your books useful at Dr
B's & did you take him your very heterogeneous catalogue as you intended? You
must send me a letter to Mlle as soon as you can, or I shall write
without you. Mind you do not say a word about your German till you can write her
a note in it.
Work hard Arthur dear – not that I think you
won't, only I am so very anxious you should. I have a horror of Woolwich boys.
Do not, pray do not let them lead you wrong, & never forget how very much
influence the example of each one has. How many wd not have been
laughed into sin if there had been but one voice raised on the right side – how
as Bishop Hall says, it is only a Cain that can say he is not, in some sense,
his brother's keeper. While you were here you did not act as if you believed
this half enough – & there you will not if you try merely in the strength of
your own good resolutions. You know where good intentions pave the way to? If
you don't like being lectured I am sorry for it, but can't help it; for I care
very much for you, as you know – "I say what is disagreeable to you and it is by
that one may know one's best friends."
Miss Stewart went yesterday & Bassy goes
tomorrow, I am sorry to say. Today we are to have various curates to dinner & I
ought to be going & seeing to the dessert, as well as 110 other things. Mr
Horner's sum-total has not quite reached 440£ yet I am afraid.
The worst of these bright spring days is that
it makes one long so to be out all day that one can hardly do anything in. If
you do not write this week (I shall not forgive you if you don't) it will be of
no use directed to me here, so you must send it to Jack's, A. H. Farm, Hemel
Hempstead. We have good accounts from them. The little one is to be Christened
on Thursday. Mr Cope is to be one of his Godfathers. I am glad he is
to be named Lewis2 – it is a name I like much.
Everyone's love to you dear old Pumpy,
specially mine.
Ever your affectionate Emma Evans
Is this the right direction? You do not date your letters as you ought.
1. Kitty & Robert Bayman must have passed through England on their way to the
USA which they visited in 1853.
2. Jack & Harriet's son, Lewis was born in February 1853 and a letter from Anne
Evans tells us that Emma left for Jack's in April.