Laxfield
Monday

My dear George,
We were very pleased to receive your note & glad you had the stamps all right. I thought I would just scrawl you a line this week for next I shall not have time, its washing week. Poor old J. Smith died Saturday afternoon, to be buried either Wednesday or Thurs day. No chance for Mrs. Carley now. Your poor Aunt was buried at Horham Chapel last Thursday. We followed Uncle Freeman & Uncle John, also Mary, all the Wilsons of course, poor dear Grand mama & Mrs Jeffries and her son. We wonder Aunt Maria did not come nor yet Uncle Wm. Chandler but its a long way. Dennis and Fred Wilson came here Saturday night and we all went to Horham again yesterday. Uncle Wilson, Ellen and William met us their. They have indeed lost a good and affectionate Mother but its all for the best & we know well she is far happier now. We hear that Aunt Maria is going to leave London and come & live with Grandmama at Beccles. Is it true, you are most likely to know, it a great take in for some of them you know. Do not be surprised if you see Uncle John before long. He seems very unhappy about William, he would like to have the boy in your shop, no doubt their he would consider him a gentleman. We want rain terribly bad, no food in the meadows, so we shall have no hay, and the beet cannot grow & cannot get any swedes or turnips in till we have rain. I expect Father begin to mow clover on Friday, the flax look very short & cannot grow this weather. I have 48 turkeys and had over fifty but last week I was busy so some had to die. Father have bought another cow so we have seven & I was forced to have another servant. I cannot do the hard work. I think she will suit, she only came last Wednesday night, is sister to Sprong Annie(?). My precious boy as he call himself send his love & a kiss to you. He get a rare boy, do not like to have the old hens shut up in a coop with the chickens so he take in hand to let them out. I sold 13 chickens and 8 ducks last Saturday for 1£5s, a good price. Now dear boy I must say adieu for this week. If I were you I should have my linen washed by the quarter there. We could send the money & it would not make you short. I will see if I can send you 5s a week or two. All join with me in kindest love to you, hope you are well, we all are
from your ever loving Mama
Most likely Father will write next week.