Laxfield        
Friday afternoon

My dear George
I think its my turn now to scrawl you a line, we are very glad you are well & hope you will continue so. Am much obliged to you for getting the order up straight, Ellnough will bring the parcel tonight. I like the dresses very much, their will be plenty for 4 dresses & jackets & I must get Ellen something else. We wish you could order some fine weather for Father says the barley looks shocking, nearly flooded. We had a tempest yesterday & last night too rained & hailed in torrents. The men cannot do anything & wages are advanced this week. Yesterday the case came off with the boys, they had to pay 6d each or go to prison for all week, but they all paid, or their friends did for them. It will not be in the paper till Thursday, I expect will post it to you when we have read it. Callingford & several more went as witnesses for the boys but he did more harm than good, told such lies & the magistrate had to call him to order several times, & said they would fine him for contempt of court if he did not conduct himself properly. Then he got booted out of the Queens Head by several people, Johnny Watersworth & Barney & several more. Father have put a board up now so they may know its not a playground their. Father have not sold the flax yet, it's not good enough. One of Mr. Charton's men were killed last Wednes day, fell off a load of gravel & the wheel went over him & broke his neck so he was dead instantly. Father & Ellen drove up just at the time, it was at Gressingfield, they were going to Harleston, their were 5 tumbrils with gravel & they saw them stop. Thought perhaps one had broken down but poor young man, they had them get him in a cottage & tied his mouth up. They called at the house coming back & saw him again, he was laid on a long board & pressed in a sheet ready for the coffin. Emery his name & 17 years old, today the Coroner will go over him. He was looking at a blind man & somehow fell off the tumbril.
Mrs Blomfield have another daughter last night, so now she has eight girls, someone will want wives, I suppose. We saw Uncle John last Tuesday at Halesworth. He is trying after the Governor's place at the Shipmeadow Union, I wish he may get it but I do not think she is fit for it for their is a bit to do. We shall know soon, the present Governor is ill so he sent for Uncle John to superintend till their is one elected. Poor old Allen died Wednesday morning. The Smiths have been down for the Easter & about letting the farm but its not decided yet. Alfred Scace they said had hired it but that is wrong, he said no-one knew yet. But its reported they are to let to be farmed off hand then they can come down & stay in the summer or when they please. Old Mills is going to take Hole Badingham, that will do for that old woman. Father have not sold the bull yet, he is a topper, my cows do pretty well, I think Toots will make the best of the two, Cosset should calve in a day or two. I sold my ducks for a shilling each Tuesday, a rare good price, & 2 little geese a week old 9d each. I have had terrible luck but hope my turkeys will do well, two sit on 40 eggs, hatch Monday week. I have not heard from Grandmama since you left so suppose Anna Maria & Aunt Roe are their still. I think now I have told you all the news. Have been busy cleaning this week, have done all but the parlour, shall leave that till next week. Do not leave off your flannels too soon, the weather is so changeable, its now raining again fast. I hope Father will keep in his mind of coming to London, he says about the first week in June. Alice Chandler is not well, she is staying at Lowestoft for a week for a change.
Now dear boy, as I have to write to Grandmama I must say Adieu, with all our kindest love to you, should like to peep in at you now & then, so believe me
your ever loving Mama

It's a take in for poor old Aunt Taylor but rent is sure to stand first. We have not seen anything of Mann's folks, I think the boy is a rare fool & may repent. I hope you will soon be out of the desk.