To GDC at Garroulds. Postmarked - Wickham Market - July 3 1871
Laxfield,
Monday
My dear George
I thought I would just write you a line that you may know how we
are going to spend the week & wish you could join us. In the first
place, Wednesday is the Beccles Show, we are going to Uncle John's
to a lunch then on to Beccles to Aunt Maria's & stay all night their
with Aunt & Uncle Wm. Chandler, but you will not catch me going
about with old Aunt Maria. Thursday at Shipmeadow & stay their
all night so suppose shall get home some time Friday night, then
Saturday I must bake etc. & Sunday we shall go to Mettingham to
dinner to meet Uncle Wm. from Brighton with his wife, & two
little ones are going to Grandmama's tonight then Uncle Harry's
Father in law, Mr Garrey, from Wiltshire, he is going to be at
Mettingham for the show & stay till after Sunday. So you see
Grandmama will be well in for grand company but Aunt Roe can do
the cooking, she is going to wholly live their I expect, for we know
of a place she might have had at 25 or 30£ a year but no, that did
not suit, the fact is she is really lazy and don't care. Little Harry
came here last Wednesday to stay & I expect he will be here a month
for they did not want him at Mettingham while the grandees are
their. He is a rare mischievious little rascal, run the old hens & put
them off where they set & break the eggs to see if they are setten on.
Just now I caught him up to the top of his boots walking in some
water thats drain from the yard so I made him go with Amos for he
lead him into lots of scrapes then I flog him but he is a rare boy, got
fat lately, & I clipped all their hairs again on Saturday. Ellen is
going out to stay after the Show then for school again, another half
year. She look a great girl to go to school but I have kept her at
home some time. I shall ask Uncle Wm. his address so if you go to
Brighton go & see him, he will most likely after a while get you a
first rate crib in their establishment & he have very great influence
their for he get his 3 or 4 hundred a year & have always been to
Paris to buy all goods, just fancy that. Aunt Hayward's going to
have another little one, it do not suit old Fred at all just at the time
they want to go to Darsham Hall. I should think Uncle Charles is
going to marry next for Grandmama said in her last to one it was
uncertain if she should remain their any longer than Michaelmas. So
perhaps Uncle Robert will be home & want his farm, but I have not
seen any of the family since before you came home but shall hear all
particulars now, then I will write you again soon. Aunt Hannah is
still sadly, poor old dear, she will soon die & Aunt Mary is older
than her so let's hope for the best. I wonder how Anna Maria like
herself now she know a little more, I should be very sorry to turn one
of you adrift, so if ever so bad, & then not to know where her
Father is. Aunt Roe is a real bad one or she could never stand it.
This is most shocking weather. All the clover is cocked up on
Saturday so have taken no harm, yet the corn look very bad.
First I am forced to begin this scrap of paper for you do not often
have a long line only from one. Wm. is quite the gent. Tell him his
geranium he brought in his coat is where he left it in the glass &
look nicely. I hope you will soon be out of the desk & if you have a
chance for a holiday take it. I will have some ducks ready if you let
me know when you will come, harvest time is best then you can
enjoy some good beer as well as good keep. Polly & Laura are not
very fond of school they are at home half the time but its only 1d a
week for each so they learn their letters & sew a little. Father is
drilling turnip today, swedes are up also but a rare crop of grass, all
we want is weather. Now my dear boy, I think I have told you all
and hope you are quite well, all join with me in kindest love from
your affectate Mama
M. Chandler
Thanks for the papers yesterday, I do not know what to think of
Titchborne, he is a rum fellow.