Title
Ann May to Priscilla May 6 Dec 1825
Ampthill 12th Mo 6th 25
My dearest P.
As W.Holmes obtains his release tomorrow I must make him the bearer of a few lines to tell thee so, & to make thee acquainted with the general appearance of things this way, especially thou may'st with reason think thyself neglected from not having the arrival of thy niece Margaret Sims formally announced, it is with pleasure that I can now tell thee that Nancy & the babe are both doing well, indeed we have been so favoured as scarcely to hear of a complaint, next to hearing the name, thou surely must know whether the little one bears most resemblance to father or mother, I who from long experience am become a connoisseur say the latter decidedly, both in form & features, but others give it in favour of papa, as for uncle Lewis we cannot make him admire her at all.
As Margaret Oxley is there & Nancy has an excellent nurse I have not visited them so much as if my services had been needful, thy aunt D. enjoys nursing frequently, & we often think thou would'st be very busy amongst them-
Charles took M.Oxley a little way in the chaise this morning & I staid with Nancy who was sitting on the sofa in her chamber, quite cheerful, requested I would give her dear love to thee, upon C.'s return he took me to see M.Bennell, who has been ill more than a week from a violent bilious attack, it is hoped the worst is passed but J.Chapman still attends her, the two girls look very blooming, Eliza was employed making some curiously neat pouches of pasteboard, seemingly embossed, having flowers formed by the needle's point, but probably that use of the needle, at once so simple & elegant, has not escaped your ingenious circle -Eliza, bent on improvement, lately applied for the office of teacher at Croydon school, but now declines it upon being informed she must stay to the age of twenty one, perhaps she was induced to look toward it from having a cousin in that station Elizabeth Hutchinson, the bride elect of our amiable friend H.Kenway, I long to tell him how very capable he is of keeping a secret this reminds me of Peter, who has exchanged a post behind our counter for one at J.Basset's, merely because J.Wise's coming rendered his services here needless, I have received a very kind letter from him & have the pleasure to hear he is comfortable there. Crowther leaves us on 6th day next, is engaged at R.Jermyn's again.
Our newcomers R.Giles & Arthur Fry seem very promising at present, am only afraid the latter is too highly educated for a shopkeeper, but he is very unassuming. William's loss will be felt by most of us, not only from his services having been so valuable, but on account of his good & amiable conduct which I have long learned to appreciate, he can tell thee what state of forwardness our shop is in, as to the dwelling part I assure thee it is very snug & convenient, only the sitting room remains unfinished, as it is very light, thy plants have their winter quarters there, & generally speaking do it credit, but with a very few life appears to be extinct - thy canary has a residence over the entrance to the kitchen which being both light & warm renders him most tuneful.-
I tell Lewis thou must be his teacher which he readily assents to, wish I could say he loves the sight of a book he is looking as plump & lovely as we can {desire} -
We have lately had H.Tuckett in the parlour a week or more with a pain in the face, but he is quite recovered.
Now for a word about the shoes sent at last which {were to} have been bound with leather, how ill they will {look} with clumsy woollen stockings, if thou art {of} that mind do get two pairs of worsted gauze to {wear} under white cotton - we are making two shifts for thy present use, as to the caps sent, one was so thick I cannot think of thy wearing it & the silk net was spoiled in washing tho' Thomasin took the utmost pains, I have some muslin to make thee 1/2 doz. wilt thou send one that has been worn that I may draw them up right, pray do not send word that they are not wanted, as it is not my opinion -
After all this chit chat some graver subjects occur to me, it was not a little remarkable that at our M.M. last week this little meeting furnished business of no small importance, will it surprise thee my dear to hear that Thomasin was received into membership & Deborah Wheeler sent in her resignation, having joined the Methodists, which is no wonder, tho' to be regretted on her own account.
A nice letter came from dear Samuel last week, am glad he was remembered by thee in that way, how I long to see the dear boy! such a long absence is truly grievous to me, but it must be endured.
I cannot promise myself the exquisite pleasure which so many enjoy at this time of year of joining a family group, yet shall look wistfully towards Tottenham when at our Q.M. at Hertford (to which thy F. & I have been appointed) am often wishing leisure & inclination would enable me to express a little of the tender affection with which I so often remember our precious ones there, & those in Bishopsgate, but there is nothing but work going, in which thy aunt D & Thomasin are my companions - I can just manage to scribble to thee with the family chatting around; all are now just retired to bed, so I must bid farewell after requesting thee to think of me next 2nd day when, if spared, my age will reach to half a century, thy cousins M. & J. will remember how their affection dictated a poetic address to their beloved father at that age, but I should be content with a few prose lines from either of my dear children expressive of their love. Thy aunt & Thomasin beg to join me in love to thee as would thy F. & brothers if not gone to bed. My love to S.C. & M. & J.
I remain with much affection
Thy Mother
P.S. We have no suitable nankeen stays. Thy F. expects to be in town soon & will order them. dost thou want gloves?
Priscilla May Waffle pattern seal
Stoke Newington.