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Ann May to Priscilla Strange at Frenchay 13 Apr 1840 Ampthill First day.
Dearest P.
I fear thou wilt have been sorely disappointed at having no tidings from us today, & sorry shall I be if you leave Frenchay ere this arrives, but I must hasten to mention our darling girl, she is happy & lively, & quite well with the exception of a trifling cold in the head - it is my lot to sympathize with her therein, so as to make my head very dull & heavy, it even detained me from meeting this wet morning, we both seem to have taken cold at the same time, probably strolling after daisies as my sweet little companion will scarcely stir without me but she is very good, & I should with pleasure have related the additions to her vocabulary, her "sayings & doings," especially when seated in papa's chair with the Card box, were my spirits as buoyant as usual, indeed it was a pleasure I had depended on, giving a narrative of all that had happened up to sixth day evening, when unexpected as usual, behold, the Dumelows with their nephew once "little Benny" came to tea, we did our best, & had a very agreeable visit, Sarah bustled up from the bed where she is daily obliged to recline, but has only taken one whole day.
Anna went to Bedford yesterday - and is to go again, she took the child last night, & they are very good friends - we have had a woman one half day only, by all parties striving to accommodate each other - it makes a nice little change for Anna to take M.E. to tea at our house, our visitors called just as they were set down to it on sixth day, when C.Dumelow was much too boisterous to please M.E. who thought proper to be shy on the occasion -
A variety of hindrances relating to our poor neighbours, writing to H.Southall, &c. prevented my writing to thee as was my intention, for one thing it was told that J.Horspool's wife was in great danger - yesterday she was somewhat better - I saw Mary Mann after meeting on 4th day regularly commenced, her sufferings which were great, continued till 5th day morning, when she gave birth to a son, & has since been doing well, I have sent her some gruel twice - One bag has been required for Wesley from our M.Chignell
M.E. is prattling away, says mamma is all gone, but it evidently makes no abiding impression - I wrote to Mary Tranter on 4th day giving a true full & particular account of thy housemaid's place, but I have had no reply yet, & we do pretty well, so do not be uneasy, only tell me all about yourselves, our dear relatives, & the journey.
Didst thou see in the Paper the death of Ann Bevans last 3rd day.
Being tea time, thy F. requiring space to address Edward, I will only add our very dear love to you, to thy dear Aunt & all, & remain
Thy ever affectionate Mother
I have been to meeting - it is post time & thy F. lingers at David Macs, so I must close this without ceremony. [Seal : S.M. in a square]
P.Strange
Elizth Tuckett
Care of Stanley Pumphrey
Postmarks : PAID No 30 BRISTOL
Frenchay 13AP13 AP14
near Bristol Worcester 1840 1840