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Gertrude Strange to Samuel May Strange 22 Feb 1861 Tottenham Feb.22.61 My dear Sam, I am very much afraid thou wilt think thyself badly treated, I feel to have neglected thee very much lately. Now before I forget I want to ask thee if thou still hast in thy possession a letter of Ted's describing his new lodgings which I sent thee by J.J.Robson. If thou has wilt thou be so kind as to forward it either to Margaret at Henry Bedwell's or to Mary Ellen. I find from Ted that both want to see it. I am so sorry dear Sam to give thee so much trouble but I find that Ted did not write to many at that time, or indeed to anyone but me. I have to thank thee for an epistle which was very welcome, it is so nice to hear of thee & from thee, for we do seem so strangely separated just now. Nothing seems to turn up for dear Papa and I fancy from the tune of his last to me that he is rather in a low spot just now. He has a great deal to go through and has worked very hard so, I am sure we ought to do our best now to work for him. I wonder very much whether Aunt Mary would be willing to engage him to see to the farm, as she is getting too old now for quite so much business as she formerly translated transacted herself. I don't know much what sort of place it is nor what size but if we could get consider that as home it would be very nice, though long absences would be unavoidable, still we cannot have everything and thus far few in our circumstances have been so well cared for, & found such kind relations. I think one of our cousins is now managing Aunt's farm but I fancy he is hardly clever enough to undertake the most responsible parts. But I do not know whether it would be possible for Papa to take the duties from Aunt. Uncle E. suggested this to me, but I told him I thought it unlikely Aunt would give up her post - or share the duties with Papa. Nevertheless I intend just to mention it to Papa tomorrow when I write. I had such a nice visit from Ted on first day - he has a slight cough, which is getting better now - but otherwise he looked very well and bright. He read us some of his Essays, & I recommended him to take pains with his composition & sentiments, and to try and write something for "Chambers Journal" or something of that sort; I think he would stand a considerable chance of success as his style is very modern & decidedly taking. We had Seventh day evening to ourselves as Sophy & Anna were out, and as thou may suppose we did not lack subjects to talk of. Ted sang to me part of the evening and read German (in which he has made some progress) very well for a beginner, at least so seemed it to my unpractised ear. He does not get nearly so tired now that his lodgings are nearer and I think he seems very comfortable, Miss Dawes takes great care of him, and I think he could not have better treatment anywhere. I have had a long letter from Annie a few days ago telling me how she has got up in class now - she is second in the school; she gets on very well does she not, I hope she will not tarnish her laurels by a defeat at the next "little-go" as the Cambridge students say. I want to know very much how thou spends thy evenings, does thou attend any lectures? Or have you a good library? I wonder what books thou art reading now - I should think thou must find a good few "odd minutes" in the evening, though I do not know what time you shut up. How dost thou like Oswald now? Dost thou find any intellectual companions? I suppose J.J.R. is a man of considerable acquirements is he not? We (that is Sophy & self) have just finished reading "White's Eighteen Christian Century" it is a very interesting work concisely & comprehensively written. I do not think I have told thee that Cousin E.Sims has been very ill, for some time she was in a good deal of danger, Uncle & Aunt both went down, and Aunt remains now, though the accounts of the last few days report considerable progress towards recovery, she does not mention returning yet. Aunt Jane is much better and has been out in the carriage. Has thou heard of the death of James White at Melbourne in Australia, I received a card, but have not yet heard any particulars, but I have written to ask M.Frances to write. Maria Morris came to call a few days since, it was so nice to see an Ampthill face - she sent her love to "you all". So no more at present from thine sister Gertrude

22 Feb 1861

From: 1861 To: 1861

No. of pieces: 1

paper

item

Strange, Gertrude,
Strange, Samuel May,
Strange, Edward,
Robson, J.J.,
May, Margaret Sims,
Bedwell, Henry,
Strange, Mary Ellen,
Strange, Edward Harris,
Strange, Annie May,
May, Sophy,
Bennell, Oswald,
Sims, E.,
May, Jane,
White, James,
Frances, Mary,
Morris, Maria

employment, farms, curriculum German, DEATH, Tottenham, Cambridge, Australia Melbourne