Reference
Z699/288a-b
Title
Gertrude Strange to Samuel May Strange 24 May 1861
Tottenham, May 24.61
My dear Sam
At last I commence a letter to thee - after owing one for so long - I am afraid thou gets neglected very much indeed.
Thou wilt be surprised to hear that Papa is in London again on the same ugly business as before - that tiresome old Marston. Oh dear me my patience is going, to see Papa made unsettled by not having enough to do; how I wish wishes were horses for a while or at any rate that I could change places with thee; I often think of thee on these sultry days weighing sugar &c &c &c while I am idle, idle, oh it is dreadful, I must have something to do - I wish I could take a situation; but they tell me no one would take such a cracked teacup as I am; all to no purpose has M.E. made me an illumination of Nil Desperandum which haunts me in my bedroom, it is hopeless dull work to live on like this without aim or object, without the power of doing a creature good, and surrounded with objects calculated in ordinary to elevate the mind, but which have not the slightest good effect on it in its present soured state, but only makes matters worse by ennuie -
Don't think I am going stark mad - I am not - I am only vexed with myself for being lazy, and discontented because my path is not among roses - I wonder how it is I write exactly whats going through my mind now - but I could not do anything else, I think reserved people can keep their mouths shut,- but as to restraining my pen - I might as well endeavour to tame a lion.
Well-a-day-, well-a-day, its all over now - I will try and tell thee what we are doing and the state of things in general.
I suppose thou knows M.E. is staying here during the Y.M. - she looks quite stout and flourishing. We want to see thee very much and I hope somehow it will so turn out - that we shall meet - this summer, sometime, though it is all in the clouds at present.
The Irish folks have arrived at Reigate and they all set off for the Isle of Wight about a week after the Y.M.- then M.E. has to go back & take care of the house or keep whoever is mistress company -
Cousin Margaret is in London now she has been paying a visit to Carry Westlake's at Southampton -
I have not seen much of Y.M. friends as I don't attend the meetings.
Mr. Edwards asked after thee the last time Papa saw him. Bye the bye Papa did say that he thought if there seemed no chance of his seeing thee again for a long while he thought he must run down to Walden -
But I'm almost afraid he won't manage it.
Now farewell with dear love from thy
affectionate
Gertrude
I am just reading Bleak House.
Envelope: penny red
S.M.Strange LONDON SAFFRON WALDEN
J.J.Robson 24.5.1861 25.5.1861
Saffron Walden
Essex
Date free text
24 May 1861
Production date
From: 1861 To: 1861
Exent
No. of pieces: 2
Format
paper and envelope
Level of description
item