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Gertrude Strange to Samuel May Strange 20 Sept 61 Tottenham Sept-20.61 My dear Sam I am afraid thou wilt think I have quite neglected thee, and I feel very much conscience pricked I must own. I write thee today to enclose a likeness of myself which I thought thou might like to have; it was taken at Littlehampton & Cousin Harriet brought the negative to London and Edmund Beck printed them for her and she gave me 8; I don't think it is first rate but I hope thou wilt like it. Dost thou remember it is Papa's birthday tomorrow. I have not heard from him for some time - but in his last letter he said he was busy & had little time for writing, the harvest - is a better one than last year's, and the men were all busily employed getting it up; I suppose the hops will be done by now, and then there is generally a lull - Aunt Mary has determined to give up the farm and the stock will be disposed of by the end of November; so now Papa must - look out - for something else, you are caught-up when you least expect it, but I fancy now that the pawns are pretty [well] cleared off the board and even if one has to yield it will be well to finish the fight. It does seem very hard that there should be no opening anywhere for Papa that he can take without these horrid old ghosts rising up and haunting him.- Thou hast I expect - heard of Uncle & Aunt's return from Germany whither they went on a deputation to Minden to see the friends there. Having got so far they took advantage of it and with Thomas Clark made a short tour up the Rhine stopping 8 days at Heidelburg; they have surprised themselves extremely, and where ever they went they seem to have picked up some interesting persons, some American ladies in particular seem to have interested Uncle, and as he is very much interested in this American war, he was delighted to discuss politics with them. They went to Aix-la-Chapelle on their way home to see Charles Gilpin who is very unwell, and has gone there to take the waters. They crossed last-sixth day, and had a rough passage, which very much upset them both, and when they arrived here in the evening they looked most desperate, but in about 1/2 an hour they were all right again and telling us the most romantic tales of their adventures. Cousin Margaret crossed the day before, and came to see us last 2nd day; she has enjoyed her 2 months tour very much, and I hope she may feel the benefit of it soon, though at present she does not seem very well, as she has a bad cold, she is staying at Pear Tree Cottage now - her tour has been in Switzerland, and as they took it leisurely they stayed a week or so at some places finishing up with Chamonix and Paris. I have a short note from M.E. this morning, giving a good account of herself, but as it is principally dressmaking I wont forward it as thou would not be much interested in that.. Anna has this morning set off for Ireland to see Bessie White and when she comes back, goodness knows, as she has other visits to pay as well. She is quite a visitor here now, and indeed they are all out so often that we call this house Hotel de {Brull} [?]. Has thou read Dickens' new work entitled "Great Expectations". I have read part - and like it much. Dickens really seems to have revived somewhat - for certainly his Uncommercial Traveller was not worthy of him. I have not heard again from Dory, but we shall hear of him from Anna I expect - - I have given her several messages for him. Ted was down here a fortnight ago and I thought he did not look very well and he has been very hard worked lately. I hope however that it may be only a slight indisposition, and as he does not complain I think he can't be much amiss. Annie wrote to me yesterday, she seems very busy, and is learning German, & Latin, in addition to her other studies, she will be a regular blue-stocking I think; she is afraid she will not keep her position in the school at the approaching examination, but I think she will if she likes to. Now I think I must conclude this with dear love from Thy affectionate Sister Gertrude. [20.9.1861] LONDON 21.9.1861 SAFFRON WALDEN Envelope embossed with pink penny stamp S.M.Strange Messrs Robson & Green Saffron Walden Essex

20 Sept 61

From: 1861 To: 1861

No. of pieces: 2

paper and envelope

item

Strange, Gertrude,
Strange, Samuel May,
Beck, Edmund,
May, Harriet,
Gilpin, Charles,
Clark, Thomas,
May, Margaret Sims,
Dickens, Charles,
Strange, Theodore,
Strange, Annie May,
Strange, Edward,
White, Bessie,
Robson & Greene

books, authors, health, Robson & Greene, travel, non-surgical treatment, curriculum German, curriculum Latin, LIDLINGTON, London, Tottenham, Germany, Heidelburg, Switzerland, Paris, Saffron Walden