X953/2/7/1

Letter to Mary from Debbie Richardson.

n.d. [c. 29 July 1867]

From: 1867 To: 1867

Written at Woodbank, Rotherham [Yorkshire]. My dear Polly, ...Oh how I wish I could have one little chat with ’Polly Wiggins’ once more but it can never be-- so must trust to my pen to tell my best and earnest wishes for your future happiness, that my lips cannot speak. I hope, dear, married life may have every blessing and not more sorrows than would be consistent with that happiness. May God ever guide and help you, and trusting in Him you will have peace. You must write and tell me all your doings. Where are you going? and for how long? Who are to be at the breakfast and what presents you have-- in short everything you know will interest me. I could go on writing ever such a long letter, but I must not for I have stolen upstairs to write this, while there is company below and I want to go and post this my self. Dear Polly, how much happiness we two have had already in life and how very very glad I am that you and I were friends, fancy how that friendship has increased since the first night I crept close to you on that hard mattress bed in the far room. How many nice talks we have had since then, and I hope we may still have many more; still there must be a change I know after people get married. Still Polly will prove true to old friends I am sure. I am glad Annie Wiggins will take my place; I like it so much better than any other because I don’t then feel as if my place was being usurped by a stranger. I hope every thing will go off nicely and happily. I am sure the bride ought to look beautiful so mind she does; remember it is the greatest day in your life. I only wish I could catch a glimpse of my Polly all in white. Dear Mary, I send by the same post a present which I hope you and Hugh will accept for my sake; it is small but I wanted to give you something that was good and worth keeping just to remind you of your old friend Deb-- so took for my motto ‘little & good’. That cannot be applied to either of us as regards size. I hope no one has given you the same; if unfortunately any one has done so, you must return immediately and I will try and change for some other article. Give my best love to your dear Mama. I feel half inclined to shed a tear with her, but hope some day we may both have to rejoice over some little Pollies and Hughs together. Remember me to Jethro; he ought to feel proud first Groomsman and only son and at the head of Draughton Grange. Tell him to do credit to his sister and friends by making a grand maiden speek [sic] worthy of an Englishman losing the best sister in the world. Now darling, goodbye; may your path be one of roses-- may Jesus be present at your wedding feast and never leave either you or your most beloved is the prayer of your loving friend, Debbie Monday evening P.S. Of course my thoughts will be running after you all Wednesday. I thought of you much on Sunday as the last you would spend at home or with your class. Give my love to Lizzie & Mrs. Wykes Mind, I don’t know your new address; Mama and Millie’s best wishes

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Sanders,
Richardson, Deborah Hannah,
Wiggins,
Wiggins, Ann,
Wiggins, Mary,
Wiggins, Jethro John

Rotherham, family correspondence, MARRIAGE