Z506/3/16/3

Letter from Octavius Field to his sisters, Jessie & Ellen. From Puckapimyal, via Seymour, Victoria

16 Feb 1882

From: 1882 To: 1882

Is grieved to hear of father's death. Would have liked to have seen him once more. Sorry also that they or he have not sent a message for years. 'Our life at home is as plain to me now as if it were months instead of years (I left in 1863)…We were brought up together – I used to kneel, while you both, as babies, pulled my hair..' They had a chair which could be adapted for use, high or low, and it was his job to get it ready when they had to be put in it. Used to go to church at Croydon – 3 of them in front, Papa and Mama behind. Now they are strangers – due to misfortune on his part. Knows some letters got lost. Was looking over Martell's album sometime since and saw some cabinet photos he had enclosed for them at home – two in uniform taken when he went to fight Maoris in New Zealand. He was told that they weren't wanted at home as father wished to consider him dead. Can not account for their remarks except that Marianne and John are aware that he knows some of their doings which are far from creditable. They need not have been alarmed – would not have grieved father or sisters by least allusion. 'We may console ourselves that the world has contained but few men like our dear father… he was in every sense of the word a truly educated gentleman..' Am 70 miles from town in the bush. Would have written before but did not know their address so will send letter c/o Middleton, solicitor

item

Field, Octavius,
Field, John Perring,
Field, Jessie Evans,
Field, Ellen,
Martell, Henry,
Field, John,
Field, Marianne,
Middleton

family correspondence, DEATH, Croydon, New Zealand