Reference
X919/8
Title
John H Brooks to his daughter Katie [Catherine M F] Brooks.
Date free text
28th April 1862
Production date
From: 1862 To: 1862
Scope and Content
Lucknow, April 28th 1862
My own Darling Katie,
It is not very long since I last wrote to you, but it was an exceptional letter, and if I had received your dear Mama’s letter a little sooner I should not perhaps have written it. For, my dearest Kate I am rejoiced to hear that your dear Mama is able to send me an improved account of you. I am sure you will continue to take pains with your lessons when you know how very happy it makes your absent papa to hear of. I have a nice letter both from you and darling Min to answer. Your writing is very neat and regular for a young scrap of your age, and as there are no blots on the paper I presume you are more careful than you once were!
I am sorry to report that my white kitten is gone – it vanished one fine day and perhaps was eaten up by a wolf, of which there are a great many here – 2 or 3 poor little native children have been snatched out of their mother’s arms here of late and carried off! One was a girl of 9 years of age, and only her feet were found next day in a ravine. Col. Jenkins and I have been trying to find out where the wolves live that we may go and shoot them but the villagers say they come in at night from long distances, to eat the poor children! How thankful you ought to be that there are no such horrid creatures now in England.
I am glad to hear you have begun your dancing lessons and French also – tell me in your next who gets most praise from the dancing master. How happy you must have been when Cora was with you – she is always so kind to you and was so when you were both little dots in India! And now my darling Katie it is too hot for me to write more. I am obliged to keep a piece of rag under my hand to absorb the perspiration – and I am sitting in my shirt sleeves.
Give my very kind remembrance to Miss [Emily] Easter and with fond love and kisses to you my darling child and prayers for God’s blessings on you endeavour to be good.
I am always your affectionate father, John H Brooks.
Level of description
item