Reference
X919/14
Title
John H Brooks to his daughter Katie [Catherine M F] Brooks.
Date free text
21st May 1870
Production date
From: 1870 To: 1870
Scope and Content
Saturday Evening 21st May 1870
My Own Precious Kate,
You are all so good in writing to me constantly (having already sent me 6 letters to my 4) that I cannot resist sending a last letter this evening, else tomorrow being Sunday you could not hear from me for 2 days. I have been so surprised and delighted to hear already of your safe arrival in Paris, the letter was put into my hand at half past two just as I was going out for a drive with granny and afforded me a refreshing report nearly all the way to Ampthill. You see there is one advantage in Paris over Dieppe that the post to England is a day less.
How I have felt for you all today for you must have been in a very grilled condition indeed! I wonder if you have a fan (not the two legged one!)? Here it has been as hot as an oven almost.
I think dear Mudders arrangements are excellent – please tell her so with a sweet kiss from me – but I want to know how she heard of the house you are located at. Tell all in your next, more about the rooms how many and how many [illegible] are there, and how you are stowed each of you away. They ought to feed you well for 8 and a quarter francs each a day, no doubt the situation costs something and it is a great advantage being in the best part of Paris and so near the Tuilleries gardens. I remember your street well, are you opposite to or on the same side as the Hotel Castiglione? When the weather gets cooler and you are all able to see some of the sights you will have to arrange as much as possible to go between mealtimes. But of course when you go to Versailles or St Cloud or places as far you must get your provender elsewhere.
My little party went off very well. We had a capital dinner and a bottle of champagne. Afterwards Mrs C & I played Mrs Fuller and Tom C at croquet and lost each one game. It was a pleasant little break to our quiet life – for quiet it is indeed without you all! Poor dear Fig I am sure misses you. He is a darling little dog and is a great comfort to me. The Dicks are quite well. I found a new little nest today in the wood with 6 eggs of which I took 2. I cannot tell what bird it is but I will try and found out tomorrow. Granny says she does not mind if you do not write to her for I always read my letters to her at once, and that suits her just as well. Tell darling Mudder I wrote to Uncle G to send her some money and she must let me know when it arrives. There has been a letter for her from Gussie Marriott but nothing of importance and it is not worth extra postage.
I have arranged today with Clay to have the days newspaper left at the Flitwick Station by the first train from London henceforth so that I shall get it at breakfast time for ¼ a day extra.
I wonder if you will meet Emilee soon, it seems odd her not having written to you yet. Mrs Fuller begged for me of my photo so I gave her the last sitting one I could find. By the way of course Mudder must have her photo taken in Paris, mind and get her to look pretty, such a face as I like – I don’t know whether she will be able to afford you also. I am very grateful to my darlings all three of you for writing to me such interesting letters. [Illegible] turn will come next, tell her the Fullers seem to have had a nice day at Toddington and the ‘Co’ were there also, the Cumberledges, Hanmers and about 40 people. They had a raffle for some charity – shilling tickets – and Mrs Fuller got one of the two prizes a piece of Cooper’s [illegible].
Don’t laugh but I am becoming an accomplished wool worker. The last 2 days I have done the outline of one of the flowers for Granny in black and a good bit of the tracing all right! She, poor thing, will work it wrong if I don’t sit by her, except just filling in parts.
I found the grey pony at Bedford was as big as [illegible name] so of course much too large for the pony carriage. I don’t think that there is any need for my looking out yet for a pony as you are not coming home yet awhile, I suppose!
If the weather gets very hot I expect that you will soon wish yourselves back again at Dieppe!
Emma [Jackson] is very kind and careful of Min’s birds, she said yesterday, “does Miss Minnie ever ask after them, I don’t think she could forget them.” She (Emma) has just made and put down a new little carpet in my dressing room as she said what I had before was disgraceful.
You dear old Kate, I dare say next week you will be purchasing your pearl ring in the Palais Royal! I hope you will get one to please you. It is early time yet for me to say whether or no I shall be able to come and have a peep at you before you leave, you will know darling that which ever way it is I will do what I think right and best for all. I have you know, others to think of besides myself. I am in great hopes for your dear sakes especially we may have a little rain soon, the glass falls a little today, the moon changes tomorrow, the peacock fowls incessantly cried (Granny’s sure prognostication) the smoke beats down, so something ought to come of it I should think soon! I am going to give Lucy Cave a book tomorrow for regular attendance at Sunday School and I have got from London a book of Top Lady’s Hymns to give to [ ] Adams when I next visit her.
I think now I have said my say darling. Kiss dear dear Mudder a sweet kiss from me and yourself and dear Min and the rest of the party too if agreeable to them and you provided there is no young gentleman amongst you! God bless you all and may your Paris sojourn be in all respects happy and pleasant, ever with fond love from Granny and me your most affectionate Papa.
Level of description
item