August 13th, 1875
Dear Brother, Sister, Nephew & Nieces,
I am going to try and write you a long letter. In the first place I shall have to apologize
for neglecting to write, but we have sent you papers and also a book called
Chatterbox. I thought it would suit ___ and
I have sent the other number this week, but we have made up our minds to come
out if all is well indeed. I should like
it to be this next month if possible, but if Providence so orders it we shall
be with you to celebrate your silver wedding.
The Post papers you sent with the ___ enclosed gave us a great deal of
information and we found very great pleasure in trying to trace Hutchinson, and
what with looking with one letter or another and papers we found Hastings and
then we made a guess where our new home was likely to be. I am sure from description and ___ I shall
like the place after once crossing the ocean.
I shall think nothing of the land journey.
I have written to Joseph and asked him for to write again to
you but if you were to see a specimen of his letter here you would not be surprised
at him not writing you.
I shall send you my jacket pattern and you can then see what
size I am. I have been making myself a
dress the same as I enclose. They make
up very well. I think the fashion is
much the same with you as we have them.
I have not been able to do much sewing for I have not been well, my face
swelling till I can hardly see. But I hope
as soon as it goes down a little I shall be able to get it stopped as it
proceeds from a front tooth. Marion is
delighted to talk of cousin Franky getting her a little dog. She says it must not bite her. As for the boy, Richard, we can easily manage
him. He is so tough we think he will
make a first rate farmer for he is strong made, but you will be able to judge
when you see our portraits. I intend to
have them taken this month and you will then know us when we arrive.
I think you may now begin to make your list out for useful
things we may want. I am thinking of
keeping all the drapery goods that I have at present in housekeeping and bring
a little china and glass that I value. If
there is anything in that way you would like, let us know because having the
timepiece to be carefully packed, other little things may go with it. But I do not intend to bring very much. Richard thinks that a deal of luggage would
be very troublesome when we get to New York.
He says that money will be better for us but I say what we do not want
may be turned to a good advantage if we do not have them.
Have you heard from cousin Dawson? We have not but we shall try and see her
before we come out. She might have
written to you by this time. We have not been In Park Lane to see for Mr.
Gleave but we will do so. It is a long way from us and we thought to leave it a
little nearer the time for we did not want it known till we have gone, particularly
amongst neighbors as news soon spreads.
My news is almost getting exhausted for I am such a very poor
correspondent that you must excuse. I
can talk to you better than write which I will do if I am spared to see you,
which will not be long. I am now
counting the months, thinking they do not go over quick enough, but when we
look over our papers and see the heavy calendar there is for murder in
Liverpool, time will go too quickly for them. There are seven to be tried for separate
murders here besides others almost equal to it and mostly if not all of them is
through drink which is a great curse in this town.
We have had very sultry weather lately, yesterday and today
heavy thunderstorms and rain but I have not heard of any damage being done
yet. The great floods have caused the
bread to rise very much. One four pound
loaf costs nine pence. That will be in
your money eighteen cents as far as I can guess. Butchers meat, to buy a joint is sixpence a
pound, chops or steaks one shilling a pound, bacon ten pence, ham sixteen pence
a pound. The things we chiefly live upon
are very dear. I am very to get into a
country where I can have a good butter.
It is all I care for when I go to Holywell, is their bread and butter
and eggs and some good bacon, but I must not write such a deal of money or else
when I tell Richard he will not let me send it, but I feel as though I was
talking to you now. I have made myself to
feel as though I was going home. I
always felt so when I was going to Holywell.
I have never received anything but kindness from my husband’s side and I
am sure it will be continued in the far west.
The children are very well and Marion sends kisses to her
new Aunty, Uncle and cousins. Boy (we
always call him) can’t speak much yet but will do by the time you see him.
With fondest and love and best wishes to all, not forgetting
yourself, from your affectionate sister,
M. A. Garner
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