Transcribed by Nola Abshere. The original is in the possession of Lillie Ann Allen Self.
England
Terriers End
Near Tring, Herts
March 1900
My Dear Brother,
You will think that I am very negligent in writing so I am. I often
think how nice it used to be to get a letter every month now we neither
of us know when to look for one why should it be so I daresay it was me
that began to drop it off till I supose I write too in a year instead of
twelve I am glad to say we are well which is a great blessing while there
has been so much Flues and so much Influenzas.
We have escaped all we have had nothing but a cold thank God for it. The
weather is very changeable we had too heavy falls of Snow this year the
last came in the night Henry started to work he had to dig himself out
first though he went a little way up the lane and dare not go farther he
did not know where he was going to sink to so he came back and staid till
daylight then he had to go where he could since then. We have had some
lovely weather then last night it began snowing again. But it thaws it
looks as if we have yet to have a lot more either snow or rain we have
had a lot of rain this winter. The springs are higher than I have known
them for years you mention this dreadful dreadful awful war oh it is
grievency to think how many lives there as been lost and to think how
many many hundred poor fatherless children and widows there are left to
mourn there lifs and get in harm they ___ in England did seem to be having
the worse of it but through God's mercy it seems to have taken a turn there
was such a rejoicing in Tring when Lady Smith was taken they decorated
the town with lights and flags and the bells rang and the brass band,
fife band, lads bregade fire bregade rebel vilenteers and yoemornery all
paraded the streets with torch lights, Henry and Elsie went they said it
was well worth seeing I could hear the bells right and the band play and
the people sing and the guns go off at home that was enough for me.
Job never had only to children, there are both married Ellen has two children,
Bill is nearby Ellen is in London Bill is at Watford David has one girl married.
I am thankful to say this war has not made bread dearer at present, tea
beer tobacco cotton and I think all liquors are a little dearer and I
don't know what else but that won't affect me much
[there might be another page to this letter that is missing]