"Dinizulu, my boy Jim" Read the full letter
| Letter Reference | MacFarlane-Muirhead/2 |
| Archive | MacFarlane Collection |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 8 December 1889 |
| Address From | Mount Vernon, Gardens, Cape Town, Western Cape |
| Address To | Abbotsholme, Rocester, Staffordshire |
| Who To | Robert Franklin ('Bob') Muirhead |
| Other Versions | |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to Mrs Hazel MacFarlane for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter to Bob Muirhead, which is part of the MacFarlane family collection of Muirhead Papers, Special Collections, University of Glasgow Library. The address the letter was sent to is provided by an attached envelope.
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1Mount Vernon
2Cape Town.
3Dec 8 / 89.
4
5Dear Bob
6
7I wrote you quite a long letter two weeks ago. Then I suddenly got
8news that my mother was very ill. I have done a two thous-and mile
9journey since then, & my letter is lying at Vis-ch Hoek I think.
10
11Tell me more about the school, tell me more about yourself. Yes,
12you’ll have to come out here. I’m going out to Vis-ch Hoek
13tomorrow.
14
15When I was going through the karroo on a great desert plaine I saw a
16wonderful mirage. I’ve seen many before but never one quite like
17this. A great beautiful lake & trees growing all about it, & the
18beautiful water shining in the sunlight. I’ve seen a great many
19things I’d like to tell you about.
20
21Don’t forget me Bob.
22
23Every one is very kind to me here they are all good to me beyond words.
24
25I got ill at Vis-ch Hoek & the Doctor ordered me up country. I
26didn’t get better there, so I’m going back to try my beautiful
27Vish Hoek tomorrow, & if I can’t stay there I’m coming back here.
28
29My sister-in-law & the children have are going to the sea side for the
30three summer months & she says I can have this house all to myself. It
31a beautiful house out of the town with the pine wood behind, & the
32white flat roofed town & the sea below. If I do come back & you come
33to pay Africa a visit you can come & stay with me.
34
35Give my friendly greetings to your friend Brown. I hope his foot is
36quite well.
37
38Tell me all about Reddy, & Cassels & the boys. I’d like to go rowing
39with you
40Olive
41
42^Address Mount Vernon still^
43
2Cape Town.
3Dec 8 / 89.
4
5Dear Bob
6
7I wrote you quite a long letter two weeks ago. Then I suddenly got
8news that my mother was very ill. I have done a two thous-and mile
9journey since then, & my letter is lying at Vis-ch Hoek I think.
10
11Tell me more about the school, tell me more about yourself. Yes,
12you’ll have to come out here. I’m going out to Vis-ch Hoek
13tomorrow.
14
15When I was going through the karroo on a great desert plaine I saw a
16wonderful mirage. I’ve seen many before but never one quite like
17this. A great beautiful lake & trees growing all about it, & the
18beautiful water shining in the sunlight. I’ve seen a great many
19things I’d like to tell you about.
20
21Don’t forget me Bob.
22
23Every one is very kind to me here they are all good to me beyond words.
24
25I got ill at Vis-ch Hoek & the Doctor ordered me up country. I
26didn’t get better there, so I’m going back to try my beautiful
27Vish Hoek tomorrow, & if I can’t stay there I’m coming back here.
28
29My sister-in-law & the children have are going to the sea side for the
30three summer months & she says I can have this house all to myself. It
31a beautiful house out of the town with the pine wood behind, & the
32white flat roofed town & the sea below. If I do come back & you come
33to pay Africa a visit you can come & stay with me.
34
35Give my friendly greetings to your friend Brown. I hope his foot is
36quite well.
37
38Tell me all about Reddy, & Cassels & the boys. I’d like to go rowing
39with you
40Olive
41
42^Address Mount Vernon still^
43