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Letter ReferenceSmuts A1/187/81
ArchiveNational Archives Repository, Pretoria
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter Date20 March 1902
Address FromHanover, Northern Cape
Address To
Who ToIsie Smuts nee Krige
Other Versions
PermissionsPlease read before using or citing this transcription
Legend
The Project is grateful to the National Archives Repository, Pretoria, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Special Collections.
1 Dear Isie
2
3 I was so glad, so very glad to get your letter this morning. I am
4writing at once I got all the parcels, the Tam-o-shanter, shawl &
5Babys things. I wrote at once to thank for them, though no letter came
6with any of the parcels I of course knew they were from you. You
7can’t think of what use the shawl & Tam-o-shanter are to me: every
8evening about 8 my husband & I go to the fountain to fetch water, he
9carries the water & I go with him & I always wear your things.
10
11 I am sorry to hear Ella has left you, & yet so glad she will see all
12the family. I do hope to hear you have been allowed to come to the
13colony soon, but I fear there is as little hope of my seeing you here
14as in Natal. It seems almost impossible to realize that if we live the
15day must come when we shall all meet in joy & peace. The friend of
16mine for whom you made the Baby things has a lovely strong little son.
17She begs me to ask you whether she can not give your names & your
18husbands as God parents to the child, Cron & I are going to be, & asks
19what your full names are if you are willing.
20
21 I am so glad the ^two^ children are well. How you must long to see them
22all dear. My heart has been very bad again lately; my feet &
23hands are much swollen & it is difficult for me to walk, more than
24just getting through my house work. When the war is over & I can
25travel about & get change of air & rest perhaps I shall get better. I
26want so to live on a few years now. Please write to me soon. I am so
27thankful to think you have kind friends in Natal & so are not utterly
28alone.
29
30 Good bye dear.
31
32 Yours, very lovingly
33 Olive Schreiner
34
35