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Letter ReferenceSmuts A1/187/99B
ArchiveNational Archives Repository, Pretoria
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter Date22 October 1903
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 Hanover
2 Oct 22nd 1903
3
4 Dear Isie
5
6 Its very funny that just this morning as I was thinking that as soon
7as I’d put the dinner on I would write to you, Cron came in with
8post & Sannie’s little box of cherries. Give her a kiss for each
9cherry. They were very sweet coming from that dear old garden in
10Pretoria. That house & garden are the only parts of Pretoria I like
11now.
12
13 How does Sannie grow? Do you know that you owe me two letters? But I
14believe if I had Sannie I shouldn’t write to anyone, I’d be so
15busy over her. We’ve moved into our little house as I told you. But
16I like it so much. It stands just on the out skirts of the town & you
17can see the veld all roun. If you go to Cape Town do, do, do come &
18stay with us for a couple of days on the way. I can get you a nice
19bedroom near to this in the house of my friend Miss Viljoen in whose
20house I had my room during Martial Law; & if you’ll put up with my
21cooking for the sake of giving me pleasure, I’ll be so happy. I’ve
22got a little Bushman girl now of almost 11 who cleans the pots &
23fetches water, & it is such a splendid comfort I’ve even even begun
24to write a little again.
25
26 Public affairs are so sickening to write about. Some people say if you
27get up to the top of the hill what matter whether it be crawling on
28your hands & knees or walking upright. But to me it seems to make a
29great difference. There is some talk of sh Cron’s standing for
30Beaufort West. The leaders of the party wanted Venter & du Vaal to
31stand here, so though Cron had a big majority of voters he with-drew.
32Good bye. Tell me about Sannie.
33
34 Love to you all
35
36 Olive
37
38