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| Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold4/Mar-Dec1920/10 |
| Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
| Epistolary Type | Letter |
| Letter Date | 13 May 1920 |
| Address From | 9 Porchester Place, Edgware Road, Westminster, London |
| Address To | |
| Who To | Frances (‘Fan’) Schreiner nee Reitz |
| Other Versions | |
| Permissions | Please read before using or citing this transcription |
| Legend |
The Project is grateful to Manuscripts and Archives, University of Cape Town, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscripts and Archives Collections. Schreiner was resident at Porchester Place from early April 1917 until August 1920, when she left Britain for South Africa.
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1May 13th 1920
2
3My dear dear old sister
4
5I have not seen Edna or the babe for ten days but Ol wrote me they
6were doing well. I am hoping to see Cron by about the 7th or 8th of
7July. I do hope he will have a good time here; he has so needed rest &
8change.
9
10My dear old sister I wouldn’t of course think of fixing my self down
11on you for good - but I'll be so glad to come & spend the first days
12with Ursie & you; while I am looking for a place.
13
14Ruth Alexander said she would be looking about for me every where. I
15am too ill to stay with my friends for more than a very little time.
16Its so depressing to see people who are always in pain, & I know
17you’ll all come & see me wherever I am. Oh it will be so good to see
18you all. I long so to see Ursie’s small boy.
19
20If you know of any one who has been up to Matjesfontein find out how
21things are going there. If people still stay there &c.
22
23Oliver writes they are sailing on the 13th of August. I shant get a
24cabin to myself but I must try to go with them its my last chance. I
25don’t know if I’m a coward but I cant face another winter here in
26the fog & dark alone. I thought I was so brave when I came over to
27England that I would never give anyone any trouble & just come here &
28be alone in Italy till the end. And I would go to Italy soon if I
29could, but there’s no chance, & I can’t face the winter here alone
30again.
31
32We are having such a bad spring so close & damp – continual rain.
33All the fruit has been destroyed by it they say.
34
35Good bye, dear. My love to my boy Bill.
36Your small sister
37Olive
38
2
3My dear dear old sister
4
5I have not seen Edna or the babe for ten days but Ol wrote me they
6were doing well. I am hoping to see Cron by about the 7th or 8th of
7July. I do hope he will have a good time here; he has so needed rest &
8change.
9
10My dear old sister I wouldn’t of course think of fixing my self down
11on you for good - but I'll be so glad to come & spend the first days
12with Ursie & you; while I am looking for a place.
13
14Ruth Alexander said she would be looking about for me every where. I
15am too ill to stay with my friends for more than a very little time.
16Its so depressing to see people who are always in pain, & I know
17you’ll all come & see me wherever I am. Oh it will be so good to see
18you all. I long so to see Ursie’s small boy.
19
20If you know of any one who has been up to Matjesfontein find out how
21things are going there. If people still stay there &c.
22
23Oliver writes they are sailing on the 13th of August. I shant get a
24cabin to myself but I must try to go with them its my last chance. I
25don’t know if I’m a coward but I cant face another winter here in
26the fog & dark alone. I thought I was so brave when I came over to
27England that I would never give anyone any trouble & just come here &
28be alone in Italy till the end. And I would go to Italy soon if I
29could, but there’s no chance, & I can’t face the winter here alone
30again.
31
32We are having such a bad spring so close & damp – continual rain.
33All the fruit has been destroyed by it they say.
34
35Good bye, dear. My love to my boy Bill.
36Your small sister
37Olive
38