"Death of Leo, I never knew I loved you so much" Read the full letter
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Letter ReferenceSmuts A1/194/10/61
ArchiveNational Archives Repository, Pretoria
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter Date9 November 1912
Address FromDe Aar, 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. The date has been written on this letter in an unknown hand. Schreiner was resident in De Aar from November 1907 until she left South Africa for Britain and Europe in December 1913, but with some fairly lengthy visits elsewhere over this time.
1 Dear Isie
2
3 Your card has just come; the box has not come yet, but the boy has
4gone to the station to ask. I am just writing to my brother-in-law
5(married to Cron’s sister): he has a nice house at Muizenberg, next
6to Bakers on this side. I know they will all be there for Xmas & the
7Holidays, but are may be willing to let after they are over. It would
8be so nice if you got that house. But I’m afraid the rent might be
9rather high.
10
11 I have taken one small bed room at Schmilt’s Cafe ^for January &
12February^ Cafe close by my mother-in-laws house, & I have to pay £12 a
13month for the one room without board, I board myself! I have never
14heard of such prices as they are asking this year: & St James is
15dearer than Muizenberg. I do hope you’ll get a house at Muizenberg.
16I’m writing also to the friend who has got me the room at
17Schmilt’s Cafe to ask if she doesn’t know of a house. I wonder
18Neef Jan doesn’t buy a little bit of ground & build a little house
19at Muizenberg, right out on that side where the beach is so nice &
20wild. I always feel so shut up & "respectable" at St James! Muizenberg
21is much freer you wear what you like & do what you like! The tomatoes
22will be delightful thank you dear I’ll send back box at once.
23
24 My heart is so bad the doctor says I must leave at once: but I am not
25feeling well enough to get to pack my box & leave things right here
26for my husband. As soon as I can get this done, I’ll go to Cape Town
27& stay at my brother Will’s till New Year. Then they go to St.
28James’s & I go Muizenberg. Its sweet of you to ask me to stay with
29you but I have my room which I must pay for any how.
30
31 We have clouds & thunder every day, but never a drop of rain. It seems
32as if it were trying to rain & can’t.
33
34 Love to you all
35from Auntie Olive
36
36