"Wicked mad diplomacy, lying & darkness" Read the full letter
Letter Reference | Olive Schreiner BC16/Box7/Fold1/Jan-July1919/14 |
Archive | University of Cape Town, Manuscripts & Archives, Cape Town |
Epistolary Type | Letter |
Letter Date | Wednesday 18 June 1919 |
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. The date has been written on this letter in an unknown hand. Schreiner was resident at Porchester Place from early April 1917 until August 1920, when she left Britain for South Africa.
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1
Wednesday morning
2
3 Dear Fan
4
5 Yesterday morning I got a wire that Ursie’s little one had come ^the
6night before^. I went down at once & the dear nurse let me see her &
7the baby. She said she would only let me & Alice Corthorn see her. She
8looked just splendid, her dear eyes so large & restful. It was sweet
9to see her with the little son on her arm. I held him a bit. He’s a
10fine child with a head of beautiful think dark hair.
11
12 The nurse is just splendid, & charming woman with a smiling face.
13Ursie says she’s most competent Ursies landlady seems to love Ursie
14– she said she’d do anything in the world for her – "because
15she’s got such a charm." I’m glad she’s there & not in the home.
16I’m going to see how they are this afternoon & take her some flowers
17& some ^fresh^ cream if the nurse will let her have it. The landlady
18gave her one of her own newlaid eggs, laid by her fowl, for break-fast.
19 I’m so happy about her. I’ll write tonight & tell you how she &
20Oliver are. She had a hard time, but all quite normal, nothing went
21wrong. The landlady said she was very brave – as she would be. Tell
22Dot to write & tell me how the O.M. is getting on.
23
24 I am so thankful he is in Llandrindod today. It is the worst day I
25ever knew in London, heavy & misty & no air. It would have been awful
26for him. Thanks so much for your letter dear. It made me so happy. I
27knew you would love the dear Parkers. Take care of yourself I think
28the change & rest & fresh air will do you good too.
29
30 I hope you’ll have good news about Mrs Joubert.
31
32 My love to Will. I can see him lying out. It’s so nice I can picture
33you all.
34
35 Olive
36
37
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2
3 Dear Fan
4
5 Yesterday morning I got a wire that Ursie’s little one had come ^the
6night before^. I went down at once & the dear nurse let me see her &
7the baby. She said she would only let me & Alice Corthorn see her. She
8looked just splendid, her dear eyes so large & restful. It was sweet
9to see her with the little son on her arm. I held him a bit. He’s a
10fine child with a head of beautiful think dark hair.
11
12 The nurse is just splendid, & charming woman with a smiling face.
13Ursie says she’s most competent Ursies landlady seems to love Ursie
14– she said she’d do anything in the world for her – "because
15she’s got such a charm." I’m glad she’s there & not in the home.
16I’m going to see how they are this afternoon & take her some flowers
17& some ^fresh^ cream if the nurse will let her have it. The landlady
18gave her one of her own newlaid eggs, laid by her fowl, for break-fast.
19 I’m so happy about her. I’ll write tonight & tell you how she &
20Oliver are. She had a hard time, but all quite normal, nothing went
21wrong. The landlady said she was very brave – as she would be. Tell
22Dot to write & tell me how the O.M. is getting on.
23
24 I am so thankful he is in Llandrindod today. It is the worst day I
25ever knew in London, heavy & misty & no air. It would have been awful
26for him. Thanks so much for your letter dear. It made me so happy. I
27knew you would love the dear Parkers. Take care of yourself I think
28the change & rest & fresh air will do you good too.
29
30 I hope you’ll have good news about Mrs Joubert.
31
32 My love to Will. I can see him lying out. It’s so nice I can picture
33you all.
34
35 Olive
36
37
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