"Half-dead but into action" Read the full letter
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Letter ReferenceHRC/UNCAT/OS-15
ArchiveHarry Ransom Center, University of Texas, Austin
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter DateWednesday 4 March 1885
Address From4 Robertson Terrace, Hastings, East Sussex
Address To
Who ToHavelock Ellis
Other VersionsDraznin 1992: 314
PermissionsPlease read before using or citing this transcription
Legend
The Project is grateful to the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, the University of Texas at Austin, for kindly allowing us to transcribe this Olive Schreiner letter, which is part of its Manuscript Collections. This letter has been dated by reference to information written onto it by Ellis. Schreiner was resident at two addresses in Hastings from the end of November 1884 to the end of April 1885.
1Wednesday
2
3My sweet boy, I have just got your letter. It makes me sad. What can I
4do to make my comrade happy. I know I’m so horrid now I’m writing.
5I’m just in a kind of dream You needn’t burn any of my letters
6except I make a big + on them then you must.
7
8I want to put my arms round you & comfort you. You will be loved
9always & much wherever you go, loved more than Mrs Cobb loves Pearson.
10I think my love for you is deeper than her’s for him, even now, my
11darling. And much love is wanting for you in the future, better love
12than mine perhaps – not deeper. I think you don’t quite know what
13you are to me.
14
15I have not been able to work today, that is, I haven’t got on. I
16haven’t any physical trouble today I suppose that’s why. That
17passionate feeling & the creative are like the two sides of one
18substance.
19
20Are you well? Please tell me all about yourself. When the time comes
21for your letter to come sometimes I can’t wait. I have to run down &
22fetch it.
23
24Good evening. It’s such a soft grey, sad evening outside.
25
26I’ll Olive
27
28I think of you always when I get into bed. I have such long talks with
29you in the dark.
30
31The sonnet
32
33^Mrs Cobb writes about is your sonnet.^
34
Notation
Ellis's sonnets were not published as a collection until much leter: Havelock Ellis (1925) Sonnets With Folk Songs From the Spanish Waltham St Lawrence: Golden Cockerel Press. Draznin's (1992) version of this letter is in some respects different from our transcription.