"Hounding of Mashona, evil keeps begetting itself, mills of God" Read the full letter
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Letter ReferenceSmuts A1/191/55
ArchiveNational Archives Repository, Pretoria
Epistolary TypeLetter
Letter DateThursday December 1908
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 month and year have been written on this letter in an unknown hand.
1 de Aar
2 Thursday
3
4 Dear Isie
5
6 Thank you so much for the beautiful fruit. The custard apples
7especially were a great treat. I had never tasted them before: they
8are delicious.
9
10 I went to the train & saw your husband & General Botha for a few
11moments. I thought Onse Jannie looking very well. It was the first
12time I had ever spoken to Botha though I shook hands with him once. I
13quite understand now why the Purcell’s & all my other friends are so
14fond of him. He has such a beautiful smile. I always believe there is
15something deep down very good in the people whose smile is good: &
16people however good they may otherwise look whose smile makes you
17shrink from them I always mistrust. Your husband told me you would be
18coming down soon. Do let me know when you pass that I may come down to
19the station to see you & the children I hope you will get to know &
20love my dear sweet friends Dr & Mrs. Purcell when you are down. I can
21picture how happy the children will be when you go to spend a day with
22them at their beautiful farm. I would have written long ago, but my
23heart has been very bad. I have not been able to do anything the heat
24is so great here. I fear I shall very soon have to go down to
25Matjesfontein. It is hard to leave my husband alone in this miserable
26place. But I must go where I am able to do a little writing.
27
28 Good bye dear. "Alles ten besten"
29
30 Your loving little
31 Auntie Olive
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