3 Queen’s Walk, 

Nottingham 

August 29, 1868 

My dear William,

This morning and I picked an old letter of yours that warm up old feelings and love and I resolved at once to pen a few lines knowing that that they would be welcome and also that I should get a reply which I am sure will be ditto.

I hope you are quite well at Darlington and comfortable and happy at least so far as you are able to be for I know and feel your loss is great for poor dear Anne and was a kind dear good wife and and an indescribable loss but your loss is her gain and she has is now happy and where the weary are at rest and that 

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is very very comforting to you and the rest of us I can truly say you have had our deepest kindest sympathy for I think till you are married, you cannot fancy or imagine what the loss is to be parted. but still we must look forward to meet again where there is no more parting but is unceasing happiness. 

Forgive me my dear Will for writing in this strain. I am sure  you do not wish to depress on the contrary I would much rather help to cheer and comfort you as you well know 

I will now tell you a little about ourselves and home. Father came on Tuesday afternoon and stayed all night, and went to Newark by the light train on Wednesday,  Mother came that day Wednesday and stayed with us till Friday 

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so that we had them both for two nights for a wonder. Father going on father going on Thursday. We were very pleased to h ave them for the day and I can tell you Mother seemed rather better and Father too  He went to Hoveringham to some man there and brought two bottles of medicine that are quite to cure his face. I do hope it will. he has called this morning they are quite well at home including your little darling. We heard his numerous feats and tricks and how well he is and of his flesh being so firm and solid. Mother says if he can get a brick he is smiled and goes hammering about to his hearts content.  he is as happy as a prince and is quite as much loved as one.  I saw him the day you went away and had some face time with him. he does not forget 

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from time to time. Mother brought your letters on Wednesday so we have heard a little of your proceedings. Nottingham is getting into the excited state again and consequences of election meetings. There was one in the marketplace her last night and every few minutes you could imagine yourself in Wombells or Manders Menagerie,  such horrid groans and howls you could hardly imagine Such harmless creatures as lambs making such noise but Nottingham lambs are proverbial 

I hope I shall hear from you soon. Have you heard from John lately?  George was very poorly the day you went away and for around a week after but I am glad to say he is all right again. Lizzie is quite well

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and sends her love and sends her love and lots of kisses   And I am to tell you Charlie can read better now when he gets some paper with reading on,    and that she will be 5 years old on the 2nd September and her dada”s on 6th and yours and John’s 4 days    Accept my best wishes before hand if not to hand on that day

I don’t know whether they have told you that Charlie can get down from the pantry step now and is quite pleased with his performances    and as for squealing and shouting and stamping about course  his equal is not to be found. It is a great blessing he comes on 

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so well and is so well looked after. I trust when he grows up and becomes a man he will never never forget his aunt Sarah and all her love and care for him.  I don’t think she would love him much more if he were her own. I think I shall tire you if I spend much longer so will shake and wind up.   George and Lizzy join with me in best love to you and ever believe me 

your affectionate Sister

E Hickson 

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Please remember me kindly to Mrs. Elwood and Mrs. Lydell & somehow or other I did not manage to post that this till Monday so must get George to do so tonight. Do you let me have a letter soon     I am sure we shall always be pleased to hear from you when you can write and I will promise to send you as good a hatch up as I can whenever I see or hear anything of you do your dear little son for we are all very fond

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of him and I am afraid if we had him here he would get spoiled if he is not as Father used to say of Lizzie too much good sense to be spoilt.  You know Father thinks nobody has sharper Grandchildren then he has if so sharp. I have had a walk in a walk with Lizzie and a little  ?Skegby cousin to the Arboretum and I feel very tired. The flowers there look beautiful. Once more my dear William I must say goodbye with our united love 

I am 

E Hickson