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Alfreton April 12th, 1858

My dear William

Your very welcome letter reached us on Sunday morning putting us out of all suspense and doing us all an immense deal of good for we had been wondering whatever was amiss that you had not written nagging all sorts of things likely to have happened, all of which you have proved to be wrong. I am happy to say I began to think you had (moved) into some other spot other than the New World for you must bear in mind you are in one world, we in another. I suppose one’s last never came to hand there was Mr Leighton’s answer to you I am sorry the letter is lost. Somebody will have treat when they get it if it is not gone to the bottom of the Atlantic.

How long do you intend staying at Mr Watsons. I don’t know what Mr Simmons will say if he knew you were killing swine in such numbers he (would) assign no good from it I think. I think I shall write and tell him you are better. I don’t know whether we sent you word his wife is dead; she has been dead some months now. We have not yet seen your letter to Father and Mother for they got there on Saturday morning when Father was gone to Nottingham so kept that for him to read      send the other off to John & I for Sarah has left me and taken to a School at Ripley. Mrs Gray and I have no doubt you will have all particulars so I will desist on that score. Elizabeth Newton is now Maid she has been nearly a month.

We manage pretty well but I feel I have had no one to talk to till John comes home and then he gets a book. I have more time for thinking it than does one any good. and my thoughts after being away to thee my boy. I assure you I have have often dreamed about you and had letters from you but  woke and alas only a dream. I received a letter from Jemima Wilson the same morning I had yours    they are quite well she wants me to go and see her soon but I dont how that will be. If we live that is. Sarah & I mean to go to Manchester at Midsummer as Mrs Hatfield sent us a very kind invitation to do so. I hope Sarah’s change will for the good of all. I have no doubt if Sarah ? gets hold of the Mass she will keep it not like my slipping fingers that wont hold it.

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I think I told you in my last Miss Legge and I were likely to join.   we had nearly concluded to do so when Father came over in a very great hurry and just has had Veto on all. Perhaps it was as well but at the time  I did not have relish it. Stanley has built some Houses opposite to Lessons down the town so she has taken one of them but it strikes me and with the force of a sledgehammer that she cannot stay long. It has got reported all over the town about us joining our schools so I thought I would jut out fresh circulars and raise my terms so that it pays rather better now for me. It is 15 sh per to quarter now before it was twelve shillings so it has done me good instead of harm. Mr & Ms Roberts and I are now on more friendly terms. I have written to him in answer to one he sent me and I told them a few shocking facts he said he would not have old grievances up again but he could not help himself when I wrote to him and now I think they know their place and me mine.

If Joshua gets on too fast I quietly take him down a notch. Mr Jones is about the same old Slate as ever always has like he gets cold they have got an other youngster John Bowles. I must tell you all the Alfreton news I can think of Mrs Bowles and Mrs James Haynes are dead and poor Will Watters he came home from Sheffield and died of the smallpox. I suppose he died quite happy Mr Watters is now living at his new Auction Mart. I dont know how he is getting on I am afraid often struggling. He still comes to Chapel and sings as heartily as a bad cough will let him. They have given Mr Colledge an invitation to be the Minister at Alfreton. I dont know whether he has yet accepted it. There is a Mr Sidebottom at Mr Colledge preparing for college and he and Mr Colledge take it on in their turn to preach. Mr Colledge has spent the day with several trainees which have been his term at least they both have. One Sunday Father came over and we had Mr Colledge that day and I can assure you there was plenty of Newspaper as Father called in the Hayfield they were both /bothered exactly. You will be surprised to hear that Mr Leighton has resigned as Malpool. I suppose it is on account of his health he has had so many fits of late. I am very sorry for them. He was very pleased with your letter. I told you all about it but I suppose you never got the letter so are still in a state of ignorance about it.

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We went home last Thursday week before Good Friday and returned on Monday night just before we set off the old cow was taken very ill.  Ben came running up the walk as if his head were on fire. Father had given her too much bran and grains and it caused her to swell very much and seemed choking  they ?hosed some salt and water into at the suggestion of Henry Barton who happened to pass at the time. then Ben started off to fetch Mr Weston who came after a while and I am happy to say she is better,  she calved soon after I suppose. I cannot tell which cow it was,  perhaps they will at home.

I have not seen Mary and Sarah’s letters so if we happen to tell one thing two or three times over I cannot help it. Henry Evans joines JIm? on his way to America. he came to wish us good bye a fortnight since today and he sailed on the day but one after so he will be in America before this letter. I think he is going more north to Montreal in Canada. He is a wandering young chap perhaps he will cross your path some day. He wrote to ?rogw before he went.  If he got on well and came over to fetch one if I would go, I told him I would make no promises he had better look out for a Yankee lass with plenty of dollars for I know he is fond of them

I had Thursday and we went home we went to the Library. Mr John Wood enquired after you very kindly also Mrs Kew.  James Barton is married to Emma and they are keeping a Hamphrey House or something of the sort at Hamilsen. I spent a few days last Christmas with Mr & Mrs Heighton who both enquired after you and desired to be very kindly remembered to you. said she should like to read Will’s witty letters. it would be quite a break I am so glad your eyes keep better for I suppose they do on yours tell us and your hands too. Do you help Mr Watson to handle as well as to slaughter hogs & I think it is time you were at work again my boy if you can get anything to do. You will have to work like a Black to make up lost time. I can tell you John is taking care of his pence and pounds too. He will soon have some for ?Cat Booth. Flo is now with one at Alfreton so that he has not? that heavy expense for I let him off for the lease is free.

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I hope as we are answering your letters so soon you will not let us be so long without an answer. I do not find fault remember for i suppose you never got our last. I think it is our turn to have a letter this time. I have watched the postman many a time. I saw him with a yellow letter and concluded it was for me. But I was disappointed. I must not forget to tell you Joe Newton has left his Uncle Joseph to ?hard .  He is too mean for anything, He is quite a sickness Ben.

Mr Vincent is coming to lecture at Codnor  Park on the last Thursday andFriday of this month and he will stop and preach the school sermons for Mr Colledge on the Sunday after. So we will be there I hope. One of his lectures is the British Parliament . The other is a fresh topic. Mr Colledge said he could not remember the title.

About the photograph, I shall leave it to your superior judgment. It will be image with or without mustache. Don’t sit with with your arm over the chair as in your last. If the ?mutton chop makes you look sharper, have it so by all means.

I cannot think how could annoy my Watson with a mustache when he so decidedly approves of a ????.        The faces have been at which would

Mr Ward Ripley died very suddenly about a fortnight ago. Mr Newdon of Loughborough preached his funerial sermon last Sunday but I had forgotten that is Sarah’s province. Perhaps she will have told you.  I am afraid my letter will be rather uncommunicative for things jump into my mind. I pen then down lest I should forget.

There was an eclipse here over Monday about 5 or 6 weeks since. Even so again in the book out there were special trains even to certain places in order to see it better. But lost to the house. Thick clouds intervened so that we could see nothing of it. I suppose Mother and Alan? caught sight to it between the clouds fore few minutes only. I have no doubt John’s will be a very instructive letter for he has got his Alison so you will have quite a variety of

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letters. Mary’s I do not doubt will be rather comic, Sarah’s  is the point pretty well and as for mine we’ll say a Medley Sir. I am sure we ought to be very much obliged to you for your long letter. I am you know there are four of us and only one of you as she had said . I go up sometimes to see Mrs Branley and she enquires about “William bless him”. She gets very infirm now but still as fond as ever of taking her nice little puddings & Jessops have left Aldercar Hall. they had a sale last week and are going I think to Cheltenham . One of my your ladies had some work for me to make up I told her I could not do it to night for I had a very long letter to write. Mary Webster in a minute said “to America” and then followed several questions as to the weather there and many other things. I told them of your ride on the snow some of them would of course like a trip too. You need not be afraid of me giving up my health I think it is of no use changing without it is for the better. I often wonder when we shall meet again. I expect when we do we shall sit listening to such wonderful tales with our mouths open and wondering what next. You must take all down you see and hear that is worth in order to inform the house birds. Eliza Webster always enquires very kindly after you she has sent you two or three newspapers so if you receive (a package from)

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Derby or Chesterfield, you will know who its from. I think I must bring mine to a close now for Miss Legge has just called to pay a visit and it will not be very good manners to sit and write although she insists on my finishing my letter my letter. Perhaps Mary may fill up the other part if she thinks it worthwhile to cross more so now I will conclude with my very very best love and believe me

Your very affectionate Sister,

E Slater

Mary has brought my letter back so I thought I would have another at it and try again. You must be sure and not leave these letters about or else I am afraid they would be would be rather puzzled to make out what was meant. I hope you have never happened to meet with John Or what he will be borrowing another sovereign again or perhaps fleecing you all better next time. This afternoon we  had the Pictorial Paper that you sent in the School room and were looking at Mr Watsons house and they all pronounced it a very pretty place and Tom Jones asked me of that Man near the house was my brother.  I said perhaps so.

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I think John has made a rare long hatch up this time he did not like to send blank paper after the hint you gave him. Mary is writing most of her letter here so we can ramble as we like. I am afraid I am getting into a sad miserable way of scrawling but I know you will pardon my defects. Ms Williamson says after you (hole in page) after you get Married we must not expect such long letters from you. I told her your love would not even then all evaporated I thought I would not believe it.

I was very much surprised to hear we had so many cousins in America and all of them so kind to you I think we should be just about to count forty one in England. I should like to come over and see them very much indeed  for you have given such a glowing account of their kindness I cannot but think it would be extended to your Sister if there. Give my love to them. Have you heard from Miss Jackson and the new flame of yours her friend with with all the Dollars lately? I suppose you are cutting it fat judging from your weight and getting quite corpulent. I expect we shall hardly know you with your mustache and other embellishments.

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And now my dear Will. I must bring my epistle to a close for it is almost time for I am getting short of matter I think.  I trust we shall soon hear again from you for no letters are half as much looked forward, desired as yours.  I am have not very lately from London. I suppose “ furchy?’ is paying one off for keeping her waiting. I trust this will reach you. If it does not, It will be a great shame. For John has directed and paid attention to punctuation so it comes to a period when you lay hold to it

With Benjamin’s mess of love, believe me to be your very affectionate sister

E Slater (once more)