MS Princeton University, Parrish Collection, CO171: Box 29
My dear Duke
Thank you for your very kind letter, which has been a great pleasure to me and will be so to think of. Though every one of our friends is so kind one’s own people that all one’s life is mixed up with are so much more to one. I think that the expectation of the Consecration1 must have been exciting Mamma more than we knew for weeks before, she so often fancied the day was come, and when she saw a stranger walking with Mr Wither, thought it was Graham. Ever since, she has been wonderfully quieter and better – indeed all Monday & Tuesday her speech was perfectly distinct again – and her nights have been very good[.] today she is a little incoherent again, but the quietness is so very much greater, that it is a great relief. She has been shewing a great deal of understanding about things – has done some of her carpet work quite well, and is altogether better, though weaker and more tired than she was before that Thursday and Friday which were the worst days we have had at all. I think she has rather a headache today from the heavy thundery weather – not that it does thunder – but it has rained enough to make our bamboo beautiful again
I have heard nothing of Eastleigh since Sunday, so I imagine that the rain must have made the congregations small, but I don’t like to tease Mr Longland with enquiries, but we are going to take a box to the station this afternoon, and perhaps we may see him, and hear something about it. I believe there were to be two Christenings on Sunday so I hope that the 7 year old boy was one and there is soon to be a wedding. I do not greatly expect large present congregations, the Church is rather a provision to hinder the sheep as they come there from straying into strange pastures, though of course the need was urgent – I do hope it may prove a good seed, and have taken root in people’s hearts before the days come that I suppose will of disestablishment and voluntary system.3 I wonder whether the righteous are being taken from the evil to come
You alarm me about Uncle James.4 Kate Low gave some hints when I was in London, but I hoped that they were only Plymouth gossip. One could not be sorry that he should be a little happier and yet it goes against one that he should make himself laughed at. I suppose it must be one of two – but I cannot guess which – I am very, very glad you have been here, though so differently from my vision of old times (only last year!) when I hoped you would be our guest but I am glad Frances & Charlotte have been able to get to know each other better, and the peeps I had of you both were a great treat and your kind words too. I do hope that old age may be a protection from the grievous suffering you speak of, I think it often does have a lulling effect. Thank you for your most kind promise – I like to think of it. My love to Anne, Mary & Charlotte
Your affectionate
C M Yonge
Mr Longlands has just been here. Capital congregations on Sunday – offertory £2, 4 Christenings more satisfactory than he has had at E Lgh for a long time. The choir so eager that they are having 3 practices this week, I only hope it will keep up.