My dear Mrs Merriman, I ought to have written sooner to thank you for so kindly writing about Mary Hicks. I suppose the fact is that she would have done better if she had been less well off at home. Her mother we always thought waited on the children and did not make them do enough for themselves, but when she took Mary from school to train her for service for a year, I thought she ... continue reading

My dear Mrs Merriman, Mrs Collins will be thankful to have the time till August to get Anne’s clothes ready, and give her the final instructions in scrubbing &c She is quite satisfied with the terms, and has no doubt of her daughter’s strength, Anne has been in great anxiety for the answer, she wishes so much to be with her friend Mary. I do not think you will find her fail on the side ... continue reading