SD2312. Henrietta Cook to Elizabeth Cook
Published in The Brownings’ Correspondence, 27, 338 (in part).
Stoke St Mary
Decem 31st [1859]
My ever dearest Mrs Cook,
It seems long since I have written to you, & I cannot let the end of the year quite close without assuring you of our continued affection, & wishing for you every blessing that may be good for you– May the next year be happier for you, & all of us than the latter part of this has been—& as years go by, & time advances may we look forward with hope to a joyful reunion with those that have gone before us, through the mercies of Redeeming Love! I trust you are all trying to cheer yourselves, you & dear Mary– I know your Christian feelings have throughout led you to do so—& we have very often admired you for it!– My dearest Surtees follows your example—altho’ I know it has been a hard struggle for him!– But now I am going to write to you on other subjects!– Altham was going to write to you, but he is not fit for it today—the Christmas festivities we had on Tuesday have brought on one of his horrid bilious attacks, & poor child he has been suffering much—it is so provoking as he was looking so well before it—but rich cakes & puddings are too much for him– Dear Arabel sent them a Twelfth cake, & that completed the evil that was going on with the mince pies &c However he is better!– Would you like to hear something of our Christmas party? Well! you shall– It was first thought of as a return to some children & others whom I had formed in a class to sing at church, for when we first came to this parish there was no singing in either church we go to—& as they had been to this house once every week to practise, I thought we were in duty bound to give them a treat, so 7 girls & 2 men (the choir) were invited—then Surtees thought the gardener, & a few others who had been working occasionally ought to be asked too—then each servant was allowed to ask a friend, until at last our party mounted up to 28 to dinner—not a small party!! We gave them turkey, boiled beef, plum puddings & mince pies– In the eveng our guests were the clergyman’s family Mr Shaw—(tell dear Mary, her PS amused us) & after tea at 6 o’clock, our 3 children acted a charade that was written by Surtees—in the last act of it, they had to sing “the three little kittens, that lost their mittens” you would have laughed had you seen little Edward standing between Altham & Mary singing, & using such action!!! it was his first appearance & they all gained great applause[.] Mary appeared as an old woman of 75 dressed in a red cloak which she did capitally, & she & Altham repeated afterwards very well, & they both danced– Altham dressed as a Scotchman danced a horn pipe, & sang “Bonnie Dundee”—the whole was concluded by the choir singing God Save the Queen—then we all went to the Kitchen, where there was a Christmas tree, & each of the guests had something[.] A very pretty tree it was—& after that they had a Snap Dragon—after which we retired & left them in the Kitchen to their own diversions!—but I think all enjoyed themselves—our children did much!– Will this amuse you, or not?–
Yesterday I drove to see Aunt Jane, my cold which is well would not allow me to go to her before! She told me all about poor Uncle James– After that she became much more cheerful—& she surprised me by telling me they were going to London on Tuesday or Wednesday for 3 months, that she may be under good medical treatment[.] She saw Dr Ferguson as they came through Town who told her he understood her complaint entirely it was spinal, but that he could do nothing for her without she was in London– So Uncle Hedley consented, & I believe the house is taken in Hyde Park Sqr—the Robin Hedleys have had the scarlet fever in their house, all the children save one, have had it & Kate has been very ill with it!– Poor dearest Surtees has got a cold today, & feels very poorly, nevertheless he was obliged to go to Taunton– He, & our darlings sit round the fire & send their kisses to dear Grand Mama & Aunt Mary & wish them a very happy new year. Altham intended to write himself, but is too unwell today—he puts it off till next week– I write in the dark– Surtees’ “kindest best & most affecte love.” & thanks for dearest Mary’s letter–
Ever dearest Mrs Cook
Your most affecte
daughter Henrietta–
Cheering news from St Leonards–
Address: Mrs Cook / Whitehall / London.
Publication: None traced.
Source: Transcript in editors’ file.
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