Sarah Liggins' First Letter

SARAH LIGGINS’ FIRST LETTER

This letter was written to William’s wife, Ellen, and her Aunt who was living with them in Ashby.

Longburn Dairy, Karere. November 18th, 1885

My Dear Ellen and Aunt,

It will soon be two years since we left home. It seems almost impossible, time goes so fast. I ought to have written sooner, you will think me unkind but Joe has kept writing and I kept putting off but he says I must not miss this mail.

You will be glad to know I like the new home we have come to; we are very comfortable and Joe is doing well in the factory. They have a nice lot of cheese already and are making nearly 20 a day now. My little house is close to them, so I can run in sometimes and peep how they are getting on.

We are all well; the children being here, they go into the bush sometimes and have some fine climbing over the logs and often falling. It was all very strange at first, not a face we knew or a friend. We found some nice people up here; kind pleasant people - one old lady saw us in the train and asked Joe if he was the Manager for the factory and would have us go to her place. She came again to see us and was very kind. I often go to spend a few hours with her.

We have a good school close to, Wesleyan service on Sunday and afternoon Sunday school for the children, we are about 4 miles from Palmerston church.

We often talk about you and think we should like to see you all but Joe has a lot to do at the factory and I have plenty to do in the house so the time goes by and we have not much time to think or murmur for home and we have a lot to be thankful for. I am sorry to think we had to come away as we did but I hope in time we shall be able to make things right. I wish we had come out when we left Coalville, it would have been much better for us but we must make the best of it.

I want you to please go and see my poor old Aunt Dobson and please tell me how she is. If she is in want, give her a £1 from Joe for Xmas and he will pay you. I should not like to think she was in want; she may not be here another Xmas and she has been very kind to me when I had no one else.

You know, dear Ellen, how kind an Aunt can be and no one could be kinder than she has to me. Please to give my dearest love to her and ask her to send me word how she is getting on and if she is in want for anything.

Give my love to Uncle. Write to me soon and tell me how you all are. How is Aunt? I hope well. Tell her I have the last short note she wrote to me. She said she did not think she would see me again this side of the grave. Tell her if we don’t meet again here we will in a happier home. I’ll know her kind old face again. I should dearly like to see you all again and you know I am living in the hope of doing so. I don’t think I should be quite so contented if I thought I should not. If ever we are able to come and see you it will be some years first but we are all in good health. Edith and baby are quite little women. Baby can talk quite well now. She is a funny little thing; we are all very fond of her and I must tell you she is the baby and I am very glad. Katie said her mother wanted to know how we were. Please tell her and give my fondest love to Mother, Aunt Katie; tell them we are all well and I will write them all soon.

I am writing to my sister Mrs. Ball. I wrote to my sister Lizzie the last mail. She thinks she would like to come out. I don’t think she will come. I have no doubt she would do very well if she came.

I hope you will write to me soon and tell how you are all getting on and about my poor old Aunt. We shall soon have Xmas now; it seems so strange here, just mid-Summer. So hot just at Xmas, I can’t say I like it like the home Xmas. We shall think of you all on that day and you must give a thought to us. Fancy a good dish of strawberries on Xmas day?

People do feed here. Meat is very cheap; best beef 4d a lb., leg of mutton 3d a lb., butter 6d a lb. Winter clothing is rather dear and very poor. Sewing is very dear, they charge from 14/- to a £1 for making a good dress; when I say a good dress I mean well made. Women charge 4/- and 5/- per day washing and some charge 6/-; so you may guess by that I do my own washing and sewing. I don’t think they will get many of our shillings. I find plenty to do with all the children’s mending and the washing and house work but I am contented. I do the best I can and we want for nothing so I have much to be thankful for. I often trouble about my old Aunt and wish she was here with me. I am afraid she often wants for things. You will not forget her will you?

I will have to say good bye now. With my dearest love to Aunt, yourself and William.

Kiss the little ones for me; give both your Aunt and mine a kiss from me and write to me soon.

Your loving sister,

S.E. Liggins

P.S. The children send kisses and love to their cousins. Katie wants a letter from her cousin, Osborne. I would very much like little Maggie’s likeness. I have not Aunt’s, nor Ellen’s, nor William’s. Would like photos of all.