(*7)
My darling husband
I thank you with many loving thanks for your dear letter. I don’t think my own dear one that you can be more grieved to go than I am to lose the comfort & support of your beloved presence during my period of trial & suffering it does seem hard but it is the will of our Heavenly Father & we must try to submit with patience. Pray without
ceasing for his merciful care that He will grant us to meet again, in health & safety. I am well & have just been out walking with the children having sent Ellen to Church. It is a most lovely day. How i long to have you with me. The dear children are well they miss you very much the Puss-Pie said the first thing this morning ‘’My dear good Papa when will he come?’’ & I said ‘’Do you want him here?’’ she said ‘’less I do’’ in her decided way.
I was very sad after you left on Friday. I tried to keep up & not fret & worked hard putting things to right in the nursery & and about the house. About 12 o’clock I saw Robert Savage’s covered van drive in at the gate & I had quite a shock as I feared you had told John to send her at once. I did not want her until it was necessary but it proved that he brought the mattress from Marsel’s & I was relieved. I had it put upon the bed it is large enough now but I doubt if he has
put very more hair (*8) in it. John returned soon after bringing darling Mama & Frank it was pouring with rain by this time, but the little man was well wrapped up & held an umbrella over him like a real man. I was glad to see his dear face he told me all about the steamer going but he did not say that the whistle frightened him so much. He said it made a great noise & that the wharf moved. They drove to Fairfield (*9) & found Joe
at breakfast & Frank had cold salt pork & potatoes. Mama brought her carpet bag prepared to stay so she is here and I am glad to have her tho as you know she causes me anxiety. Still she is very good to the children particularly Frank & I shall feel comfort in having her here where I am laid up as she will see that they are well fed at any rate. & that they don’t go out in the wet or anything like that
and also she will sit with me & read to me Oh! dear Oh! dear, how I shall miss the sight of your dear face more, if possible than I do now but it is no possible. When the evening time comes that I have been accustomed to expect you home then it come upon me & in the morning when I wake you are far away. I have had both the dear children as usual. Frank goes to sleep in his cot & I put him at night & he says ‘’Dear Papa wishes he was here how doesn’t he Mama?’’ & I say he does indeed. My ‘’King’’ (*10) & when he wakes up & says ‘’Cover me Up’’ I say you must come into my bed dear Frank &
he comes. They take it by turns to go to Mama after they had their ‘’Hugo’’ which is a relief to me. I cannot well manage them both in my crippled state.
Just as we sat down to lunch on Friday who should be announced but Mrs. Foster, she was shown into the drawing room, & then I asked her to have some lunch. She said she had a carriage waiting & was going to town, she said she had no appetite & could eat nothing but she took a few mouthfuls of grouse & asked for barley water. The man sent in to say he could not wait when she had been here 3/4 of an hour, so she prepared to start
and I went to the door with her in the passage she after a little hesitation asked me if I would lend her some money. I told her which was the truth as you know that I had not a dollar in the house. She said if I had but £10 she would repay me when Foster was gone & she was her own housekeeper. If I had had it I should of given it to her but what could I do. I have thought of sending it, what do you think? She is very much
altered as you told me so stout! But she informed us that she expects an interesting event in January. F.F. is going by the next steamer. By the bye I suppose you took the $5 in change did you not. I looked for it in the drawer but could not find it
Monday 11 a.m. my own beloved your wife is still up & about. I could not write more yesterday the position
leaning forward distressed me. I was very tired last night. I must have been out for an hour & a half on the morning I went into the stable & took a look all around, Mashell says Dan does not eat his food & he thinks he ought to have another blanket. Punch is well & getting fat. The last two days Friday & Saturday ________ 3 & 4 were found ______ there _____ forgot to lock the door & John ____ with the______
This morning ______ Mashell has remonstrated about the door being locked & so John is weak enough to leave it open. We shall see with what results. I have had trouble with Ellen and I have had to exert myself. I was out to breakfast at past 9 but I expect it will be a nice muddle when I am laid up. I dread it. Yesterday, Joe & Julia walked over after Church. I asked them to
stay & dine but they would not. Julia said she would perhaps come to lunch to-day. I showed the house to him, he thinks there is not a day to be lost & that it ought to be done by a Bricklayer. I have urged John to have it done at once by some one or others. He said ______ bill took the B.L. amount of $125 He went with us to Govt. House but not in. The poor man’s leg has been hurt a third time.
Now they say it is all right. I did not hear yesterday how he was but I couldn’t help being anxious about him. The people has just announced that he is better, but _____ was visited ______. My thoughts are always with you my own dear one & I miss you at every turn. I fancied your arrival at Yale I wondered if you went to Church you went to see the McKays. I shall look with the greatest of times for Wednesday’s boat. Your dear letters are a comfort to me. I shall send this to the car of Mr. Bushby to be forwarded. Did you not tell me to do so? Of course if the telegraph is working you will be
at once informed. I think it must happen during this week it would be a comfort to you to know it was over before you leave Yale on Monday next. This will be a dreary week to I am sure my own darling. I am very courious to hear how you found the cupboard & if you found the case open besides in one of the top drawers. The name of the book you are to ask Mr. Burr about as Bej mens tre a magazine reading. Give my love to the ladies at the HBC house, you will have a great time with them I thought that Mr. McKay would have come yesterday but he did not. He will bring up your umbrella. John brought it home the night before ____
4 o’clock. Just at the moment Miss Wood & Mrs. Jackson were announced fortunately for I had ordered a how luncheon for Julia expected visit so that was all right on their arrival the first thing they said was that they had called Mrs. Drakes & and had been informed the she had been confined. Half an hour before, so she is in advance of me after all. I have had a nice time.
Ellen has given me much annoyance I ordered her to take the children out as it was fine & she left them out till long past 1, more than two hours all the work undone. I brought them in so cold that dread but what they will be laid up. Then just as we sit down to lunch Mr. Walker & Mr. McCrea arrive for the horses & I had to go & talk to them. The former asked me to hold the bridle ___________________________ that Mr.
McCrea may try if he will carry a lady of course, I said yes. Mrs. Jackson was very bitter about Mr. W. & said he wanted the horse for Miss Palmer, that he used to take her out twice a week last winter. Mrs. Bond informed me that she had given notice to ‘’Mis Jessie’’ to leave at the end of the month. I thought that arrangement would not last long it appears that she was engaged to wash & tend the children and take them to walk as well as to teach them & she has failed to fulfill her duties. I was very careful to say nothing about her, Just after this, Mrs. Trutch arrived in the carriage accompanied by Mrs. Johnston & Mrs. Lethbridge
so you can imagine the chatter that took place there I confess that I am disappointed in Mrs. L’s appearance & don’t think her as nice as Mrs. Cave. Mrs. Trutch had been to call at Govt. House & had seen Miss M who told her that they are more hopeful about the poor
man tho he could not be said to be out of danger of losing the limb & Mrs. W. Had just told us that Dr. Powell told Mr. Wood yesterday that if the limb was to be amputated, it would be done to-day. So I fear that it has been necessary to think of it. Poor man it was indeed an unlucky day for him when he came to this place.
I assure you my own love that I feel very much fatigued for everything falls on me, & I go & go till I am wearied, I really had no lunch but I am vexed with my self for troubling you with these bitty anxieties more which I know that you are already anxious & unhappy. You must pray for me my own & for our dear little ones. May the Almighty watch over us & givest all for the best & keep you safe in your journeying & bring you safe back to her. Poor thing & now I am troubling about this letter how it to be posted for it is 1/4 to 6 & John has not come & quite dark & the horses have not come yet. I can’t help being anxious about
Dan. Tho an idea strikes me. I dare say one of them will post for me as I will say Good night tho I can’t bear to stop writing but I shall begin again to morrow out as I never know when I shall be unable to write. The dear little ones are quite well and send many loves to their dear Papa God bless you in the constant prayer of your loving & devoted wife.
C. A. O’Reilly
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*7 According to submitted text: “Portions of this letter are extremely hard to read”
*8 New mattress is stuffed with hair
*9 Fairfield, home of Joseph Trutch is in Victoria
*10 ‘’King’’ another pet name for Frank
This collection of letters has been digitized from an earlier transcription project and is for informational purposes only. This transcription has not been verified against the originals. Researchers interested in these letters should consult the original documents housed at the BC Archives.