"DER MISS ---, I Receve your Letter your Aunt is vary Ill and
Lowspireted I Donte think your Aunt wood Git up all Day if My Sister
Wasnot to Persage her We all Think hir lif is two monopolous. you Wish
to know Who Was Liveing With your Aunt. that is My Sister and
Willian--and Cariline--as Cock and Old Poll Pepper is Come to Stay
With her a Littel Wile and I hoped [hopped] for Your Aunt, and Harry
has Worked for your Aunt all the Summer. Your Aunt and Harry Whent to
the Wells Races and Spent a very Pleasant Day your Aunt has Lost Old
Fanney Sow She Died about a Week a Go Harry he Wanted your Aunt to
have her killed and send her to London and Shee Wold Fech her 11
pounds the Farmers have Lost a Greet Deal of Cattel such as Hogs and
Cows What theay call the Plage I Whent to your Aunt as you Wish Mee to
Do But She Told Mee She Did not wont aney Boddy She Told Mee She
Should Like to Come up to see you But She Cant Come know for she is
Boddyley ill and Harry Donte Work there know But he Go up there Once
in Two or Three Day Harry Offered is self to Go up to Live With your
Aunt But She Made him know Ancer. I hay Been up to your Aunt at Work
for 5 Weeks Hopping and Ragluting Your Aunt Donte Eat nor Drink But
vary Littel indeed.
"I am Happy to Say We are Both Quite Well and I am Glad no hear you
are Both Quite Well
"MRS NEWTON."
This seems to have made the nieces propose to pay a visit to their aunt,
perhaps to try and relieve the monopoly of her existence and cheer her up
a little. In their letter, doubtless, the dog motive is introduced that
is so finely developed presently by Mrs. Newton. I should like to have
been able to give the theme as enounced by the nieces themselves, but
their letters are not before me. Mrs. Newton writes:--
"MY DEAR GIRLS,--Your Aunt receiv your Letter your Aunt will Be vary
glad to see you as it quite a greeable if it tis to you and Shee is
Quite Willing to Eair the beds and the Rooms if you Like to Trust to
hir and the Servantes; if not I may Go up there as you Wish. My
Sister Sleeps in the Best Room as she allways Did and the Coock in the
garret and you Can have the Rooms the same as you allways Did as your
Aunt Donte set in the Parlour She Continlery Sets in the Ciching. your
Aunt says she Cannot Part from the dog know hows and She Says he will
not hurt you for he is Like a Child and I can safeley say My Self he
wonte hurt you as She Cannot Sleep in the Room With out him as he
allWay Sleep in the Same Room as She Dose. your Aunt is agreeable to
Git in What Coles and Wood you Wish for I am know happy to say your
Aunt is in as Good health as ever She Was and She is happy to hear you
are Both Well your Aunt Wishes for Ancer By Return of Post."
The nieces replied that their aunt must choose between the dog and them,
and Mrs. Newton sends a second letter which brings her development to a
climax. It runs:--
"DEAR MISS ---, I have Receve your Letter and i Whent up to your Aunt
as you Wish me and i Try to Perveal With her about the Dog But she
Wold not Put the Dog away nor it alow him to Be Tied up But She Still
Wishes you to Come as Shee says the Dog Shall not interrup you for She
Donte alow the Dog nor it the Cats to Go in the Parlour never sence
She has had it Donup ferfere of Spoiling the Paint your Aunt think it
vary Strange you Should Be so vary Much afraid of a Dog and She says
you Cant Go out in London But What you are up a gance one and She says
She Wonte Trust the Dog in know one hands But her Owne for She is
afraid theay Will not fill is Belley as he Lives upon Rost Beeff and
Rost and Boil Moutten Wich he Eats More then the Servantes in the
House there is not aney One Wold Beable to Give Sattefacktion upon
that account Harry offerd to Take the Dog But She Wood not Trust him
in our hands so I Cold not Do aney thing With her your Aunt youse to
Tell Me When we was at your House in London She Did not know how to
make you amens and i Told her know it was the Time to Do it But i
Considder She sets the Dog Before you your Aunt keep know Beer know
Sprits know Wines in the House of aney Sort Oneley a Little Barl of
Wine I made her in the Summer the Workmen and servantes are a Blige to
Drink wauter Morning Noon and Night your Aunt the Same She Donte Low
her Self aney Tee nor Coffee But is Loocking Wonderful Well
"I Still Remane your Humble Servant Mrs Newton
"I am vary sorry to think the Dog Perventes your Comeing
"I am Glad to hear you are Both Well and we are the same."
The nieces remained firm, and from the following letter it is plain the
aunt gave way. The dog motive is repeated _pianissimo_, and is not
returned to--not at least by Mrs. Newton.
"DEAR MISS ---, I Receve your Letter on Thursday i Whent to your Aunt
and i see her and She is a Greable to everry thing i asked her and
seme so vary Much Please to see you Both Next Tuseday and she has sent
for the Faggots to Day and she Will Send for the Coles to Morrow and i
will Go up there to Morrow Morning and Make the Fiers and Tend to the
Beds and sleep in it Till you Come Down your Aunt sends her Love to
you Both and she is Quite well your Aunt Wishes you wold Write againe
Before you Come as she ma Expeckye and the Dog is not to Gointo the
Parlor a Tall
"your Aunt kind Love to you Both & hopes you Wonte Fail in Coming
according to Prommis