Heartfelt letter from a father to his daughter, who has been forced to live with unfeeling relatives
by A Father's Love, Letter
Letter, 4 pages folded from a sheet. May 28, 1894. Partial transcription: "My darling child,I cannot tell you how sorry I feel to have left you so poorly and with strangers. I do think that your mother's relatives are wanting in warm feeling to say the least of it but it is no use troubling ourselves about it. They are so warped up with themselves that they don't care for society it is too dull for them and they begrudge even a day or two. Your poor dear mother did not treat them like this but many a score of times used to trudge off alone to Pollys when she was scarcely able to do so and had to leave you to the mercy of a servant. When Polly always has a lot to take care of each other. You well have to look to outsiders rather than to them to seek for sympathy.
It seems to me very unnatural but it is so, and all the whining in the world won't alter it. It makes it very hard upon me I cannot see my way to ulterior otherwise as I have made my Bed I must lie upon it and I now feel how much I should like to be always with you. I am ____ ____ you yesterday struggling on was enough to make a heart of stone feel, I now feel how much I love you and would do anything & everything to make your life more worth living. I shall be delighted when that you have gone to Warsford with your aunt, do not let anything hunt you further my dear child, I hope when I do see you again I find you once again beauteous and cheerful. With much love your affect Father. (Inventory #: 15087)
It seems to me very unnatural but it is so, and all the whining in the world won't alter it. It makes it very hard upon me I cannot see my way to ulterior otherwise as I have made my Bed I must lie upon it and I now feel how much I should like to be always with you. I am ____ ____ you yesterday struggling on was enough to make a heart of stone feel, I now feel how much I love you and would do anything & everything to make your life more worth living. I shall be delighted when that you have gone to Warsford with your aunt, do not let anything hunt you further my dear child, I hope when I do see you again I find you once again beauteous and cheerful. With much love your affect Father. (Inventory #: 15087)