I shot four meercats which I have had skinned to make into tobacco pouches

Kimberley May 29th 1899

My dear Raymond and Joe

I received your jolly letters last thursday. It was the day following the Queen's Birthday. You know how this day is kept in Kimberley. At twelve oclock, the assembled volunteers are paraded on the football ground, where the old exhibition stood. All the world and his wife with his "uncles and his cousins and his aunts" attend, dressed in their best and brightest clothes; the officer in command stands in front of the troops watch in hand. As the clock strikes twelve, he gives the word of command, and the cannons boom forth seven booms; then the Kimberley rifles the Diamond Field Horse, and the cadets splitter splutter a fusillade, and the band plays the first part of God Save the Queen. Then another seven booms, another splutter from the rifles, & another few bars of the national anthem from the band; then a last 7 booms, a final splutter of musketry, and the concluding bars of God Save the Queen. When the smoke has cleared away, the order is given to present arms, the multitude of men who look on take off their hats, and the band plays God Save the Queen from beginning to end. Then the whole assemblage give three cheers for her Majesty the Queen and the function is over. In the afternoon there were military sports at which I ought to have officiated as judge. But instead I went to a funeral.

What a pity it was you fell in the hurdle race

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

undated

My dear Joe

I received you letter of March 17th on last Thursday. You know by this time all about the English Cricketers and the way they wiped all our best bats and bowlers in the mud. Only the school boys of the Cape beat them.

You are right about Trott. They always called him the "Australian" out here.

I am told golfing is a sort of madness; but the lunatics never get dangerous although the disease seems incurable

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

April 3rd 1899

My dear Joe
I received two batches of letters from you and Raymond by last mail. Two of them were the previous mail's letters. You evidently posted them late.

I haven't them by me, so as you chaps grandly write, I "cannot comment upon them" I hope you are studying hard and doing all you can to qualify for what you have to work at in after life.

The college boys of Cape Town beat the English Cricketers!

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

March 27th 1899

My dear Raymond and Joe.
your letters date March 3rd which ought to have arrived last Thursday, did not come. No, there were no letters from you last mail. I suppose something interfered and you missed the post. In a day or two you will be having your Easter Holiday. I hope you will enjoy them.

They are all good bowlers; but one man named Trott is a demon

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

Feb 27th 1899

My dear Raymond and Joe

Your last letters date Feb 3rd reached me on Friday. I hope you are working steadily Raymond. The one thing you should always bear in mind is that you are working with an object. Your whole future depends on what you do now; and it is a most serious matter. I suppose you have already had skating. It was very foolish of you to continue playing after your foot was hurt. I thought you had more sense. So you are in the first Hockey team Joe. Are you a crack player?

Sebele the chief of the Bakwenas; whom I knew when he was a young man and long before he was a chief, visited the compound yesterday

Kimberley Feb 6th 1899

My dear Raymond and Joe

Your letter from Bournemouth, just as your holidays were drawing to an end, reached me last Thursday. And now, I suppose you are back at school, working hard again. You seem to have had a jolly time at Bournemouth between the winter garden and dancing at your boarding house. I suppose you bathed and boated and walked, and cycled about the country on fine days; although you don't say anything about these things in your letters. Did you make any excursions into the country — have any picnics — go fishing, and have any of the fun you had last year at Southsea or Cromer, or Criceieth? Or did you spend your days loafing about the streets and parady of Bournemouth? I should like to have heard how you spent your days. I only heard how you spent one day Raymond; when you took the "American Girl" for a bicycle ride round Bournemouth, and "had a splendid time".

And dancing every night! Mother tells me you and Joe sing duets

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

Jan 30th 1899

My dear Raymond and Joe

I received your undated letters from bournemouth on Thursday. This sort of thing won't do master Raymond — taking American girls for long Bicycle roads, round Bournemouth. Was this particular American girl one of the "doocid pretty" ones — or did she only come in amongst the ruck of ordinary pretty girls?

Don't you go flirting with any of those "doocid fine Girls" you write about

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

January 23, 1899

My dear Raymond & Joe

Your letters from Bournemouth (both undated) came on Saturday. Those photographs of yours, Raymond, are capital. I like the football one the best. What a splendid big strong chap you are. God has blessed you my dear boy with great physical gifts — strength too. See that you use them properly and take care that you do nothing to spoil these gifts God has given you. I am glad you are enjoying yourself at Bournemouth. You young rascal! don't you go flirting with any of those "doocid fine Girls" you write about.

Sweating is no word for the way the moisture is oozing out of me

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

January 16th 1899

My dear Raymond and Joe

I have not got my glasses with me tonight; so I cannot see what I am writing. Under these circumstances I do not feel equal to writing each of you a separate letter.

The night is awful and close. A thunderstorm is hovering near and a slight rain falling. Sweating is no word for the way the moisture is oozing out of me.

Tom brought a lady cat who Kittened in the wood house

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

January 9th 1899

My dear Joe

Last mail was also barren as far as a letter from you was concerned; but I suppose something got in the way and prevented you from writing. I do hope you will have a pleasant holiday.

By the bye before I forget it tell Mother to make no mistake about the penny postage to the Cape. The Cape is not in it and letters will cost two pence halfpenny as before. I suppose some day before long we shall participate in the advantages of the imperial penny postage. But at present something blocks the way. I believe it is the postal contract with the Donald Currie and Union line of steamers.

Would you like a Zulu shield, some bangles and some chowries?

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

January 9th 1899

My dear Raymond

Last mail brought me no letter from you. Something must have prevented you from writing. Mother told me you were about to play some terrific football match against the Trojans of Portsmouth. I hope you went through the match without any hurt. I can't say I like football; but at the same time I suppose boys ought to play it.

Mosquitos too are the very devil. They are worse than ever I have known them.

Kimberley Club,

Kimberley.

January 1st 1899

My dear little Mary, Raymond and Joe.

The old year has gone and today is the beginning of a new one. I wish you all very many happy New Years; and may this coming new year be the beginning of a succession of Happy Years for you all.

Yesterday evening I went with the Mortons to Beaconsfield and spent the evening at Dr. and Mrs Stansby's. We had dinner there and then remained to see the old year out and the new year come in. Just before twelve I had to go out with food and drink in my hand; and when midnight tolled I knocked at the front door and entered the house. I then walked right through followed by everyone; out of the back door and round to the front again. This is an old scotch ceremony which is supposed to bring luck. We then wished each other a Happy New Year and drank each other's healths in claret cup. Altogether it was a pleasant evening. Part of the time the Revd. Mr. Woodman was there, but he went early because he had to conduct a service at the church which commenced at half past eleven and finished at five minutes past twelve. Then in the cool early morning under the twinkling stars we drove back to Kimberley and at half past one I got to bed.