Hi Everyone, I have just been sent a letter written by Ethel Jacobi (nee Davidson - daughter of Mary Clementina Petrie and David Petrie Davidson). It was written in 1928. Ethel had been widowed for 5 years when she wrote the letter and was bringing up 4 boys, including my husband's gradfather Cecil (referred to in the letter as "Toto"!!). She refers to her Aunt Agnes in the letter and I was wondering if it was her mother's sister, Agnes Catherine Petrie? Anyway, I have included the letter below for anyone who is interested to read. Sharon ---------------------------------------------------- 12 Seine St I. Bay Friday 1 June My Dear Ma, You will think you have got two thoughtless daughters, but as you know, Win has been terribly busy what with scouring the town for new furniture etc & getting into line in a new place. My excuses are just the same as usual. Win has got a very nice Chesterfield suit, a nice kind of sideboard � china cabinet arrangement, a nice gate leg table & piano stool all in oak. That is the sitting room � dining room stuff they are going to get a carpet soon & new curtains & cushions then that room will be complete. The boy�s double bed is down & they have all got single beds now & it is ever so much better & a dutchesse for Jean�s room and another for the boys, so they are well set up now. Now I feel I have got the worst stuff now, I have & I can�t get anything new either it is just a worn out house & the boy�s clothes & my own too. I do get the blues sometimes but I have just to get over it again. I got a costume affair from Pearl for cost ₤3-10 & I have only paid her ₤2 so far. I simply had to get something. Hubert was very lucky. Pearl�s influence got him into Macky-Logans warehouse (soft goods). He likes it very much. Our boys wouldn�t have drapery on their minds but Hubert looks like a draper. He likes his little self why not anyhow, he is a nice looking boy & looks nice & neat & clean. I like him. Toto doesn�t care for him. ???? is due for a rise in a fortnight. He has been at Lenthies a year now. I don�t know when he is getting his holidays. Win was out yesterday. She is getting used to her new trades people now & settling down alright. I can�t go out often as it costs me 1/6 in bus and 10 car fare & here�s a bomb shell. John M. has left us & has gone to town to live. He has got a room in Boulott St & goes out to his meals. He made the excuse it was too far out waiting for cars & he wanted to study. I think & know he doesn�t like getting up early loves his bed too much so I am minus his 3/? Although I don�t min being without him. Win said good job. He hasn�t been out to see her yet. How are you keeping well I hope. How is wee John keeping now. Isn�t it lovely him being alright again. Fancy another anniversary of Pa�s gong, how the time flies, seven years isn�t it? I had a letter for Aunt Agnes but not much news in it. They must be pretty hard up. John sent them some money last mail. John says they have practically only Ruth�s money coming in. Mable & her husband are good to them when they are up there. He was another old stupid. When are you coming down again? We have had some queer weather lately. I see there is an eclipse of the moon on Sunday starting about � past eight. I wrote to Gowrie?? & asked her to post a Banner to me. I got one this morning & there is a terrible lot of reading in it. If you would like it I will post it to you when I have finished it. I got John M. interested in them & now he is going to have them. He asked me to find out about them so I did. He said he would pay for them if I ordered them so there we will have them ourselves. The Gowrie? sent me is twelve months old but it is a very interesting one. I haven�t seen Gert since that time in the summer. Lily came out on Sat. last & paid her duty call & she took me to hear the Russian pianist �Mosevehich� he was wonderful. He is the first good one I have heard & I did enjoy it so very much. I hadn�t been to anything since Dorothy was here that one night � didn�t even get to see the two plays that have been on & I like the actor so much, he is so good. I go to our guild again as there was nothing else to do & that is every other Thursday. Our minister is alright very sincere. His wife is not a woman you can look to, no personality & can�t hold a position somehow, not like Mrs McCaw. She talks like mad, I can�t be bothered with her, Fancy next month Toto will be 20, isn�t it great. He has been home three days with a flu cold like he gets, you know. Well dear I don�t know of anymore news this time, so will ring off & I won�t be so long in writing again. Don�t keep me so long as I have kept you will you. Give my love to Dorothy & tell her I am waiting for the letter she promised to write to me when she was in Wanganui & I suppose she is home again. Best love to wee John & Harvene & yourself. I remain Your Loving Daughter Ethel __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - Buy the things you want at great prices! http://auctions.yahoo.com/