From Elizabeth Pyne and her husband Thomas Pyne to their servant (August 24, 1864)

[From Elizabeth Pyne. née Waters, and her husband, the Rev.Thomas Pyne,

attending a Peace & Temperance Festival, at Hartwell, Buckinghamshire,

to their servant, Philly.]

Hartwell House,

Near Aylesbury

August 24th 1864

My good Philly.

We arrived here safely last night at 10 minutes before ten. after a very pleasant journey.  It rained for the first 4 hours more or less : but after our stop at Uxbridge, where we were very glad of the nice sandwiches & pudding, we set off at 1. and a quarter to Amersham & arrived there at 4 and drank tea & stayed till 6.  Then on to Hartwell : and there had been no rain there & this morning is very fine.

I hope things are all well at home, and our darling little pets we know are kindly & lovingly taken care of.  We long to see them. But I trust our brief absence will be a benefit to us both, especially to my dear Wife.

       I will write again tomorrow, and tell you when to expect us. 

With blessings on our little lambs and on all in our home.

    Your faithful friend & Master

    Tho^s. Pyne

I forgot to tell Eliza — I generally keep Baby in the bath about two minutes. & rub him well afterwards with a towel. – & Eliza can take him out a clean quilt for his bassinet – I do hope Baby is safe.  I kept awake a long while last night thinking of all the accidents that might happen to him but I am quite sure Eliza will take care of him, she is so kind. —