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[centred] Pe

May 1877

........... Lizzie sent me a present of a
very nice dress ... very good material ...
I feel a great pleasure in taking it
because I know she can so well afford it.
Still very anxious about the boys ... This
week I pay eighteen shillings for his [added above] (Charlie's) week's
board and lodging; what next week?
I must wait, for Sarah and I spent
a pleasant day with Mrs Swan ... Mrs
Serkey [?] not at home ... My faithful and
much valued friend Mrs Brookes re-
turned from [crossed out] (Gympie) Cleveland.

The bonus money from Sydney at last ...
but better late than never. Fancy another
son!! She remarked some time since in
her letter to me that Emerson says the
world abounds with compensations and
a better crushing than they expected should
be received by her as compensation for the un-
desired addition to their family.
Several pleasant events or rather occuren-
ces this week cheering one a little.

June 23 ... This week has brought the in-
telligence of Aunt Betsy's death. Poor
dear ... I think her life's path has been
one of sorrow ... Her dear brother would
have keenly felt her death. We that is far-
ther and [I?] felt it hard indeed to have
to leave the few that we loved ... never to
meet again in this life ... How I would
like to feel assured that dear father,
his father and mother, with many others ...
our own dear, dear, children ... are now
happy in each others [sic] society and