On board the "Teuton ", February 13th 1874
My precious Flor,
As Fanny has written to Rose, it will be my privilege to scribble to you and squeeze as much as possible into one sheet of paper as we have limited ourselves to that. My precious one I cannot tell you what my feelings were when we said goodbye. I can only feel that God is making all things work together for our good and that he will bring us together again in His own good time. This will only tell you a little of our voyage but I have kept a Journal for you and Rose and hope that in a month after you receive this you will hear something definite about my future. I do not think I can bear to be separated from you more than a year. Our thoughts are constantly with you all and I do hope you are very happy. I thought of Rose specially on her birthday and hope she had a nice letter from her dear Will, now I suppose she is looking forward to his coming.
I expect your time will be quite occupied with the dear children kiss them over and over again for me and don't let Rayner forget me. 1 cannot help thinking of you running about in the garden, and playing croquet, as with us it is intensely warm. I don't think I ever felt the heat so oppressive before. We are all glad to dispense with all unnecessary clothing and even retire to our berths in a state of nudity, these circumstances remind me that you may be sitting over the fire having a cosy chat and perhaps have frost and snow. I am anxious to hear from you precious one, all your doings and tell Rose with my fondest love I shall hope to write to her when we reach Natal.
I shall not go into any description of the vessel but I am glad to tell you I have my cabin to myself, and throw my things about as I like, we live very well indeed but are getting tired of the fumes of cooking and begin to long for some plain food and nice fruit. Next to Humfrey I may lay to being the best sailor, I have not been really ill, only qualmish and fanciful so that I could not eat indeed the Captain said I deserved the Victoria Medal, but I must tell you of one dreadful fright we had, by Humfrey's persuasion he, Hedley and myself seated ourselves very comfortably in the stern of the vessel with shawls and an interesting book, when imagine our surprise in less time than I can tell you huge waves came dashing over the ship and we found ourselves with two other gentlemen in a sea of water. I began to scream and found myself dragged below and oh what a sight presented itself, there the sea was a rushing about in the saloon and cabins, Fanny and Father were both in their berths and the latter wisely jumped up and put his macintosh against the door so that they came off very well. We were soaked from head to foot and looked like drowned rats, and I can assure you I heartily wished myself back at B. H. however the captain said such an occurrence was very unusual and when it was all over we had a really good laugh. I must tell you that this was in the Bay of Biscay and you cannot imagine how chairs and people on deck were dashed about, several coming off with cuts and bruises, several chairs were damaged and my little one washed overboard, much to my grief.
There were several rackety young men on board who delighted in all kinds of larks, throwing wet sponges and slippers about from one cabin to another. One day Hedley had a duck put into his cabin, but the other night they had quite a skirmish which ended with one man having a black eye and the Captain had to make himself heard. Since then the lights have been put out punctually, Saloon 10 pm, Cabin half past 10. Amongst the ladies we like Mrs and Miss Daniels, she is the widow of a colonel and has just left one daughter at school in England. She was rather reluctant to return to the Cape but this daughter has been engaged to a.gentleman there for four years and another daughter went out a year ago to be married but on second acquaintance found she did not like the gentleman sufficiently. Then there are Mr and Mrs Kish a newly married couple, very pleasant people, they are going to take up residence in the Transvaal and are taking out furniture etc. He has something to do with the growth of coffee and very kindly gives us some occasionally. Mr Donallies we like very much he is the Principal of a large college at the Cape and is taking out 4 masters as well as his nephew who is in delicate health and his little boy of seven such a jolly little party and a general favourite. Amongst the young men Mr Falkenburg is the life of the party and he is up to everything, strange to say he has stayed at Streatleys with the Howells and also knows the Weedons. Oh such a dreadful smell of cooking it makes one feel quite bad. I shall be so glad to spend a Sunday on land the day seems so long on board ship, the Captain reads morning prayers with one for those at sea and in the afternoon we sing some hymns. Then there is another lady who is with her brother and going to the Cape to nurse another brother who is Chaplain to the British Forces and has been invalided from the Gold Coast, her hopes and fears run very high sometimes. God grant that she may find her loved ones returned to health. I could write so much my dear but already my paper is nearly filled.
16th.
They say we will reach the Cape about tomorrow week and perhaps may just meet the homeward steamer to take our letters. I cannot tell you what a relief it will be to get on Terra Firma again. On Saturday we went in for some raffles but were not successful. Goodbye precious one, my fond love and kisses to you all. I wish I had your soft cheeks to kiss. I hope soon to hear all your doings.
MARIAN’S LETTER