Te Whare
Wentworth Falls
(Sunday) 29 December 1912
My darling Sweetheart,
You notice the address – I will refer to it later. I am writing this letter on the verandah & at the present moment we are having one of the heaviest thunderstorms I have ever seen. The rain is coming down in sheets & sheets & the road is quite flooded. People keep passing every few minutes drenched through to the skin & motors & traps squelch through & send water splashing for yards.
However this is’nt a tale about the weather but a chronicle of my doings since I wrote you last Monday.
On Tuesday morning I received a cable from m/c reading "Weggin Jaffstaff" which being translated means we wish you a merry Xmas & happy & prosperous New Year from the staff at Jaffé’s. I think it was particularly kind of them & I appreciated it immensely (Please excuse my writing as my pad is on my knee). Anyway I wired back Thanks meniofem. I don’t know who originated the idea but I think Bird was the man. All day Tuesday we were fairly busy, I with my mail & seeing customers & taking them out for a lemonade, until 5.30. I helped Clifford to buy an umbrella for his wife & took Orr & Clifford down to the boat.
After dinner, at which Uncle Alfred & another Lancashire man & I had a lot of fun, I took the boat across to Cremorne. I should have met Orr but later investigation showed that he was late in arriving so I did not wait for him.
I climbed up the stairs & then I stood still & gasped. Talk about a beautiful scene! The moon was full & shone brilliantly. The ferry steamers were all lit up from stem to stern with electric light. Every house had at least 10 Japanese lanterns (& some considerably more) lit up & swung on string in front of their gardens. All the motor launches & rowing boats had numberless lanterns hanging everywhere & to see them darting in & out all over the small bay was pretty in the extreme. The band played & the singers on one of the boats sang carols & gramaphones were played. The landing stages were decorated with lanterns. I never shall forget the scene as long as I live. All the girls had white dresses on & looked charming. I felt more lonely that night than I have done since I left home. I was talking to uncle A. about it next morning & he said Miss Hankinson lived at Moonan(?) with him for two Xmas’s he thought & as far as he remembered she saw the same thing. Possibly you will tell her about it. I got home about 11-0 o’clock & sat talking with Grimes – the man from Lancashire aforementioned – till 1-0 o’clock.
Christmas morning I stayed in bed for a short time & at 11.30 made tracks for Mr Todd’s house. We had a very nice dinner but on account of the heat it was cold, but the pudding was warm. I discovered a Kismet in my pudding – a lovely silver thing which I am going to put on my watch chain. We had champagne of course. After dinner Clifford slept (lazy beggar) & I talked to the rest of the family. Later we played tennis & I lost to Alder (the son) & also Frieda & I lost against Clifford & Alder.
After tea we all came down to Sydney & visited Dr McDonagh & his family. They were very pleased to see us & we had a nice musical evening with more champagne. He is reckoned to be the cleverest doctor in Australia.
We left about 11.15 & I got to bed early. Thursday morning Orr came for me about 10.30 & I went with him to his place. I admired his paintings – he is a fair artist & was introduced to his wife & children. I will discuss this matter with you in a few weeks. After dinner we had a nice long walk but it was frightfully hot & I was not as energetic as Orr would have wished. Still it was a very nice walk & I saw a lot of pretty scenery. We got back for tea & after feeding I played with his kiddies for an hour. I lay on his sofa for two hours & listened to his gramaphone which is a splendid instrument, & they were all good records, no rag time music or common stuff. I got home about 10.30.
Friday morning I stayed in bed & about 11-0 o’clock Clifford came in with Frieda & Alder. We sat talking for an hour & then went to book our tickets for this place.
After lunch I packed my bag & met the Todd family on the station. It was terribly hot & it was funny how often Clifford wanted to put his watch right. We had 2½ hours in the train & the scenery after the first ten miles was splendid. Eventually we arrived about 7-0 o’clock & Frieda Gertie (the servant) & I walked while the others rode. After tea we sat on the verandah & talked & later had music.
Early hours are the rule in the country & we retired about 10-0 o’clock. Frieda Gertie & Alder slept on the verandah & during the night it rained hard & they all got wet through. Saturday morning was wet but we had a game of cricket & nearly smashed a few windows. However they escaped I don’t know but on five occasions it was only a matter of ¼ inch.
After dinner Frieda & Alder took me for a walk around the falls. Although it was very misty I could see that when it was clear you would get a magnificent view. We didn’t go very far on account of the wet.
After tea we had a little music & later played "Pit". Do you remember the craze it was one time at home.
Sunday morning after a late breakfast Alder & Frieda took me for a walk along the "National Pass". It was terribly hot & we walked about six miles but it was down hill & up dale sort of business. I cannot describe the scenery to you. It was superb. To see all the various waterfalls one considerably over 300 feet, & others not so big, but prettier made me wish you could have been with me. You would have enjoyed it. I took a lot of photographs but the distance was so great I doubt whether they will give you any idea of the place.
The Todd family tease me most unmercifully about you & say all sorts of funny things. I have invited them to come & stay with us (I mean you & me) when they come over to England two or three years hence.
I am writing now on Monday evening at my hotel. I wrote the greater part of the foregoing yesterday afternoon while the thunderstorm was on. It lasted well over six hours & gave me a terrible headache. After tea we read talked & had music. As we had to get up early this morning we retired in good time.
We were up by 5.45 & after an early breakfast caught the 7-0 o’clock train down & arrived in Sydney about 9.30. I have been making appointments today & am tired out. The weather is so oppressive.
I have been to Cooks this afternoon to see if there was any chance of catching – or rather getting a berth in the earlier boat, but no such luck. I intended coming second class & pocketing the difference £30 odd but on second thoughts I decided to come first. It is too big a risk to run as there might be a customer or somebody who knows the guvnor, on board.
Dolly can we get married on £200? Heavens how I long for the day. I hope in another 12 months to be getting £225 a year but I doubt whether I shall have saved the amount requisite to furnishing a home. I think I must give up smoking & cut down exs all round as I want you so badly. I will talk to you seriously about this shortly.
While I remember please address your next letter to Poste Restante Perth Western Australia. If it cannot arrive there by March 9th do not post. The post office will inform you but I leave there on the 11th March for home. I will let you know next mail where to post after. The boat I am coming on is the "Otway" Orient line. People tell me not to travel P&O if I want any fun. Everybody is too stiff & there is no comfort,
Now for one or two remarks on your letter received today.
I am pleased the holiday did you good. I only wish you could have more of them. Never mind sweetheart you & I will have one long holiday next summer. You still seem fond of late hours – I’m rather glad because you can’t say a word to me.
It seems funny that Mrs Hiller should know old Broddy as we call him & the guvnor. I remember the wedding quite well. As a matter of fact the chap who married old Broddy’s daughter wanted fussy’s(?) sister at first but Mrs A, the mother, put her foot down & said "No" so he turned his attention to the other one. As you say their influence might be useful some day. Wheels within wheels!
Am glad you have plenty of fun coming off such as dances etc. I am going to one on Wednesday but like you I want you with me.
Who & what is Leslie Langford. Has he got bags of iron & has he earned it or is it unearned increment. As you say he seems devoted to you & now your engagement is broken he may pluck up courage.
Of course you know I am not in the least bit jealous. Why should I be when I know what I do viz that your whole life is wrapped up in me.
Congrats on getting auntie downstairs. What a relief it must be.
So far I have not received your miniature but I expect it on Wednesday. If it does not come there will be trouble at the post office methinks. Now I have my home letter to write so must finish.
I go up to Wentworth Falls tomorrow evening till Thursday morning & am looking forward to a good time.
With my dearest love sweetheart
Your affectionately
Harry