FullReads

IV.

The Rev. Clement Markham to Mrs. Clement Markham, Littleton, New Hampshire:

[Cable Despatch.]

London, June 16th. Why have you not cabled?

V.

The Rev. Clement Markham to Mrs. Clement Markham, Littleton, New Hampshire:

Charing Cross Hotel, London, June 16th…. After I cabled you this morning I remembered that I hadn’t arranged with the bankers about my cable despatches. When I had rectified this error of omission I received your despatch of yesterday. It was a very great relief to my mind to have direct news from you, and to know of the safety and health of my loved ones, who are dearer to me….

VI.

The Rev. Clement Markham to Mrs. Clement Markham, Littleton, New Hampshire:

Charing Cross Hotel, London, August 20th.

… I had a delightful fortnight in Paris…. I bought the gloves and the stockings–it was droll, and not quite proper, about buying the stockings. I will tell you all about it when I get home. And I also bought you Something Else that I am sure will be a pleasant surprise to you when you see it….

His lordship, Dr.——, has been kindness itself to me. I dined again at Lambeth Palace yesterday–a farewell dinner. I was a little late, I am sorry to say, for I got into the wrong boat at Westminster Bridge, but his lordship very cordially accepted my excuses. At dinner I was seated next to a very interesting man who has charge of a large parish in the east end of London. Such poverty as there is in that wretched region, and such moral depravity, are sickening to contemplate. Thank Heaven, there is nothing like it in Minneapolis….

I shall sail (D. V.) on the City of Paris two weeks from to-morrow. I think that the best arrangement will be for you to come down to your aunt Lucy’s on the 11th, and on the 12th (D. V.) I will join you at her house in Boston, whence we will start for home that evening via the Boston and Albany. I must be in New York for a few hours to see Ronald and to make the final arrangements about the new stained-glass windows. If you prefer to meet me in New York, arrange matters with Ronald, who will meet you at the station and take you to a hotel. As I shall go directly to his office on landing, I will find out at once what you have decided to do…. On referring to your letter of the 10th I perceive that you are afraid that I may have made some mistake about the sizes of the stockings and gloves. Of course I got the right sizes; I had it written down: “No. 61/4, long fingers,” and “No. 8 1/2, narrow ankles.” Don’t fall into Ronald’s way of fancying that I always get things wrong. It was about the narrow ankles that–But I had better wait and tell it to you when I get home. It certainly was very droll. I have bought a most satisfactory chasuble, very elegant in material and beautifully made. I should have hesitated to buy so costly a garment for myself; but this is for the Service of the Sanctuary. It will make something of a stir among the congregation, I think, the first time that I wear it in dear St. Jude’s…. If, as is probable, I go down into Wales next week, this will be my last letter. My heart is full of joyful thankfulness to think that so very soon I shall see again (D. V.) my own dear Margaret, who….

VII.

Mrs. Clement Markham to Mrs. Winthrop Tremont, Boston:

Littleton, August 29th.

Dear Aunt Lucy,–I have just received a long and delightful letter from dear Clement. He had a lovely time in Paris, and he has bought me the gloves and the silk stockings, and also Something Else; but he won’t tell me what this other thing is, for he means it to be a surprise. Do you think it could possibly be the silk for a dress? He knows how much I want a new black silk. But I shall not think about it, for I don’t want to be disappointed. He has had such delightful dinners with his lordship the Bishop of London at Lambeth Palace. His lordship was “kindness itself,” Clement writes. Clement must have made a very favorable impression, of course. And Clement writes that he has bought such a love of a chasuble. It will stir up the whole congregation the first time that he wears it, I am sure.