Lyng July 29^th 1887

Dear Aunt & Uncle

I have often thought & taulked about writing to you "& now it's realy being done" My Mother too "is pleased to have me write in her stead" It will come "no doubt" very unexpected to you as I have never written before "I am at the present time spending a few days with my Mother & Father I think I must tell you here" that it's your neice Elizabeth Burton who have now the pleasure of writing to you from home "I think my Mother have told you that I am in service yet (a goodly number of year's) is it not, I have a farely good situation in Suffolk My address is Finborough Hall Howmarket Suffolk Where I have been living just over 4 years" each year I have a fortnights holiday which gives me nice time to go to see my sisters & brothers too (those that are within reach) I have spent the first few days of my holiday in Yarmouth with my sister Mary Ann Mrs. Norton" Mother met me in Norwich & went with me. It's a favourite place of mine at this time in the year & we are having a very hot & dry season" I think Dear Aunt & Uncle that my Mother have at different times told you all about our Family. You know that my brothers & sisters are all married & have familys except William my youngest brother he have no family. My eldest brother John have 10 children, his oldest son work with his father. A very nice young man he is, the eldest girl is in service & is doing well, a good girl I hope she is. There is another one ready for service & two younger boys all doing something so as to earn a little" & all little ones help _______ise they not. My Brother Charles have 4 children - 2 sons & 2 daughters & Joseph have 5 children 3 sons & 2 daughters & my sister Hannah you know is a widow her family are grown up & are away except the youngest girl, the eldest which is a son "is married" very young "There is one child". Hannah's eldest girl is in service, her other son "William" is a barber carying on the business for a widow lady. I think I must say a little about them all now although you may have heard the same thing before "Mary Anne my sister in Yarmouth have 3 children all girls One by her first husband "Anna Elizabeth" is her name She is a mantle maker in one of the shops in Yarmouth. Charlotte my youngest sister is having a large family She have 4 little sons and one daughter and they are all I hope quite well. Last Sunday Joseph came 2 of his children from Dereham to spend the day with us. My dear old father & mother are in good health they are getting to look very aged now but both are "through the blessings of God doing wonders for their time of life. Mother do some of the neatest needle work now & Father gets about the country & keeps on doing as he can in his way although not able to earn much in these dull times. I must remind you that my mother & father will soon have a golden wedding. They have been married 50 years in November & I shall soon have my 49^th birthday (the 17^th of August) You see I am getting on in years I am enjoying very good health which is the greatest of all temporae blessings. Mother & Father join me in love to you all. She is quite in a way that she have been so neglegent in writing, quite ashamed of her self & they hope to hear from you again soon. We all hope you are quite well before I close my letter I must tell you that we have been to Flockering this week to see Aunt Charlotte Brightee. She is very well indeed but I did not think to tell her that I should be writing to you. Aunts only daughter have been married about 2 years. She have now a baby just 7 weeks old (a fine son) Dear Aunt & Uncle I should be very pleased to hear from you or my cousins I return to my situation on Saturday the 30^th. The address I have given will find me. I hope at sometime, Your very affecate Neice Elizabeth Burton