My dear sister and all, I was glad to hear from you and to hear you are all well as, thank God, it leaves us all. I received your letter and William's likeness and was very pleased with it. He is a fine looking man. I think he is more like his father, [from] what I can remember. I should be pleased to see your husband's. Dear sister, the only reason I have not wrote is because I could not get a likeness to send. Betsey is talking about sending off hers as soon as she has an opportunity to get it taken. She is living as upper housemaid at Fickencote Hall Stamford. This is her address if you wish to write. I am going to Yarmouth next week, then I will try and get William's. He is married since I wrote to you last, and is living there. I have not been to Yarmouth since he has been married. I have two to pay a visit to in Yarmouth, and Charlotte lives about six miles from Yarmouth so I must take a week off. All is well and my little girl is going home. She has had a long visit this time, ever since last August so, when I write again, I hope I shall be able to send you two [portraits]. So I hope you will excuse me for not writing. We have had a very cold long winter and [it] is very cold and dry now. Rain is wanting very much. We have had more snow this winter than we have had for many years. It laid five weeks at Christmas and was very sharp rime frosts. Has Hannah sent her likeness yet? I have not heard anything of her since Betsy left home. Charlotte is very poorly at times. I have not seen her all winter, but I often hear from her. I shall see her this week if I can. I do not know anything about Frettenham, only unpleasantness, and that not worth hearing. We should be glad to see any part of your family that can come. We have a Mr. Bullock[1] lives in Lyng but his name is Stephen. There is a Bullock in Hockering. I will hear about him when I go to Charlotte's and send in my next letter. Wheat is very cheap here. We get flour at 1.6 per stone. Barley is worth more than wheat. All kinds of meat are very dear and butter 2 - 2 per pint, and so is cheese. Dear, I often wish I could have a bit of your cheese. I suppose you make it. So I think I must come to a close, with our kind love to all. So no more from your loving sister, Mary Burton. Excuse my mistakes and scrawls. I received your letter April the first.

Footnotes

1: Mary Broughton (b.1840), a daughter of Edward Broughton and Elizabeth Remmington, married Samuel Bullock in Ontario. Richard Broughton (b.1843), Edward and Elizabeth's son, married Maria Bullock