Mrs. Herbert Arthur Lewes to GHL, Sydenham, 18 November 1878
Title
Mrs. Herbert Arthur Lewes to GHL, Sydenham, 18 November 1878
Title
Mrs. Herbert Arthur Lewes to GHL, Sydenham, 18 November 1878
Sender
Mrs. Herbert Arthur Lewes
Recipient
George Henry Lewes
Date(s)
- 1878-11-18
Place
Sydenham
Letter Content
Mrs. Herbert Arthur Lewes to GHL, Sydenham, 18 November 1878
MS: Nuneaton Public Library.
Sydenham, | 18 November 78.
My Dear Pater
We this evening had the delight of receiving your dear letter of October 7th. little Marian at once said oh I know whose letter this is it is from my Grandpa, what does he say now Mamy read me it all. Why I am not a chick does not my Grandpa know I've not got a sharp beak and feathers! Shall not I often laugh to myself when I think how funny my Grandpa is! Then dear little George Herbert came from his evening bath, tell my Grandpa me is only a little boy not a chick! If me was there me would not let my Grandma get hurt. That was when he heard about the accident. I am truly thankful my Pater and Mutter were not in the carriage at the time. . . .
Oh dear Pater I was so deceived in every way with the Ladys help. I think I told you I felt timid being alone now the country is so unsettled and many of the houses have been broken into by Kafirs. The help had been with me but a fortnight when a suspicious Kafir came one day. Some nights after, some one was round the house all the evening trying doors windows and even trying the Iron roofing that night and the three following ones.
We were up till morning, once I fired at him from the window he had with him a bright long cane knife. I dare not go out. The fifth night some neighbour's boys came. We were very tired and did not sit up. The boys watched the fellow file a key for hours fit it to the door and they did not like to fire at him. I fancy they were frightened too. Two nights he opened the door with his key but the iron bolt our Miner here kindly put on for me saved us -- I went to the Magistrate in Durban. I found the boys fathers had also. for more than a week we had three Kafir police watching in the sitting room. Then if I did not stay there too they all went to sleep and plainly let the fellow know that he was not to come, and just fancy dear Pater these nasty dirty black creatures each occupying two little slight made cane chairs creaking with their heavy weight, and their appetites were dreadful, and so I got so nervous and ill I told them not to come again. Since then the white constable comes up at odd times, and has cleared off all Kafirs not able to give a good account of themselves. The help I sent away at the end of the month. The Magistrate sent me word she had lived in his family for a short time etc. and glad I was when she went. We have now a little girl from the village. She does help me a little. . . . One day this week I want to try and take the little ones on the beach, I have been frightened to take them even through Durban, the fever there has been so bad. There has been such mortality among little children.
We have more than two miles to walk before we get to the first buss. The little ones would have so many more messages to send in the morning, still I think I had better send this off the first thing in the morning. I know I ought to have written before indeed each day I told myself I would, and so let it go by -- and yet it is not for want of love for my Pater we know only too well in this large world we have only our good loving Pater and Mutter that cares for us and love us. Good night and God bless you Dear Pater and Mutter is always our prayers each night.
Your affectionate daughter
Eliza Lewes.
Please forgive errors.
MS: Nuneaton Public Library.
Sydenham, | 18 November 78.
My Dear Pater
We this evening had the delight of receiving your dear letter of October 7th. little Marian at once said oh I know whose letter this is it is from my Grandpa, what does he say now Mamy read me it all. Why I am not a chick does not my Grandpa know I've not got a sharp beak and feathers! Shall not I often laugh to myself when I think how funny my Grandpa is! Then dear little George Herbert came from his evening bath, tell my Grandpa me is only a little boy not a chick! If me was there me would not let my Grandma get hurt. That was when he heard about the accident. I am truly thankful my Pater and Mutter were not in the carriage at the time. . . .
Oh dear Pater I was so deceived in every way with the Ladys help. I think I told you I felt timid being alone now the country is so unsettled and many of the houses have been broken into by Kafirs. The help had been with me but a fortnight when a suspicious Kafir came one day. Some nights after, some one was round the house all the evening trying doors windows and even trying the Iron roofing that night and the three following ones.
We were up till morning, once I fired at him from the window he had with him a bright long cane knife. I dare not go out. The fifth night some neighbour's boys came. We were very tired and did not sit up. The boys watched the fellow file a key for hours fit it to the door and they did not like to fire at him. I fancy they were frightened too. Two nights he opened the door with his key but the iron bolt our Miner here kindly put on for me saved us -- I went to the Magistrate in Durban. I found the boys fathers had also. for more than a week we had three Kafir police watching in the sitting room. Then if I did not stay there too they all went to sleep and plainly let the fellow know that he was not to come, and just fancy dear Pater these nasty dirty black creatures each occupying two little slight made cane chairs creaking with their heavy weight, and their appetites were dreadful, and so I got so nervous and ill I told them not to come again. Since then the white constable comes up at odd times, and has cleared off all Kafirs not able to give a good account of themselves. The help I sent away at the end of the month. The Magistrate sent me word she had lived in his family for a short time etc. and glad I was when she went. We have now a little girl from the village. She does help me a little. . . . One day this week I want to try and take the little ones on the beach, I have been frightened to take them even through Durban, the fever there has been so bad. There has been such mortality among little children.
We have more than two miles to walk before we get to the first buss. The little ones would have so many more messages to send in the morning, still I think I had better send this off the first thing in the morning. I know I ought to have written before indeed each day I told myself I would, and so let it go by -- and yet it is not for want of love for my Pater we know only too well in this large world we have only our good loving Pater and Mutter that cares for us and love us. Good night and God bless you Dear Pater and Mutter is always our prayers each night.
Your affectionate daughter
Eliza Lewes.
Please forgive errors.
Signature
Eliza Lewes.
Citation
Mrs. Herbert Arthur Lewes, Mrs. Herbert Arthur Lewes to GHL, Sydenham, 18 November 1878, Complete George Eliot Letters(2026), George Eliot Archive, edited by Beverley Park Rilett. https://GeorgeEliotArchive.org, Accessed September 7, 2026. https://www.georgeeliotarchive.org/items/show/95572