Letter from Frances Hodgkins to Isabel Field

Date
18 Jan 1898
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Object Detail


Date
18 Jan 1898
Transcript
Nevada Tuesday morning [c. 18 January 1898]
My dearest Sis
Owing to some delay on the telegraph wires your telegram did not reach us till nine o’clock this morning and I am afraid you have been waiting anxiously for a reply. Mother thinks if you came down you might alarm Father & much as she would like to have you she thinks it best for you to wait and if there is any change we will wire you. Yesterday we were all much more hopeful about him, he seems so much better and brighter but he has had a bad night again and does not seem quite so well this morning. He is eating better than he was a few days ago, and the sickness has stopped and those are very hopeful signs. Both Mother and I think that in spite of what the Drs. say that he may rally if only we can keep his strength up and he is very hopeful about himself which is a great thing. Dr Scott says that this growth on the bladder does not necessarily mean that Father will sink under it and there is every chance of his rallying for a time which is a much more hopeful view of the case than the one the Drs gave us. Father wants Percy to stay in the office for a little time and help with the work. He is a great comfort to Father, he is so steady and thoughtful. Until he was taken ill Father was very busy over the Finker business. The poor Finkers are in great trouble, Mr F. having made a terrible muddle of his affairs, and about Christmas time slipped off to Melbourne, where Mrs Finker is following him next week. Father went up to Wllgtn to meet Mr Harris and Mother thinks that if Father had been allowed to get a longer sea trip instead of coming back again, he would have averted this illness but Dr. Scott says she ought to be thankful he is home for he would most likely have been ill in Auckland. I am so dreadfuly sorry for Mrs Finker she has been coming for the last month every day, and sits in a broken hearted way talking of her troubles. We are the only friends she cares about and of course we can do so little for her. I am glad to say their affairs are nearly wound up and another lawyer is sharing the work with Father which of course relieves much of the responsibility. I will write again tomorrow and tell you how Father is. Everybody is so kind Mr Graham comes up every day and sits with him for a little time. Do not worry, dear old Girl, tho’ I know it is impossible not to. With love from Mother and myself to you both. Your loving sister Fanny
Pages
6 pages
Sender's address
Nevada
Recipient
Institutional No.
MS-Papers-0085-06
Credit Line
Letters from Frances Hodgkins. Field, Isabel Jane, 1867-1950 : Correspondence of Frances Hodgkins and family / collected by Isabel Field. Ref: MS-Papers-0085-06. Alexander Turnbull Library, Wellington, New Zealand.
https://natlib.govt.nz/records/22902955

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