BLACKWELL FAMILY        KITTY BARRY          From Lakeman, JaneJune 9th
72 Goldsmith Avenue
Actou W
Loudou
Dear Miss Barry
I often find my
self thinking & wondering
how you are & if
you mean to settle
in Scotland.  I cut the
enclosed out of the paper
what ever do you think
of the suffragists the
Militants I mean
whatever is going so be 
done with them. Have
you let Boch House, dear
old place. I met Maggie
at Liverpool st station
on her way home to
Hasting she had lost
her sister she died
after an opperation for
cancer in Wisbech hospital
Maggie was down a few
days before she died poor
Jennie,I am glad to tell you
We are all well at present
I had a bad turn last 
Autumn the inside seemed
to have dropped so I had
to keep in bed for some
time, for to see if things
would right themselves
otherwise it meant going 
in the hospital, but glad
to day I was spared that
strange to say soon asas I got better my sister
was taken ill & the Dr. 
discovered a tumour she
was in St. Mary’s hospital
one month but glad to say 
she is better. My husband
enjoys good health
Fancy he has been at the 
British Museum [47] 49
years this last May does it
not seem a pity he never
got under government he 
would have retired on a 
pension now it just means
work until you can go no
longer the pay has been sopoor & loose time & pay for all bank 
holidays & summer ones & do not 
suppose he is late 10 minutes in five 
years. In many ways I seem to miss 
my earnings, we stand at more expense
living out of town the rates are so high
at Acton & each time they come in they 
are heavier so [141?] more this June for [?]
month than last year, I really think itssince it will be impossible for the middle
class people to live. I only have the 
one grandchild Winnie she is growing, 
soon to be as big as her Mother she goes 
to school & seems a bright good looking 
child she often plays schools with her grandfather
& I she tells me I am the naughtiest 
girl in the class, well dear Miss Barry if it’s
not asking too much I should be pleased 
to hear from you. with very kind regards
your very sincerely 
E TakemanLakeman

Mrs. L. H. H. Gower Place
Euston Square
WC
August 16th 1876

My dear Miss Barry
I’ve so much to tell you I scarcely 
know where to commence suppose 
I go as far back as leaving Mr. Sweets
which I did very comfortably they 
all seemed kind at the last
and wished me lots of good wishes
Mr. Sweet gave me 2 for a present
Miss Mehea a sugar basin and 
milk jugs the housemaid 1/2 doz forks
and her future husband 1/2 doz
dessert spoons such nice ones
My sister gave us nice easy 
chair My mother a feather bed
and another arm chair and
many more too numerous to mention
but will go over over them all whenI see you how I must tell you
the dissapointment we had 
Mr. Labeueau could not get his
holiday when I came within three
days of our going he had a 
promotion of if you can call it that
its neither more money or less 
hours but its lighter work and 
he stands a better chance 
of having more money than in his
previous work so he was oblidged 
to be there just on the 20th
he was away from the Museum 
from the Thursday until the 
following Thursday he was so 
dissapointed even more than 
myself I said all along we 
should not be able to afford
it nor those we shouldI scarcely knew how to manage
at first Ive saved enough out
of housekeeping to buy what the
call a york oven and very useful
affair too the money seems to
go so quickly I am longing to 
get a pound in the bank, 
It seems so strange to feel Ive 
none there- in case of illness
or anything, over 50 p our things 
cost, but still it seems so nice
to know its your own, I have
commenced taking in needlework,
and have earned the large sum 
of 3/ Ive a dress on hand
at the present time I must 
get done this week then Ive
two flannel shirts and several
little laundry jobs from
the landlady I hope I hope
 and trust we shall get on
 I was so delighted with your 
letter I thought it so kind of 
you Ive been going to write 
each day but I seemed to have
 so much to say that I put it 
off thinking each day I should
have a better opportunity of 
telling you all Mr. Lakemore
seems so throughly happy he
 thinks all his troubles are over
though I console him by assuring
 him they are all to come
he is very kind and good to
 me he is very steady he is
 not fond of drink and beingout of nights I aught to think
 myself very fortunate in getting
 such a good husband he seems
so much wiser than I do
I dont tell him all this though. 
Rosamund took my place at
the Lodge and Jane the 
housemaids place they come 
down as often as they can . 
I've been twice, they have given
Mr. Lakeman permission to have 
his holiday this month but we
shall not be able to afford 
it now so we must save up
and go next summer though
a change would do him good
I shall be delighted to have a
few lines from Dr or yourselfAny time when its convenient
our house is within five minutes
 walk of Gower Street Station
and ten minutes from the
 Museum. Mr Lakeman comes
 home to dinner Then I don't
 see him until 10 past 7 p.m. Sometimes
we take a walk& we have a
 little supper at 8 pm Then I read
 aloud from 9 until 10 It makes
 the evenings pass pleasantly. 
What a length I've drawn this letter
 I hope the invalids have recovered
 Trusting Dr and yourself are
 enjoying good health. with kind
regards from Mr. Lakeman and
 myself and many thanks for your
 good wishes  Yours very sincerely
Jane Lakeman

 Kind regards to [Dr?]for we spent all our little savings
I had no idea it would take so 
much money I assure we we 
was quite bankrupted I had my
dear mother up from the country
and as we did not go away
we gave quite a wedding party
numbering 20 both the girls from 
Mr Sweets and several other friends
I was so delighted when it was 
all over - we had a splendid day
There was six of us went to church 
but a great number of friends
had gathered round the church 
I felt extremely large for a little 
time we spent a very happy 
though I thought a tiring day
we took our rooms from the 
13th of July the two parlours we have
in quite a respectable house 
and street They are such clean 
people the closets and drains are 
kept in good order we pay 
8/- a week rent it does seam a 
great deal for two small rooms 
we have the use of the wash house 
for washing which I do once a 
fortnight we have our rooms 
comfortably furnished They look
quite pretty you asked we how I 
felt well strangely happy the 
days seemed long and quiet at 
first but I soon found plenty
to do in keeping every thing clean 
and nice we have no oven 
I missed if dreadfully