Page:Early Reminiscences.djvu/35

Rh At Bratton, my sister Margaret was born March 23rd, 1835. My mother wrote, November 20th, in the same year: "My poor baby has now got rid of her cough and wheezing. Dear little Sabine you would be quite pleased with, no child can behave better than he has done lately; he is as sweet, docile, and affectionate as possible, and tries to say everything and succeeds pretty well. The last mentioned, though not least, valued piece of property in my possession—Edward—is very well, and as busy in the room in which I am working as Papa's simile says—making all the most disagreeable smells he can with oil-paints, turpentine, etc.; but as he has resumed oil-painting at my request, I won't be so ungracious as to complain."

Visits were made to Lew, and my mother's sisters and mother, and my father's sisters from Lew House came and stayed at Bratton. Little dinner-parties were given, but gentry were sparse in the neighbourhood; there were few others than the curate, Mr. Gurney—the rector, Birdwood, was non-resident—and some of the party from Lew. Letters were costly then; one to Exeter, or from it, cost eighteenpence; so that very generally a hamper of good things was sent up or down by the mail-coach from Lew Down or from Exeter, and the letters were enclosed therein. Here is the menu of a little dinner from a letter of my mother to her mother:

"What do you think of my having a dinner-party to-day? Soup at the top, Fish at the bottom, for Remove, a couple of Ducks—and stewed Beef with garnish of carrots, etc. Side dishes—Browned potatoes in a shape, and Omnium Gatherum of Vegetables opposite in a shape. For Remove Macaroni, and raisin pudding. My company, Mr. Gurney, and Mr. Charles Gould."

My father grew greatly dissatisfied with the life at Bratton. For one thing there were too few neighbours, and with such as there were he disagreed in politics. He was, himself, a strong Whig, and my grandfather at Lew was an old-fashioned Tory. The curate, Gurney, was also Conservative; and so were the Bonds at Exeter. Accordingly he resolved on leaving, and went for a short while to Paris to improve his French. Thence he wrote to my mother on April 4th, 1837: "My opinions may be condemned by the Exeter people, but I am satisfied that they agree