73 Longton Avenue, Sydenham, SE26. - They are delighted to have Trevelyan's "From the Shiffolds"; Ernest [her husband] has not been well, so has not yet enjoyed it, but is looking forward to doing so. The poems give her 'nostalgia... yet happiness too'. Was interested in Trevelyan's poem "The Dandelion", since the flower is 'so beautiful & rarely celebrated by poets'. Long ago her mother, a 'friend and great admirer' of Trevelyan's mother, went to Coniston and visited the last surviving [Susanna] of the four Miss Beevers, Ruskin's friends. Expects Trevelyan knows the sisters each had 'their own terrace in their lovely garden', where they each grew their favourite flowers. Miss Beever asked her mother whether she knew [James Russell] Lowell's poem "To The Dandelion", which was the only one she had encountered before Trevelyan's. Thanks and good wishes from them both to both Trevelyans.
73 Longton Avenue, Sydenham, SE26. - She and her husband thank Trevelyan 'most warmly' for another volume "From the Shiffolds", which they greatly value; has 'read & reread' the others. Was just about to write to Mrs Trevelyan when the book came; much appreciates how 'beautifully printed' it is, given her bad eyesight. Will include a letter for Mrs Trevelyan with their 'little news'. She is aging and her memory is certainly getting worse, though she recalls things from the 'far past' such as going for a walk with Trevelyan and her sister while their mothers talked. She tore her 'poor summer frock.. nearly from waist to hem' when they climbed a fence with barbed wire, and she remembers Lady Trevelyan mending it 'in the lovely Wallington hall'. Seems a 'far cry' from then to her golden wedding anniversary, which she and her husband celebrated in March; 'what a new world, not alas "brave new world"' it is now. Adds a postscript saying that her husband's arm 'made a perfect recovery': the surgeons said it was '"like a young man's"'.
73 Longton Avenue, Sydenham, SE26. - Has been trying to let Trevelyan know ever since [this year's "From the Shiffolds", with his translation of the Homeric Hymn to] "Demeter" came 'with what pleasure' she and Ernest read and will re-read it; so kind of him to share his poetry with them, which comes as 'such a rest & refreshment'. Reads one poem of his particularly when the '"fret & fever of the world" seems to be almost unbearable'. Often thinks about how the 'miseries of the world' come on the wireless and in the daily papers, so 'accumulate rapidly': much of it would otherwise 'never reach one... at all' or 'come so late that there was the comforting feeling' it was all over. Hope Trevelyan enjoyed 'this wonderful summer & late autumn'.
Easedale, Woodway, Guildford. - Has much enjoyed reading Trevelyan's Christmas gift ["From the Shiffolds"], which brought back 'an earlier & a happier world' for her. Was also given a volume of modern poems, but while she has 'read and reread' Trevelyan's poems, she could get nothing from the other, and her 'kind friend' is going to exchange the volume for her. She also has the volume of Chinese poems edited by Trevelyan ["From the Chinese"] and has had 'much happiness' from them. Both of his books are 'delightfully printed' and good for 'stupid eyes' like hers. Her husband, now eighty, is 'called upon for every difficult mechanical job in the house' so has not yet had chance to read it, but much enjoyed the one she read to him. Hopes Trevelyan had a visit from his son and family at Christmas; [her daughter] Mabel came but she has returned today to finish her job before staring training with the Friends for relief work. It has been 'like spring today': lists the trees and plants flowering. Love to 'dear Mrs Trevelyan' and best wishes to them both to 1946.