Our Family History

I have just come back from a very pleasant trip into the Dholepore states where I camped out with Henry Gahan.

I got up at 5am on a Sunday morning and sent off my bearer with my bedding and traps on a Bile Gharry (bullock cart) also a syce to take back the horse I was to ride.

After parade I rode off (on Cranford's horse) to Shamshabad 12 miles where I found my bearer syce etc. waiting for me asleep & half drunk with opium or Bhang, but the horse which Henry was to send was not there so I sent away Crawford's horse and started off with my gun. After walking for an hour I met the horse accompanied by one of the Rana's cavalry so I rode the rest of the say to Raja Khera (12 miles from Shanshabad) there I found a neat camp occupied by Henry Gahan & Mr. Contouly a special correspondent to the ';temps' newspaper - a most amusing man and capital sportsman: their retainers consisted of ten Sowars (cavalry) & twenty Afghan soldiers of the Rana's body guard, besides bearers, Kidmatgars. syces, grass cutters etc. our beasts were about 8 horses, 2 elephants & 6 camels.

I spent 4 very pleasant days at Raja Khera going about the country on the elephants with Contouly while Gahan rode his horses round the various villages he had to inspect; we saw no black buck, but quantities of Chicars, or ravine deer, these were so wild that we could not get near them; however we got plenty of sand grouse, partidges etc.  The second day we went to a village called Nuggur on the Chambah where we shot wild geese & Brahmini ducks & Cantouly and I killed each of us one Muggur (crocodile) but as the bodies sink and do not appear for a day or two we did not recover them, however they are no novel sight. The Chambal is such a fine river that I was tempted to bathe & consequently was a little the worse for it that evening, I shall know better next time. From the Raja Khera we moved on to Pahari about 12 miles, shooting on the way, seeing as usual plenty of Chicara & other small game. The next day (Thursday) we shot through some fine jungle full of Chicars, Black Buck, Nilgai, hares, partridges etc. I got one good chance at a good buck and missed, but as usual found the Chicara too wild to approach. One could shoot any quantity of Nilgai, but they are sacred, & they seem top know it, for the blue bulls afford one often the most tempting of shots.

In the evening I rode to Dholepore 12 miles with one of the Sowers to carry my rifle (all the rest of my things being sent on). On the way I got one shot at a buck and again missed. I found Major Denneby the political agent and virtual king of the state most kind, the little Rana also did his best to amuse me & gave me all sorts of invitations to come and hunt with his hounds etc. winding up by insisting on my having his photograph.

I dined with the Dennebys, a most kind but peculiar couple, 1st cousins, both educated in France one in a convent the other in a Jesuit college, the Major having lost all his "Frenchness" in the service and Madame being all French.

At 10.30pm I set off for Agra (about 30 miles) in the Rana's Talk Gharry with three changes of horses & arrived at 4.30am in good time for parade at 7am.

Thus ended a trip where, without much shooting, I had great fun. All ideas of "roughing it" were soon dissapated, as I never saw such excellent cookery as Cantouly's Rhidmatgar Abdool Rhadar produced. In a few minutes after we halted for lunch, some clay was made into fireplaces about 6 inches high and in about ½ hour we had a lunch of about 5 courses of fish, fowl, mutton, beef, pudding etc.

The native customs and produces amuse and interest one in proportion as one begins to understand them. I caught a lizard the other day & was holding it in my hand when my bearer came into the room, I asked him the Hindustani name for it & when he saw it he became greatly exercised beseeching me to throw it away, telling me that it was "No good" & "Very Khrab" (Very bad) & when I did, after some time, let it run away, nothing would satisfy him but that I must wash my hands; My Muushi explained to me that the ignorant natives consider these beasts of ill omen of the Mithar (=Sweeper) or very lowest caste and have an elaborate scale of penances to be performed according to what part of their bodies the animal touches.

The other day came two great "Poojah Din" or holy days among the Hindoos, during the first of which they throw a fine yellow powder "Tumeric" over any friend when they happen to meet & during the second a fine read powder of ground "Sapin" wood, also during both days they drink a good deal and many get very drunk; My bearer and syce both got leave out & the syce was found in the evening incapable, while my bearer was "Cocked" - I therefore fined the Syce 8 annas or 1/- & wigged the bearer; the former of course making horrid faces as he prayed with clasped hands to be let off calling me "Garipour" - "most high" & "hezeer" - "your honour". His excuse was amusing - he said "You gave me leave to go to the festival" and much as to say you gave me leave to get drunk too - this latter I mildly remarked I had not done. His small comprehension took it in and he collapsed.

The other night we witnessed a sight that few , if any, of us will see again - a total eclipse of the full moon at the Taj Mahal. It was the night appointed for our band to play there, and the whole scene was beyond description. I did not go to bed until 2.30am when the moon was almost quite uncovered.

We were to have had an assault of arms & great sports today but the Brigadier General after our invitations had gone out not only to all the Europeans within miles but to all the Native Rajahs, made us put them off "sine die" (which at this time of year is equivalent to "for good") for the most frivolous pretext; this is certainly not encouraging.

I am sorry to see that Mr. Middlemist is dead, I heard the news some days ago & Carlisle who was head of Harrow when I was there said that it was unfortunately true; Carlisle is here travelling for his own amusement and thinks it about time to return when the thermometer comes up to about 80 in the shade; but still with even ordinary precautions one does not feel the heat in the least, but we all can see that a very hot summer is coming. When I began my letter 2 days ago I heard of nothing hotter than 70 in the shade.

I am writing against time to catch the mail, so must conclude rather abruptly.

With best wishes for all

Believe me

Your affect son

R. Story

March 1877

I have been on detachment here for the last week & I am now detailed to march a party to the convalescent depot at Naini Tal about 170 miles via Bareilly to which place I fancy I proceed by train, but I have not yet got my final instructions although I leave on the evening of the day after tomorrow.

I take 21 of our men from here and pick up some of the 10th Huzzars at Hattras Road. The worst of it is that I cannot find out for certain whether I am to remain with my men or return to Agra although the latter seems to be what I shall have to do.

Naini Tal is a most lovely place (Meaning the "Eye Lake") in the hills with a lovely lake by it which the natives call the Eye of the world - I shall in any case spend a few days there when I shall be able to give you a description of its beauties, meantime I shall look forward to them. In the hills we got no shooting but passed through some magnificent scenery, & and are now on the top of one of these great hills (one of the spurs of the Himalayas) from which the perpetual snows can be seen, the lake lies in a little valley itself many hundred feet above the plains which I can even now see from my tent & behind the lake (as all round us) rise mountain upon mountain one after the other from the plain to the snows, tropical vegetation being below where the heat was even 120 in the sun, while here among oak and fir trees & great rododendrons 40 feet high all in full bloom with the thermometer at 57 & stormy gusts of wind & rain coming every moment, I find I am to spend the summer and possibly a portion of next winter.

In spite of the beauties of this place I am not so well pleased with it as the walking is difficult, except on the cut roads, the hills being like the sides of houses, & also this is the close season for game, however I am not going to condemn the place untried especially as I am in very pleasant company. I am going on the move again on Monday (this is Wednesday) to Raniket with a party of married soldiers, calvalry & the 18th Regt. I am unable to start before as Lord Lytton is here at present and takes up all the carriage.

Raniket is only two marches, but as the road is impossible for either carts or camels, I can bring no tents for my party, so I have to get them all in somehow into a little Dak bungalow, the women are carried in Dandies (carrying chairs) & the menare provided with ponies for themselves and coolies for the luggage. At Raniket there are detachments of the 14th and 22nd Regts who of course must put one up. I shall return from Raniket at my leisure.

My address for some months will be Naini Tal "Convalescent Depot" would find me as I have not yet got a house.

The mail is just leaving.

With love to all etc.

April 1877

It must have been a beautiful sight the eclipse of the moon at the Taj, friends saw it here. I was so sorry I forgot to look out for it. Our life must be very slow indeed after your more stirring one, but today I write to tell you that we have succeeded in getting a house, one very suitable in every respect with regard to aspect, rent etc. & much nearer the college than this. I fear you will not know the locality it is the other side of Christ Church which stands about equal in distance between this house and the new one we have taken. There was a large sugar failure in Bristol and the owners of our new house were involved in it & obliged to give up the house, the entrance of it is so dull, I did not think it worth my while at first to look at it, but was advised to do so, as it is so complete inside, the view from the windows too is bright with a SW aspect - we have a good diniong room, morning room and study for the boys on the ground floor, upstairs a double drawing room opening into a large conservatory, a beautiful bathroom & bedroom on that floor, above 3 rooms and above again 4 goot attics - then we have a small square of garden, not enough for tennis, but where we can have a few flowers. The lower part of the house is very curious and there is a summer & winter kitchen & below that no end of arched cellars, the occupants had been growing mushrooms in one, a capital place.

I was obliged to take it 8th May & having this house till the 13th it will make a great hurry to move, but unless this house is let, I shall take it on for 1 week more. I propose bringing over bedding etc. from Bingfield & a few articles of furniture, leaving the house so that we might find it possible to fun over for the summer months. I propose bringing the plate chest, it is at present in the cellar at the bank, it will only get very spoiled there, & I thought you wd prefer my doing so, of course when you come home for good you could have what plate you require & arrange what you like about it.

We are having such bitterly cold weather, colder than we had it all over winter, a perfect storm of east wind with sleet and hail showers. I dread trhe damp and cold of the house at home.

I received a letter yesterday from Oswald telling me that we might expect him home about July or August, the "Modeste" is not returing to England but is to be recommissioned in China, & the Tamar is going out to bring back the present officers and crew - the news seems almost too good to be true; I fear the war which seems inevitable will make many changes, so I mus not set my heart too much on seeing him so soon.

This holiday time now, both Arthur & Francis did very well in their exam: the former will get his remove. Evelyn is not doing as well as I could wish, & when Francis leaves his preparatory school he will enter the college above him which will be  a pity for both boys.

Edward had had a very long holidays, six weeks, he had a pleasant fortnight at Bilbow Hall belonging to a family of the name of Lamb, he was asked there by one of his school fellows - a great house for hunting - now he is at Blyboro' & I expect him in about a week's time. The entrance exam begins on the 1st I hope much he will get in, otherwise I shall place him under a tutor & let him try again in Sept.

I hear your Aunt Emily is wonderfully well, she is at Bath today on her way to Plymouth to stay with the Roches. I wanted her to come here for a few nights but fear she will not be able to make but her visit.

Mr. Tatlow was at Manchester for some time being telegraphed for, as George was very dangerously ill with conjestion of the lung, caught after getting a chill at cricket, I am glad to say he is recovering, but the father flew back to Ireland as quick as thought, without letting me know he was so near, which is rather provoking. Mr. Flemming often comes to see us, he was in Ireland for the Assizes & made his maiden speech as a ????. I fear this horrid man will make many changes, & very likely as his battery has been here so long he will be moved to other quarters, which I shall be sorry for as he is the only young I know here.

I do not remember any more of interest to tell you so conclude with love from all, ever your affect Mother

Caroline Story

Louisa wishes to know whether you are going to continue to subscribe to the Bath school for officers daughters.

May 1877

I reached this on the 12th of last month & expected to go to Raniket the next Monday in charge of a party of Cavalry but the Governor General having taken all the coolies in the place away with him we had to wait for his return - my things were packed an ready on Tuesday morning but neither then nor on Wednesday could we start - on Tuesday evening I received a telegram from Hutton of ours asking me to join his party in the Terai on Friday morning at a place called Machiepoore which I afterwards found out did not exist at all however he gave me some further directions. I therefore intended to hurry back from Raniket & catch my party as quickly as I could but finding that I could not start till Thursday from Raniket, I got leave for another officer to take my party - Now my adventures begin.

On Wednesday morning I rode up to Barracks to see if there was any chance of starting & on return found that my bearer had gone more than an hour before with my things - I at once sent my Bhistie (water carrier) after him to recall him while I did what work I had to do - The Bhistie returned without having caught him so I abused him well and sent a coolie after the bearer; finding he did not turn up - I mounted my pony & rode after him myself. Through some grand mountain scenery as hard as I could go along the narrow pass with a precipice on one side and a wall of rock on the other passing snow drifts in places 10 & 12 feet deep in shady corners of the Khuds - I found my bearer just beginning to return from Rerua about 12 miles from Naini Tal so I sat down by the side of the road & ate some bread and half cooked cold eggs to prepare for the heavy pull back; this was about 6pm. After eating we started - I leading the way on foot, but we had not gone far when I found that my bearer was very drunk so I told a spare coolie to look after him & with my Khidmatgar proceeded - night came on pitch dark & with a fearful storm of rain, thunder & lightning - but we had to go on - so I lit my lantern which a grasscutter was carrying & led the way. Great stones came crashing down from the mountains above us & trees were blown about in all directions, & once as we were all crossing a small bridge a flash of lightning showed me the railings strewed across our path - at last we came to a small native hut & shed into which we went - there to relieve the coolie I slung my provisions on one side of a pony & my box on the other - here also my bearer became helpless & refused to go on, a bottle of rum fell out of his shawl, which I threw away & we proceeded leaving Mr. Lowchum as follows: 1. Myself with a lantern, 2. Pony laden (Boanerges) 3. Two coolies carrying my bedding. 4.Led pony (Solomon). 5. Coolie carrying Picketing pegs ropes etc. for ponies then the unemployed coolies whose loads were on the pony & my Khidmatgar Azmat Ali (who turned out a regular trump) bringing up the rear - thus we went on until at last in a dangerous spot the lantern went out! All my matches were with my bearer & all the coolies tinder was wet through. As we were debating what to do one of the coolies said "I see a fire at the bottom of the Khud & will go for a light" - he and I groped our way to the bed of the torrent below us, & scrambling over rocks & bushes found some hill natives sitting over a fire so we lit our lantern & went on, stopping only for a few minutes at a hut to get some Choor (sweet stuff) for the coolies, that & a smoke probably the only food since early morning; when we got half way (7 miles). I remembered having seen a tent on a small flat space above the road, so as my candles were running out & the worst was still before us, I groped my way to it and put my head in - I was saluted with "Who the devil is that? Holloa is that you?" it was a man in the firest service whom I knew so I got my mattress on the ground in the tent, had my ponies picketed, put the coolies etc. in the Cook's tent (Bawachi Kharna) & walked into a good supper which his Khidmatgar had ready in about 10 minutes (tinned soup).

At about 6am next morning I rode to Naini Tal with the documents for the Ranikhet party (they were to start about 8am) & handed them over, I also saw the party off after having great trouble with the coolies. On returning to my house I found my things had arrived so after breakfast (I.E. about 12 noon) I got ready my things for the Terai, got fresh coolies, dismissed my bearer who had turned up & was drying his clothes & about 4pm started for Kaladougi. As I was descending the hills I felt it perceptibly getting warmer though above it was almost cold enough for a great coat - I dined off bread & eggs by the roadside & reached Kaladougi about 10pm, it was a lovely night with a fine moon so I had no unpleasant adventures about lanterns etc. Next day I got a Dalk Gharry from the hotel where I slept & drove to Manpoor 28 miles, thereafter making enquiries I found that my party were about 7 miles off at a place called Jogeepoore on a Cutcha Road (a common country road) - therefore took the horses out of the Gharry & put in a pair of bullocks the driver of whom was very surly ( a rascally Rohilla) but alternate threats & promises of large Baksheesh brought me to Jogeepoors about six in the evening. There I found Crawford & Hutton with 6 elephants and two tents the formerhad had a narrow escape a short time before out pick sticking Wells had given him a deep spear wound in the back - how he missed running him through was a wonder as they were both at full gallop & a spear will go through a man or a pig as I have seen (the pig not the man) like a knife into a pat of butter. I spent a very pleasant 10 days with these two changing camp nearly every day in search of Tiger - Crawford & I came across one in very thick cover & each fired two shots into the long grass (we could not see the beast) without effect & on our pressing him hard with our elephants he gave one bound from his cover & was gone into the thick jungle - all I saw of him was his tail and hind quarters - of course we were greatly disgusted - we had (Khabbir news of several more & found fresh kills in their tracks nearly every day but could never meet the beasts themselves however we saw numbers of Cheetah, Para (hog deer), Jarow (Sambur) & a few black buck besides any quantity of pig, but being after Tiger we did not always fire at deer - however we shot 5 Jarow & one fine Cheetah which fell to my lot & we ought to have shot more but the unsteadiness of the Howday Elephants made shooting very difficult.

The elephants are wonderful beasts they can do almost anything but speak - the Mahouut steers them by touching them on the cheeks with his naked feet, makes them stop, go on, lie down, get up, break & clear away trees, pick up anything etc. by word of command; a sore place is kept open at the root of each ear into which the heavy (ankoos) iron hook is driven deeply on the slightest ign od disobedience, they are also sometimes beaten with a heavy mallet just above the root of the tail, but good elephants seldom require this. A Para once, being hemmed in, ran up against my elephant who promptly went plump down on its knees to crush it but only threw me hard against the front of the howdah. Another elephant got into a deep drain for irrigating & the bottom being soft could not get out again till the other elephants & ourselves threw in logs for him to stand on when he got out with such frantic exertion taht next day he was sick & the day I left also my elephant was laid up with Rheumatism one leg being like a great black pillar quite stiff.

What they really enjoy is their bath - they lie down in the water & and are scrubbed all over with a good rought stone! as hard as a man can do it with both hands. I left Hutton & Crawford on the 28th and reached this on Sunday last the 29th. They ought, before they leave off, get at least one Tiger if not more. I am sorry to say things have been going on most unpleasantly at headquarters our Col. having been behaving in a most extraordinary manner, so much so that one or two officers will certainly leave the Battalion - the general discontent has now extended to the N.C. officers & men even to a great extent to the native servants; besides that an irrepairable breach has been opened between us & the 10th Hussars who are a very nice set, so that the state of the Battn. will soon be known all over the presidency - this is a great pity as we have a very nice set in the Battn. all gentlemen and men of good family with the exception perhaps of the Col. & Senior Major who have made all the mischief.

You seem to have a queer notion of the language I am learning - Tamil is the language spoken in Madras - Hindustani or Ordoo which I am learning is understood nearly all over India but is most common in Bengal & is a mixture of Hindi, Persian & Arabic for instance one book which I am reading in the Devanagari Character is nearly all Hindi (Line of script) Hindustan Ka Bayan (the history of Hindustan) while the Bagh-o-Bahar (The garden of spring script) has a great many more Persian & Arabic words and is written in the Persian Character from right to left (the other goes from left to right). The Persian I find hard to read because it is so very scrawly most of the letters being known only by the dots above or below. For instance this is the Mossulman creed Bismilla ul Rahunan ul Rahim, In the name of God most might most merciful.

Printing (line of script)
Writing (line of script looks very similar)

Here is a sentence written in a second hand book which I bought (he then goes on for a page showing the different examples of script & explaining the difficulties of reading them etc.)

The photos arrived a few days before I reached this, but I did not get them for some time, as they had been sent to old General Phillip Story who lives here & had a son Robert who I think is tea planting in Assam - he is one of the Leicestershire Storys & has been in this country all his life except during occasional visits home; hiss ons are Cols and Majors in the Indian Army & tea planters. Of course I called there as soon as possible after my arrival & was most pleasantly received by the old couple. He must be near 80 & his wife very little younger. You must know that the custom in this country is to call upon people first (i.e. not wait till they call on you) & send in your card - if they mean to receive you the bearer comes out and says "Salem" & you go in, if they don't I suppose they say they are out, but about that I don't know for certain. You must also never call except between the hours of 12 & 2 unless you are very intimate with the people.

The warlike telegrams are causing no little excitement, Hutton will get a transfer to another Battn. to enable him to be at the seat of war, should it break out. I have made the acquaintence of some very nice people (a rarity for India) among them two of the prettiest women out viz a Mrs Lydiard a Prussian & a Miss King from Agra so I am beginning to enjoy the place more.

With love to all

I remain etc.

R, Story

Here is a good long prose for you, by the way, whatever happens we have no chance of distinguishing ourselves - our Col. is ordered home, it is the end of him.

May 1877

Since I last wrote to you I have been over to Bingfield with Roe. I do not know whether Louisa told you I have taken a very pretty small house I rather think she did, and I went over to bring what I should require for the new house, iron bedsteads & bedding, & some articles of furniture. I have also brought over all your nicely bound books - in spite of constant fires a thin coat of mould was forming over the binding, I packed them most carefully & will take care of them till you settle down. I thought you wd like me to do so. I also got the plate chest out from the bank, took what I should require, & got Mr. Murray to come over & pack it nicely, & then I sent back the chest to the bank, putting a card on it that it was your property & deposited there by me such & such a day.

I have removed the crayon picture from the drawing room & brought it over, & wish to retain that for my life. Mr. Smith, Lady Rivers & the two pictures in the hall still hang in their old places. You remember I was allowed to select what I shd like to retain, I considered it would not be fair to you to take any but the one - but if you take my advice you will allow me to take care of the others for you, Bingfield is so damp without constant fires in it, the pictures will not improve hanging there. It is useless thinking about it but I know I can never live there again with the family I have to bring on - the place looked so tempting & lovely with the first touch of spring, one had a longing to stay, but it was like going through the house of the dead, every place so still & silent I do not feel the better for the pain it gave me - I looked over your things, & came only just in time to save them from the moth. I have removed them from yr case, brushed them, peppered them, & placed them in my cedar wardrobe, telling Mary to shake them out from time to time. I papered the livery buttons or they wd soon have marked the cloth. I put a label on every key I could and left them so labelled in my bureau - it will save so much trouble in years to come.

I have lent the harmonium to the Roes, I was afraid of the mice getting into the bellows. I did not leave until I had put the house in order, so that it will be easily kept now, & I have left 3 beds, so that we can run over shd we be required to do so. You have no idea how very nicely Lord has drained the 5 acres along the back lane & it now filling it with turnips etc. it is fit for laying down & I told him he might do so - it is a great improvement taking away the trees, one good fir tree is quite enough there. I only regret you did not mark the Scottish fir in the wood it requires thinning & I have not time to do it - & ???? wd cut it wholesale. I was sad to see the distress of the people at my leaving Mrs. Fitzpatrick is nearly bent double, & Mrs. MacSherry weeping bitterly for the loss of her Charlie. Scamp you may be sure paid me a visit, & a few of the old beggars too. I saw a good deal of the Roe party, Mr. R. looked very unkempt - the ladies being the most presentable of the party. Mrs. Burrowes also came, I never saw anyone so broken down, she has been ill all winter & my impression is that she is in a very bad state of health.

I am sorry to tell you that Edward failed for his entrance exam, so hopelessly that tho' he may go up more there is little use in his doing so - he does not know as much as Francis. I have placed him at school here as a day boy with Mr. Pritchard recommended by Dr. Percival. The boy will never get further than the a b c of anything - the rest are doing first rate, especially Francis who sits plodding on till all hours of the evening & never leaves off till he is sure his work is finished. Little Florence is ill in bed with congestion of the right lung, she gave me a great fright yesterday, the Dr. looked grave last night, but says she is going on all right today, you can remember the old attack she had, it was sad to hear her breathe with such distress again.

These n.e. winds have been very trying & she has a very delicate chest. I do not think of anything more to add that wd interest you, but

With much love from all

yr affect Mother

Caroline Story

June 1877

I have not felt at all strong lately, just a total want of strength, & I propose moving to Weymouth - you know all that part well, I wish you were at Portland, it would have been such fun for us all. The college breaks up on the 30th July & I think the change will be just delightful & the boys seem to like the idea of bathing & fishing.  I have not been away from this for just two years, only that one week I was in Ireland to pack, so I think I have earned a holiday.

I have had the pleasure of a long visit from your Aunt Fanny, she is looking well, & has grown much larger than when you last saw her, which improves people as they grow older & some days she looked very handsome. She left me about ten days ago with our Lou, to go to Oxford where they wpent a few days, neither of them had been there before, & they seem to have been much struck with the place. I hear Keble College looks awfully new besides the old buildings, & it will take time before  the bare new red brick tones down at all - however the college will be a great boon to poor men. I wrote to the Warden the other day to put Arthur's name down for it but he will not do so for the next two years when he is 16 - 3 years before he goes up, I think 19 quite young enough & the boy begs to be allowed to stay at the College here till that time. I think £100 a year will clear everything, & parents have no expenses of furnishing rooms, it is all done for the new comer.

Your Aunt & Lou have been with Uncle T (?) the latter returns here today, & I am glad to have 3 "At homes" in prospect for her - Not that those crushes are at all agreeable to me but they amuse Lou, so I take it all patiently.

I have taken off my deep mourning so as to enable me to be of more use to her, & I trust a fresh supply of strength will also be given to me. She is well enough now but now as strong as she used to be in Ireland, this place is often hot & stuffy, & a much more bracing air suits her.

Your Aunt Agnes has also been staying at Barrow, & goes today with your Aunt Fanny to Torquay, poor little thing she has borne up well, but it will be a long time before she recovers from such a shock. I heard from your Aunt Clara yesterday from Brunswick Gardens - a few days ago she had had Mrs Geddes out driving, she had seen her helped out of the fly & going up the steps of the house & in a moment the old lady was a heap at the bottom. The fly men puicked her up and carried her in in quite an unconscious state - a Dr. was sent for & he says she will recover this time but she may go off at any moment, of course it makes your Aunt very anxious, & the old lady is so restless, it is one person's business to watch her.

(?) Mr. Tatlow tells me that John has gone to live on the sand holes foolish man - he ought to have gone where he could have found a livelihood for his family.

Agnes Murray is to be married on the 18th of this month, & in August goes out to Penang I believe for two years.

I am sorry about your music sent out, that what comes of not having a musical mother, but I will try again for you, tho' a friend here, Lou & I only make a guess at what might suit you.

Heard yesterday from Oswald still in the Gulf of Xeros, he passed on the 20th as a sub lieut & says he likes his ship better & gets on much better with the Commander.

I will see & get the pictures over, Mr. Smith was a great friend of Handel, the picture is painted by Hobbimer - the account of the picture was in the glass bookcase in the library, bound in bluish boards. I cd not see the book the last time I was at home & intended hunting for it, but time failed - yr father when he was ill took the books out one day, & I have not seen it since but it must be in the house. You know the pretty lady who hung in the drawing room - she married 1st Honable Mr. Leigh - drawing in crayon by Coates, 2nd Mr. Coxe father of Archdeacon Coxe, 3rd Mr. Smith in her old age. She was very beautiful and Pope sung oif her. I have her in my room here as an old lady - a small picture - it used to hang in your father's study.

I hope I have made no mistakes in writing, but I suffer from weak eyes & will not read over - I am with much love

Yr affect Mother

Caroline Story.

July 1877

I have got nearly all the furniture back in, & the small piece of garden looks very gay & bright, the conservatory is a great pleasure to me - we have a promise of a good supply of grapes, but these I shall sell this year to help to pay off some of the expenses.

Louisa says she has written to you since she has been away, she returned to me a few days ago & seems to have enjoyed much her time away, though it was spoilt by her Aunt taking this new complaint german measles, & preventing her going out to several places which had been planned for her.

My life has jogged on as usual, seeing the boys to & from school, & taking a little drive which is a great delight to me - the summer has been a very broken one a week of really dry hot weather in June & then so cold, in Ireland they had fires, & here I was greatly tempted to light one.

I had about ten days ago the pleasure of a visit from your Aunt Harford. She had come over to be in London while her boy Walter went up for his exam for the Navy. I am sorry to say he failed, my opinion is he ought to have been sent to a proper school to prepare for the Navy, but his parents thought differently, & unfortunately it was his last chance. Then your Aunt Fanny came merely for a few days, she is going abroad for some months, so I shall hardly see he again this year. The old house at Annavarra (?) is being pulled down almost all of it - leaving just the sitting rooms - Mr. Vesey is going to build for the Hartfords another house and better arranged - they will take it on a 21 years lease, & I doubt that now they would ever live in England - I think they have a most obliging landlord as Mr. Vesey gives them £500 to plan & lay out on the house as they think best.

I cannot get over the pleasure it will give me to see Oswald on or after the 25th - only one long week to wait for him, I wish & wish that you were here too, but patience, I must wait for another meeting with you, & then you too will be a sun burnt man - but you I shall be able to recognise, where I shall be quite a stranger with Oswald, voice & all having changed. I heard from him from Aden, greatly disgusted at not finding a letter from me, but he told me to write to Suez, & there he will find one. In a former letter I am sure I told you how Edward had failed for his entrance exam for Clifton College, I was in a great puzzle what to do with him & placed him pro. tem with a Mr. Pritchard who has a school near this but like all places of that kind there are a number of "cads" & Ed did not like it. I was advised to place him at Malvern ollege - I had a letter of introduction to one of the nicer masters there, & a few days ago went there. Malvern is about 3 hours from this - I was most fortunate in both my weather & mission , as to me great comfort, I found Mr. Estridge at home, & with a vacancy to offer. He seemed such a nice man, & his rooms looking into a well kept garden full of roses - the College too is nicely situated on the slope of a hill looking over a valley not to be surpassed for beauty, the hills being a shelter at the back of the College. Edward will be in clover there, & he is booked for Sept 24th, & I hope to keep him there till he is ready to enter a profession - he is growing up such a handsome boy - I only wish he could get on in his studies.

The other boys are doing remarkably well, especially Francis, who works & plods away keeping at the head of his class, & will beat his brothers hollow. Evelyn has been the most difficult to manage, as you know is surly temper is against him, & his love of teazing also, but I have found the plan excellent of sending him out in the eve. to prepare his lessons with a tutor, he is now head of his class, & will get his remove next term. The great change in the house is Roe having left, she took an affront at what I did, & left me at a few days notice - her temper had become very troublesome, & strange enough after having lived with me so many years no one regrets her & we have much more work done & peace in the house - she has gone to her brothers who keep a public house at Weymouth, & I sd think she would find the change very great.

I hope you are keeping well, & continue to enjoy life as you did by your last letter - & how is your study of languages getting on? This is all the paper I had by me, & did not want for black edged - we all remembered you on your birthday 11th - the children said you spent your previous one at Cork - I think you were at Fermoy.

With much love from all

Believe me

yr affect Mother

Caroline Story.

August 1877

Oswald returned on the 25th bringing a collection of pretty things - china etc, & we have a pretty cabinet to put them all in. It was such a pleasure seeing Oswald again, he arrived the evening of the 24th the Tamar having made a quick passage, there was a delay in getting his things through the customs house, so he could not start till the even. of the 25th & arrived at 1am. Louisa & I sent the maids to bed , spread a supper, & sat up for him. Of course he is much grown, & I should say broader across the shoulder than your are, he is 5'7½" in height, & is growing now fast - just what all of you boys do, grow late - I think so much the better. He speaks exactly like you, so before I saw him when we were unlocking the hall door, I said "Well you have exactly Robert's voice". He is very little changed to what he was as a boy only the boy face more manly - he has leave up till Sept 5th, & one more year to serve as midshipman, & I hope he will be sent to the Pacific or the Mediterranean - for though he is well he needs a little nursing & care - the hot climates have told upon him a little & I wish I could have sent him and Lou to Scotland where they might have had some bracing Mountain air - as it is they had hoped to have started for Ireland on the 3rd but have been delayed owing to the painters being in Lisnamandra & the house not fit to receive visitors. I had written there first hoping Mrs. Roe could take them in - failing in her, I wrote to Mr. Tatlow equally unsuccessfully as his family were absent & he is on the eve of starting for Scotland to attend the wedding of Evelyn Mackeness - so on Sunday I wrote to Mrs. Burrowes & offered a visit there, I hope to get a favourable answer in time for them to start on the 10th & when they have paid a visit there I hope they will go on to Castle Saunderson, & return via Crosdoney.

Edward left yesterday for Bilton Hall Mr. Lamb's place near York, where his great chum is a lad of his own age, it seems a nice place & Ed. is much made of by the inmates of the house. Since the college broke up there has been a regular exodus here - parents and boys being scattered in every direction, & the place looks so deserted. I am not going to move, I think it quite enough to have taken up house here & furnished without doing any more, besides I have the advantage of an excellent tutor for the boys. I am glad to say they all did well this term, only ine and all are very low on arithmetic, so I have engaged a tutor to work them up, that they may make a start next term, & the boys are very happy & like their work & tutor. Francis dod the best coming out head of his class by about 400 marks above the rest & my impression is he will do the best of all, he is so steady & plodding.

You must tell me when you next write how you are getting on in your languages, I suppose it will take a couple of years before you could become interpreter, or that you could understand when spoken to - Oswald is very anxious to have a letter from you, he said the other day that you had not written to him, & he wanted to know about your life, & how you are getting on.

Remember when you write again direct to me as above as all yr letters have been directed to Rodney Place, even the box of prestty things. We are well out of that house, & well pleased with this, it is so bright and warm, the latter requisite being a great comfort to me, & most important too.

Louisa wishes to add, & I do not think I have anything more especially to interest you, except that I got over the old square paino from Bingfield, & made an excellent exchange for a grand one really in very good order, it had not been much used, sweet in tone & suitable for our drawing room, being one of Broadwood's & they always stand well - I hope someday yoou will bring back your cornet & play it with Louisa _ shall look for the next mail for yr promised letter to me &

Believe me

yrs affecly

Caroline Story

Mother has told you how much we admired the pretty things you sent - the paintings are really lovely & give such a good idea of the places they represent. Many thanks for the silver bracelet, it is really beautiful, I see Mother has told you she made me keep it, the medallion is such a handsome piece of work. Teenie wrote this morning, asking me to send you her love & many thanks for the bangles "so kind of Robert to think of her"

I wish for you every day - if you were here we should be all together it is a great treat to have Oswald. He is very much improved in every way, & is very nice & jolly - he seems such a man one hardly realises that he is but 18. It is such a pleasure to Mother to have him, though for a very short time. He & I hope to start for Ireland on Friday, unless by a wonderful chance Mrs. Burrowes cannot have us there & shall probably pay visits at Stradone, Coravahn, Castle Saunderson, to somebody near Bingfield, to Kurckranny, if we have time, & to Aunt Lou at Llanfairfechan, N. Wales. It sounds a pleasant tour! though it will be sad to go to Bingfield and find it empty.

Aunt Emily comes here for a few days next week - which will be nice for Mother especially as the natives of Clifton have "exodised" (new verb) en-masse. You cannot imagine how deserted the place is. We have had some good games of lawn tennis lately, at Blaise Castle ay the Saviles' & at the drill hall. Yesterday we had most exciting play there, Mr. Machworth & I against Oswald and Edward Pears. Ted has gone to Yorkshire, to his friend Lamb, he goes to Malvern College next term. We had rather fun the days the College prizes were given - Fran got one and several boys we know also.

Mrs. May Chapman's daughter has been very ill indeed with scarlet fever, but it is now getting better. The weather has been very changeable - today it is blowing and raining.

Have you seen Arthur Leslie yet? I believe he is much to be liked. Marion Freeling's betrothed is at Norfield now - Major Oliver. I have only met one of the new artillery officers yet - Mr. Allen - he did not meet you at Devonport - you must have left before they came there.

Walter Stanford did fail for the Navy - the result of not going to a "coach" - his geometry seemed the main cause - probably at school they did not pay enough attention to it. Have you been playing much? our new grand piano is such a nice one.

Oswald brought various pretty things home including some very good china.

I seem to have hardly any news for you this time, but home me next letter when we return, will be more amusing. Mother is pretty well, but I wish she could have a change. Perhaps when the college meets again she might be induced to go to Nanworth for a little. Uncle Nevile & Aunt Carrie are now going to Dinard (Normandy) for sea, air & French for the children.

"Hoping this finds you well, as it leaves me at present." & with many thanks for the pretty presents.

Ever your loving

Louisa Story

I have received two letters since I sent off a tin box containing Indian curiosities - On looking on the PO receipt I find it went from here on June the 18th & I have never yet heard of its arrival; from Louisa's letter it appears you had left Rodnew Place before it could have arrived and its being directed to that place may cause some delay in delivery - however I hope you will receive it all right, especially as amongst other things it contains Louisa's & Tina's bangles.

We are at this moment on the eve to all appearances of a famine in the North West Province - no rain to speak of has yet fallen though here there have been some heavy showers - Agra & Benares are simply fearful, the former if anything the worse of the two. I can fancy what places like Multan & Dhera Ismail Khan must be; should famine actually occur the results mus be the loss of 5 or 6 millions to Government & the death of some 7 to 800,000 unfortunate natives; as owing to the fact that all the surplus grain has gone down to Madras for the famine there there is none here in the store.

I am happy to say that as I write this it is pouring with rain with every appearance of its continuing so that it is now quite cool though this morning the sun was very hot.

I hope the poor wretches in the plains are getting the benefit of it, as they appear to be, from the direction of the wind.

You all seem to have a rather hazy notion of one's life in a hill station in India so I will give you an account of a day - I usually am up by 6.45am, at the barracks by 7.30am a smart 10 minutes gallop, back to the bathing place about 8.30 a 20 minute canter (one seldom trots in this country) after bathing, back to breakfast about 9.45am, after breakfast read Hindustani etc. & sleep till 2pm (or else do "Stables", go out visiting or play duetts). Lunch 2pm - Anything till 5.30pm, then comes polo or a ride till 7pm when I read Hundustani till dinner time (about 8pm) which winds up the day.

In the plains the life is somewhat different owing to the danger of going out in the sun in the hot weather, but here I may say that for weeks I have not worn a sun hat except a helmet in uniform. The state of sociert here is rather strange - I can describe it in a few words by saying that I should be sorry to see any lady I had any regard for here except with a good husband to look after her - These hill stations are notorious, Missoorie & Simla I believe more so than this.

I suppose I told you I had made the acquaintence of General & Mrs. Story; they are such a nice old couple - he told me he had been 52 years in the country, Mrs. Story plays very well and was delighted to accompany me - she was born in the country and has been but little at home; indeed the story goes that when she was at home the climate did not agree with her.

Sir George & Lady Couper live here during the hot weather they are extremely pleasant couple without much of the "Lord Sahib" about them - Your mentioning Walter Stamford remined me that Lady Couper told me in great distress the other day that two of her sons had just failed for the army in spelling, & wrote to me asking if I knew a good crammer who devoted his attention to that subject in particular - I recommended either Lindy or Faithful so I hope they pass next time; what worried the old lady was all their interest was of no avail to get them through however much it might be afterwards.

I mentioned the society os this place before - of course it is a hot bed of scandals & rumours - Myl fancy was tickled the other day by my being asked seriously if it was true that I had been offered the A.D.C. ship to Sir George (he is Lt. Governor of the N.W.P.) this being as about as likely as I should get the Governorship - however it did turn out that the present A,D.C had had a row with his chief about his daughter (a good girl but frightfully ugly) bu they ended in settling the question amicably, & the A.D.C is to marry the daughter, & very well he will do to (This is the story N.B,)

I met Leslie of the 3rd Buffs up here and had a long talk about Cavan. I do not admire him in the least nor I may say any of his regiment whom I have met, I wish he were as nice as his brother.

You certainly told me in a former letter of Ed's failing for Clifton College - I was fully prepared for it - but I really do think that he should be told that, if by his backwardness, which is undoubtedly brought on in a great measure by his idleness, he fails to get into good schools, he has no right to grumble at finding himself sent to an inferior class of school where the sociery is not quite to his liking. I no quite well thet Ed had not the talents of most boys of his age, but I am convinced that he is at the same time most abominably lazy - I really do think that if he does not exert himself he will find great difficultly in getting into any profession at all. I have often thought that the army would suit him; though under the present regime it is evidently degenerating - I mean as regards the class of men coming in as officers; but even that he will never attain to if he does not show a little more learning than he does at present.

Louisa will be edified to know that my ponies are now "Barabbas" in Agra where I hope he may die as no one will buy him, "Tradesman" a very good pony under 13 hands, dun with black legs and mane, "Boanerges" Polo pony yellow all over with main almost white about 13.1 = "Og the King of Basham: 13.2 whose mercy endures to such an extent that, though I ride him in an immense bit and sharp spurs & only give him 2 pounds of grain per diem, he rears abominably & fights or runs away whenever he gets the chance - he has bitten his syce twice, kicked two men in the stable in a way that they did not appreciate, however he is a wonderful hill pony, very powerful and good looking. He has managed to put some of my friends off, but I have never cut a voluntary since I was about 14 or 15 years old (& don't want to) however he and I had a friendly roll over a hurdle the other day.

By the way I was mightly near winning a pony steeplechase the other day, a friend asked me to ride a short way in a race and then pull up so that he might enter his beast in the Consolation race for beaten horses - I got up just as I was without even taking my coat off, when just at the last moment my friend said "You may win if you can", four started & two went off the course at the second fence (two stone walls about 10 yards apart) I thought "Here's fun I'll have a race for it anyway" when my beast went the wrong side of the flag at the next fence and put me out at once. I gave way entitely out of politeness which I will not do again.

I had an amusing letter this morning from Mr. Tatlow short & sweet like the donkey's gallop.

I hope I have not forgotten anything I meant to say also that you will find less difficulty in reading this than I have in making the pen mark on the paper.

Give my love to all the family in general. May God spare you many years more among us to help the older ones of us with advice and care for the younger ones with the same tenderness as ever.

Believe me

Your affect son

R. Story

I hope before I next write to have passed the lower standard in Hindustani, my Muushi tells me I ought to have passed last time i.e. 2 months ago but I am now reading the books a second time.

October 1877

I am glad you got the box safe - but please do not divide the bangles, as they are meant to be a set - the native women where as many as ten or twelve on one arm, the European ladies the same & unless there are a number together they do not look effective.

I passed the Lower Standard the other day i.e. on August 2nd but my name has not appeared in orders yet as having done so; two others of my Regt. passed on the same day, but as they are both at the Hill Depot of Landown & are junior to me, I have hopes of getting the Interpretership on my return to Agra, as a Captain is our present interpreter, while the appointment is a subaltern's one. In the mean time I am working for the Higher Standard, reading for an hour in the morning & again in the evening & writing exercises during the day.

For the Higher Standard a good colloquial knowledge of the language is required as well as facility in reading native hand writing & printing the former being a matter requiring some practice so many words being written exactly the same way with the exception of the dots which the natives are very careless in inserting & often leave out entirely making the reading very much a matter of guesswork. Also one is required to read and write Hindi which is now nowhere spoken in its original purity - its literature also is is very scanty & very stupid, consisting for the most part of indecent stories about the Gods & Godesses & legends from the Vidas, nearly all of which begin (line of script) = Shri Shukder - "Said O Great King etc." and then a long story of Shri Krishnar & a demon Kuns or something of the sort - How Kuns wanted to eat Shri Kushma but Mr. Shri Kushma jumped into his mouth & down the red lane, & grew & grew until he blew up Mr Kuns etc. ad nauseum. I like the Ordoo (the Hundustani proper, the language of the stately Mussulmans that conquered this country), but even that cannot be said to be the language of the common people.

I had a little adventure the other day - Bethune of the 92nd & I went for a walk round a narrow hill path one evening, before we had got far I found he was a very bad climber, however we went on, till getting into a deep ravine out of which it was very hard to climb at the best of times, we found darkness overtaking us, we debated for some time what was to be done, to return was impossible & to go round the hill by climbing out by the other side of the ravine dangerous enough by daylight & my companion said he could not do it; the ravine was the bed of a torrent which went down with a fairly gradual slope four or five thousand feet to the foot of the hills where it branched off in various directions till it was lost in the wastes of Terai; one branch I knew crossed the Morhadabad (?) road a couple of miles from Kaladougie which I supposed to be about 10 miles from where we were, for this then we started at about 7.15pm. Fortunately there was a bright moon so we scrambled over rocks and boulders crossing and recrossing the stream until we reached the foot of the hills, both very tired, we then found that our course lay for some miles along the foot of the hills so on we walked, till our bed became quite dry and branched out in all directions into the thick jungle - I got more & more exhausted, while my companion who had begun to complain long before I did, seemed to recover himself wonderfully, at last finding ourselves in some difficulty owing to the ramifications of our torrent bed, we lay down at about 11pm (we had started at 4pm) & slept on the ground; just after we lay down my companion heard the Gong of the Palice Tama of Kaladougie but knowing the distance that sound carries & my exhausted state we did not propose moving so we slept till 5am when I got up first amd we started, to our intesnse disgust we found we had slept about 600 yards from the Tama which was very little more than two miles from the dalk Bungalow; after a good breakfast under a Punkah we started for Naini Tal which we reached about 2pm when we found that searching parties had been sent after us over the hills. Our arrival muchly relieved the mind of our good old C.O.

We had a fancy ball here the other day which came off splendidly - I never enjoyed anything so much this season - I went as an old monk in a long whote beard & hair with a knotted stick & mystified my friends very much as to my identity - about supper time I changed my dress to uniform as being more comfortable - though I did not dance, I sat out as many dances as I wanted to, which I think much better fun. I will send you a copy as soon as I can get one, of some verses that appeared in the local paper on the subject; nearly everyone was mentioned; my partner of the evening & I getting four lines -

A flower girl in a shortish dress
I was trying, I trust, her sins to confess
For whenever my eyes were turned that way
She was arm in arm with an Abbot Grey

Naini Tal quite came out with a vengence - many of the costumes would have been first class anywhere - I mean to keep mine for another occasion.

I may mention a Vivandiere - the Duchess of Devonshire - a girl not a bit like the picture in ordinary dress but so well got up that even her face had a great resemblance to the "Lost Picture" & Leslie as a viking with his partner, a Mrs. Dease as a Vikingess; & last but not least the "Flower Girl" who, by the way, was a Swiss peasant girl with a basked of hardboiled eggs, which I suppose our poet took for flowers. I hope that by this time Louisa & Os have had a pleasant tour of which an account will please me much.

I leave this tomorrow for Rhaniket a hill station near Almorah (which you will find in Black's Atlas) to sit on a General Court Martial; it is one day's march (28 miles) so I hope to be back in two or three days.

There are very bad accounts from Agra of the heat & drought - the rains have totally failed, the cattle are dying, the natives are not yet actually starving but in a very bad way migrating in crowds to the canals for water; if rain falls before January a famine may yet be averted; even here the trees are drooping & the beautiful tree ferns hanging down all yellow, & rain is consequently prayed for. I am happy to say that we do not maech from here till the 15th of next month.

With love to all etc.

November 1877

I have jus come back from a week's shooting by myself in a very wild part of the Terai (Chowgullie on the Bwumdea Road), but found the grass in many places fifteen feet or so high & nearly always over my head, however I succeeded in bagging a Jerow with a very good head, this being the only shot I had with my rifle. I also got one or two quail & one black partridge so my sport was not good considering the hard work I did for it, in a country swarming with spotted dear, where a good many Tigers were known to live & only the day before my arrival a wild elephant had been seen.

I succeeded yesterday after several attempts in at last getting out of my nose an enormous leech which had been there for quite a month, he was over two inches long and as thick as my little finger with a sucker as large as a three penny piece (I was just going to write "a two anna piece"). I had nearly choked myself with all sorts of injections - salt & water etc. - the doctors even could not get at the beast, when a bright idea came to me to take snuff - this made him torpid & a chemist pulled it out with forceps - I have him preserved in spirits. The grass here in wet weather swarms with leeches about ¾ inch long and not much thicker than a pin - these get into people's legs through stockings and all, so that in the evening after a walk, or especially a picnic you find you legs stuck with 6 or 7 of these beasts grown to double their original size - unlike English leeches they don't drop off when gorged - dogs and horses constantly get them in their noses and very troublesome they are to get out, but a case like mine is very rare.

I am afraid there is more quarreling going on down at Agra at least I know that I was asked to take mt name off the Agra Club because there had been a row. this I naturally refused to do till I knew what the row was all about, this I have not yet heard. Crawford I saw off for home the other day - the Terai fever made a complete wreck of him but a few months at home will drive it out of his system.

I shall hope to hear a pleasant account of Louisa's tour with Oswald, also what Os is going to do when his leave is up.

If Louisa cares to send me any music I shall we only too glad to have it. I should like to get "Il bacio" walse with a cornet part & anything else she may send me.

I fear I have no more news for youe except that we march on the 19th.

Love to you all

Your affect son

R. Story

December 1877

My dear Mother,
I am at last here again & very glad to be so as the hills were getting very cold & very dull being quite deserted. I must say that I can look back with great pleasure upon my season at the Naini Tal though one of the results of the season may not be quite so pleasant, viz that I was reported here & at Meerkut to be engaged to a young lady at present in Agra, & had to undergo a severe amount of chaff, & a good deal of questioning on the subject; however that is all the umpleasantness likely to arise from the report; Naini Tal is a great place for scandal mongers, & I am not the only one about whom reports were widely circulated when the season broke up & people separated to their various stations.

We had a very pleasant march down from Naini Tal to Bereilly getting some very good shooting in on the way, we were detained by rain at one camp, as camels cannot carry wet tents, and had the usual casualties in the shape of camels bolting & throwing their loads - in the hills we had one of a precipice which died and another which dispersed our army and fell over the Khud, but was lame for only some days, & a third which stampeded one night with a lot of tables and chairs and made me beat a precipitate retreat under the ropes of the nearest tent.

Ever since I left the hills I have been suffering from indigestion, which in spite of the exercise I take will not go away, though I think it is getting better.

This letter will not reach you till a week later than intended as I managed, most stupidly, to miss the mail, through mistaking the time of its departure. Today is the 26th. I am extremely glad to find that there is a very cordial feeling generally amongst us all at present, though the past unpleasant occurrences have left their mark - this is an agreeable surprise to me considering the reports I used to hear at Naini Tal of the discontented state of the Battn. Unfortunately the Col. will be here in about a week after having been 6 or 8 months in England & I greatly fear all our happpiness will be marred by his presence, although many of us are ready to do anything for the sake of peace, yet knowing the Colonel's feelings towards us, I cannot hope for its long continuance, & feel sure that before long some unpleasant row will take place in which he will by virtue of his authority vent his own personal animosity against anyone who may give him the chance.

This may seem like strange language for me to use of my own C.O. but I really believe they are quite true, & mean therefore to steer as clear of him as possible.

The other night we had a fine fire at a hote here, but no harm was done beyond the actual burning of the house, and of course our men were all there with fire engine & ladders, they found it a grand opportunity to beat the natives, but were unable to do much else.

In all the places I have been to I have never come across such a set of impudent knaves as there is here, so they deserve every blow they get & every kick too.

I am sure Louisa & Oswald must have enjoyed their tour certainly from Lou's account it was a very happy one, it will help also to keep up our connection with the great county of Cavan, which we ought not to lose altogether. The enterpretership of the Battn. has been given to my junior for a reaon that I think quite just - viz that he is poor and the money useful to him. It is quite a nominal appointment for a lower standard officer as practically speaking he cannot interpret two words consecutively; but for a higher Standard officer (which I hope one day to be) the salary is 70/- a month & 10/- a day when on duty as an interpreter to a Court Martial.

I am now sufficiently advanced to be able to write fair Ordoo & read & speak pretty well (indeed the speaking is my forte) but I know next to nothing of pure Hindi which is a dead language now, but is required for the H.S. exam.
Here follow two lines of script but no translation

Love to you all

Your affect son

R. Story

We have had such a wet winter, water above & water below, the place has never dried, now it has turned bitterly cold with no sun today, so different to more genial climes. I wonder how you spent Xmas Day - we all went to Christ Church in the morn; all but Arthur who was not very well with rheumatism, it was a beautiful bright morn, the church was nicely decorated, & some well chosen hymns with the dear old one amongst them of "Hark the Herald" were sung, the afternoon turned very cold with rain, so we were not out again but the boys in the evening played a variety of small games & amused themselves. The previous evening they had decorated their study with a great deal of taste, they had strung quantities of holly berries so they looked like coral, & hung them across the room, & laid out a table with a variety of small gifts for myself and the household. We missed much both you and Oswald among our party, we trust to have him here again in June, & certainly for next Xmas, but it seems as though there was a bridge between us which will take too long to cross but still we must look forward to that "some day" when we shall meet again.

Oswald left us on the 18th & joined the Himalaya, he met three officers of the Raleigh going out, & a great number of ladies on board, he said the sea was as smooth as a mill pond. & the mess & everything most comfortable - he expected to be at Malta the beginning of the year - & since I have heard that part of the Squadron will go to Greece, but I do not know if his ship will go or not.

The tutor at Malvern allowed Edward to return a few days before the break-up there, in order to see Oswald before he sailed. Ed likes Malvern immensely, & his tutor too - he is not doing much as you might suppose, & his spelling & hand writing lose him many marks. The College broke up on the 19th here - Francis has done remarkably well, & got a prize for classics, he would have moved into the Junior School, but I begged he might remain till Easter - he has as much work as he can do at present, & he is not a good sleeper, so that I do not want him to be pressed. Arthur also did remarkably well, & his eyes nearly danced out of his head with delight - if health is given him he is sure to pass into College after Easter & then one anxiety will be over. He has kept on the whole remarkably well this winter, with just one or two odd pains of rheumatism. Poor Evelyn quire broke down about 3 weeks before the exam; he began to complain of pain in his head = then arms, I thought it was rheumatism and kept him at home, then came stitches in his side, I kept him in baed and sent for Dr. Fox who was astonished at his pulse, only 48 accompanied with great irritation of the heart - he would not allow him to return to school, & kept him in bed for some days; he will not allow any football. & said the condition of the heart will preclude him from Cooper's Hill, he must not be pressed, & carefully handled for some time. The boy is growing very fast & will be a big man if life is given him.

I am glad to say thet Louisa is a great deal stronger, I do not think whe will be fit for the amount of execise she used to take. What I hope is that your Aunt Annie Begbie will come to me at Easter, & take Louisa for the summer back to Edinburgh & to Nairn for the summer months where she will have lovely sea air & plenty of bracing before the winter begins.

The usual gaieties are going on now, Louisa generally goes on her own, but to anything reasonable that wd not entail late hours I take her to.

We went together to the College concert given on the last day of the term, when the boys' masters sing, & really between them we had some very fair music - she is now booked for two juvenile parties, one at the Savile's and the other at the Nash's both in Rodney Place, our habitation of last winter. I wish you had only once seen this house you could have imagined our haunts so much better. Louisa has joined a glee society which is a great source of interest to he. There number now about 36 members, Jos' Pears being the head of it. On the 31st I receive them here, quite a simple affair from 8 to 10 - & merely have a small set out afterwards in the dining room for them - the rule is that they meet at different members' houses, out room is good for music, & we have also a very fair piano - I do not remember whether I told you that I sold my old one & got a nearly new grand one, for a very small addition.

I heard from Bingfield the other day that Andy Lynan was dead, he was born. as I dare say you have heard gim say in /98 so he was not far short of 80. I am sorry for you in the future, as his daughter Mary Bannon is not a nice woman, & her daughter will of course marry now as the heiress of a few acres of ground. It has been a hard season for the poor in Ireland this year with half saved crops, & now such a severe winter.

I am glad things are looking up in India, but minds seem greatly divided as to the best way of preventing these famines by more successful modes of irrigation. I have had your lovely views prettily mounted in the form of a shield, they are let into blue velvet which is set in a frame of walnut, shield shape, & hung in our drawing room - & I assure you they are much admired - also the native jewelry interests people, some friends declared they had a great mind to steal it.

I suppose you will have heard from Mr. Tatlow about Carr's holding. I suppose it would be much better to give the man £40, & let him go in spring, & not move him to Mamod. Mr. Tatlow said it took so long to hear from you - wd I authorise him to carry out this plan, which I arranged for you, feeling it was a sensible one, & you cd not do better.

All sent love, Florence was so anxious to send you something for Xmas, but alas, it was difficult it is difficult by post.

From yr affect Mother

Caroline Story