I have at last decided to let to Lord the largest portion of the farm for two years reserving in my own hands the two lawns, the field by the lodge, the cow pasture and the long strip of ground that runs down to the end of the lane. He is to pay me £2.10.0 an acre for it, a very good price and really after much anxiety I think I have done for the best. This will bring me in £162.10.0 hard cash and having preserved fully 40 acres I shall be able to keep about 4 cows and sheep enough to provide mutton for the house. Lord has just been here to thank me for giving him the preference of the let. I could not have selected a better tenant. Mr Vernon has sanctioned the arrangement and has given Mr Tatlow directions to have a proper agreement drawn out. The sale of the stock is to be on this day week 6^th and I hope the weather will prove favourable. I shall have to part with James the man I have just engaged, as after coming here as steward and gardener, he knows nothing about flowers and says he has never attended to a garden for about 30 years. It is a great shame he ever undertook the place, as he is quite ignorant of his duties, but it is not so bad a case as what heppened to Mr Burrows, he brought down a steward with excellent discharges, after a short time it turned out he was a shocking man, with two or three wives, his accounts were all wrong and with only the aid of a magistrate he was made to quite the place.

I enclose a letter from Oswald, I thought you might like to see it, when read please return it to me. I never saw Louisa looking better, she has certainly benefitted much by her lessons, and plays in far better time. Mr Burrows thought her so much improved in her appearance and she is so much clearer in her complexion and her figure improved.

The creature so called "Wolf" was shot by the priest last week, he was disturbed by hearing a goose making a great row and he got up and found a dog eating the goose, he crept out and shot it. The people will have it that it is a wolf dog, but I went to see it, and it is just a large long-haired handsome collie dog, just what any day you might see. Mr Whaley had his sheep and lambs destroyed the other night and the return is about 200 in this neighbourhood. Mr Whaley says he is sure the creature that is now shot was the animal that destroyed his sheep - it was accompanied by a little white dog - this creature came next to the priest's house I suppose for confession the police waylaid it and actually missed aim - we feel so provoked with them.

Charlie is by no means what she ought to be in a very nervous state - I shall hope later to get her to the sea. Your Aunt Clara had a nasty accident, she slipped and fell on her back the day the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh passed through London. She received a slight concussion of the spine and us still unable to use her limbs. She was with her Uncle Nevile who has nursed her most tenderly.

It is a great comfort to me that you like you life and are happy, though I am weak enough to say that I shall miss you much at Easter, a time of year I always looked forward to seeing you all here.
From yr affect Mother
C.S.

I think your Mother quite recovered from her recent indisposition. She was much cheered by a letter from your sailor brother yesterday.

Captain Wm Ward's elder brother Henry, an old army officer, will be at the coming marriage. If you mention to him that I asked you to introduce yourself to him he will be glad to shake you by the hand.

I would not conclude, my dear young friend, without wishing you, as the son of a dear and valued old friend, much success in your profession. May you be prepared in the midst of the many temptations which surround you and as your great safeguard may God's word be studied by you in prayer and may you early on life be led to realise the importance of spritual and eternal things.

Believe me dear Story
Yours very truly
Farnham.

Last week was very pleasant, as Mrs Godley and her daughter were here, she is such a nice person, pleasant and cheerful, & if you ever come here again I must as her to come and stay. Her husband never comes but I dare say if you were here, me might. Tonight Tissington Tatlow, & Agnes Murray, & Miss Tatlow dine, I asked John Murray too, but his courage failed him when he found the T's were to be of the company - men have no patience with a lovesick youth. When Miss T left he was in despair, she went to Louth for a short time and even his parents had to get rid of him. I am wondering what I shall do with him this evening.

I am gradually settling down the place under the new system - but it will be a work of time to get the fences made up tidy, gates put etc. - I confess to you Lord having the place at all cost me much, if I did not see him walking in Monnery field, his sheep in the Round back and so on. I say to myself at the end of two years I can take it up again & let it in grazing which will be far more profitable.

The garden is getting on well & I consider O'Donaghue a great catch. I think I told you Bob was sold to Kennedy in Cavan, he put him into a four horse hearse the other day & much to my sorrow he fell and cut his knees badly; a farmer ought to have bought him, he would have done well for ploughing. There is to be an auction at Drumkeen this day week - the Saundersons are going abroard - want to let the place & told Louisa yesterday, probably would not return for years. I am so sorry for they have been very friendly & we cannot spare so good a neighbour. In doing anything now here, I always wonder which I shall do, I work with a will, chiefly because I think you like the place, but with such a feeling of uncertainty as to how long I can live on here, time & time will show this.

Edward returned yesterday for his 3 weeks holidays looking so strong and well, he is now 10th in the lowest form in the school & declares it will take him 3 years to get out of it - he is an odd boy, I never expect much learning from him. Mr Tuckwell was once a master at St. Columba & was asked to take the place of Warden there but declined. Young Godley went up to Harrow to try for the scholarship from Benjes and failed, a great regret to his Father. I certainly highly approve of the new regulations & hope you will be able to get at least your two months leave next Jan, a very handsome allowance. I hope you will not follow Capt. Warren up his heights & leave him to accomplish such feats. My family bought a bottle of Judson's dyes and are hard at work today, think of the state of their hands and clothes!!
From yr affect Mother
C.S.