LETTER FROM OLGA EMILY BOISSEVAIN TO HER FATHER CHARLES BOISSEVAIN, 1895
Translated from the Dutch by Francesca van Hamel. Notes attached by John Tepper Marlin.
Letter
[Dear Father,] [Charles]
Aunt Fanny promised to teach me how to ride a horse. The only problem is that their horses may be too wild for a beginner. I’m not afraid, so I don’t mind if the horses are wild.
I wouldn’t mind breaking an arm or a leg because I would like so much to know if I can bear a lot of pain. The cousins ride very beautifully – Jole, and also Neville and Mervyn!
You can understand how wonderful it would be for me to learn to ride!
Meanwhile I go out often with grandfather [Emily’s father, Hercules Henry Graves MacDonnell] on a tricycle. It does not look nice, but grandfather likes it, so I go with him.
You should tell the Den Tex family that the day before yesterday Miss Yeffers came to have breakfast with us. She was so cordial and nice and asked about everyone! She looks very well. She said I had changed a little bit. She remembered me as a girl who always had her hat on her back and her hair hanging down. It seems I made a big impression on my younger Irish cousins because they all say they remember me.
Now it’s time for me to finish with worries. I did laugh a bit about your letter, because you put in a letter something you would be embarrassed to say to me in person.. Don’t fear, I won’t laugh at you in this letter! The funny thing is that I had a “broad smile” while reading your letter, so you should be happy to have given me a laugh.
Please ask Mies [probably her older sister Maria, aka Mary] to write to me. Tell her she should be angry with you because you are getting the letter I would otherwise have written to her. It may be four more days before I write to her! Ask Emilie to write to me now and then. Give my greetings to the whole family and believe me I am yours etc. etc.
Olga
P.S. I hear it goes much better with Mr. van Hall. I hope it will soon be all right.
I am furious about the elections – The old fools!!
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