Cross-written letter and envelope from Hannah Smith, Albion House, Penrith to Jane Young (nee Hackworth), Vilvorde, Belgium

My ever dear Friend,

As your Sister is writing to you today she has kindly given me permission to do so. You may be sure that I am very much pleased. But I wish that instead of writing I could have spoken to you. You are missed very much indeed. I don’t know whether your Sister or I misses you the most. I returned to school on Monday evening after 9 o’clock which was the first time I saw your Sister although she returned on Friday. I like Miss Smith very much. I think she is rather like Miss M Demprey. The first two nights I slept with her but I was very glad to get to my own room again where your Sister is. I like it much better. The Misses Davis have not yet arrived but I suppose the rain will have prevented them. I went to the station to meet them yesterday and it came on so wet and windy that I thought I shall never get it back again. Miss Wick, the new boarder, is my bedfellow at present. She is very wild and even now is running about so that I can scarcely write.
Last Sunday I took tea with Miss M Robinson and in the evening after the prayer meeting went up with Miss Ellen Brewsher to speak to her Father about becoming a member. He was very kind indeed. I have to be proposed at the next church meeting. It is very affecting when you are received, whilst you are going in they sing a hymn beginning with “Come in thou blessed in the Lord”. I have to ask your sister if I may attend our chapel, if not every Sunday the first in every month which is the sacrament day. I am sorry you have such unpleasant Sundays but hope you are permitted to leave the room where the young ladies are when you feel inclined or it will be very painful to you especially as you have been accustomed to spend the Sabbath so differently.
Last Friday was the Wesleyan tea meeting at the George room. There was not so many there are there generally are. I did not go to the tea meeting but in the evening went to hear Mr. Punshon [?], the chapel was not so crowded as it generally is. I liked him better this time than I ever did before.

We have just finished dinner and I have to finish this in the dining room. Your Sister has been telling us that she has to tell you all about Miss Smith and how many new pupils we have got so she has asked me to do so instead of her. I suppose I must describe Miss Smith more particularly, she is tall, a very good figure and has her hair curled. I think they all like her very very much and I believe your Sister does but she will very likely tell you herself. You will be surprised to hear that the Misses Holmes have not returned. Your Sister thought we could not manage with so many just at first. They may come at Easter or perhaps not at all this half year. Miss C. Irving [?] still comes to school, her papa thought she had better come another year before she went to Lytham. Miss M A Lowthian and the two Miss Pattersons (Mr Henry Patterson’s children) are the new day pupils. They seem two very nice children. Miss Hutton is still very poorly so that she cannot come yet. I have begun to do some crochet edging for chemise sleeves, but don’t know what I shall have to do next. I am quite fond of crocheting as I ever was. Miss Eliza Brown asked me if I was writing to you and said I had to give her love to you.
I hope you may be settled and happy at school though you are so far from home but a year will soon slip over and then I hope you may see all your dear friends once more. Whether I shall ever see you again, I know not for where I may be a year hence, I cannot tell but we must hope for the best. I wish very much you had still been here. I am quite lost without you. I was at Mrs Young’s to tea twice in the holidays. Miss Katherine sent up for me. They were very kind, the more so I think than at midsummer. You will never be able to read this scrawl. I an afraid if your Sister reads it I don’t know what she will say. Write to me very soon please. I shall be delighted to hear from you and tell me how you like school and the young ladies and everything of interest. I think we shall have a very nice half year. It is the last I have to be at school and then I wonder where I shall go. I don’t care for the Misses Davis coming back for you know I don’t think much of them. But you see my paper is filled and indeed you will be quite tired before you finish this, it is so badly written. Mr S and the Miss Irvings wish me to give their very best love to you.
With warmest love and hosts of kisses,

Believe me to remain,
Your sincerely attached friend
H, Smith Write soon.