LETTER215

letter215

charleslambto[mrs.hume?]

[nodate.]

dearmrs.h.:sallywhobringsthiswithherselfbackhasgiveneverypossiblesatisfactionindoingherwork,etc.,butthefactisthepoorgirlisoppressedwithaladylikemelancholy,andcannotbeartobesomuchalone,asshenecessarilymustbeinourkitchen,whichtosaythetruthisdamn'dsolitary,whereshecanseenothingandconversewithnothingandnotevenlookoutofwindow.theconsequenceisshehasbeencaughtsheddingtearsalldaylong,andherowncomforthasmadeitindispensabletosendherhome.yourcheerfulnoisychildren-crowdedhousehasmadeherfeelthechangesomuchthemore.

ourlateservantalwayscomplainedofthewantofchildren,whichshehadbeenusedtoinherlastplace.oneman'smeatisanotherman'spoison,astheysay.however,weareeternallyobligedtoyou,asmuchasifsallycouldhavestaid.wehavegotanoldwomancoming,whoistoostupidtoknowwhensheisaloneandwhensheisnot.

yourstruly,

c.lamb,forselfandsister.

haveyouheardfrom……

[itakeitthatmrs.h.ismrs.hume,becausehumehadalargefamily.itwasofhim,inhispaternallight,thatlambsaid,"onefoolmakesmany."]