TRANSCRIPTION:
5 Leinster Square
I brought Muriel a tray cloth today Aunt Ada helped me to choose it she is the one to help with shopping.
Aunt A gave me a pound for my birthday & a cake it was really too much as they have enough to do with their money. We all went out to E [illeg.] on my birthday everything we see we compare Wanganui with, some of us said it wasn’t as pretty as W, we had a long argument ten minutes after we had finished Uncle H said that grand-stand hasn’t got as much seating accommodation as Wanganui & then off we went again.
Lots of wounded soldiers are in the grand-stand the King & Queen are not going to the races this year. The race course is like a big field no gardens the grand-stand is on a hill & looks down on to the course. I went to the quartette party last Wed. the state I worked myself up too you would have thought I was going to play in the Albert Hall. I got on alright & enjoyed myself. There was a woman there who is working hard for the war she gets a house (given) & 400 workers making shirts etc & then when it gets going she starts another. She has started in Wigmore Street men make boxes & pack, they are all voluntary workers hundreds stream in they just put a notice outside the door, they cant meet the demand. C Ayliff came here today she is coming to Miss Macpherson she is getting on first class Yesterday I had a notice to take my [illeg.] (4) to Mayor W Hussey to Hereford Gardens near Marble Arch of course I had to get frames 2 portraits 1 landscape 1 still life this is to the R. Am, A Society but I wont know till May. [illeg] came along with me in a taxi I couldn’t Get anyone to take them everyone was busy with the Academy. The brothers came out & said Miss Collier & then carried the desks in he said Mayor Hussey had to go and wasn’t I glad. I saw thousands of soldiers drilling in Hyde Park today they looked first class I suppose you see plenty of soldiers in Wanganui.
I think I amuse Miss Bridson it is the end of term for her & I am the only pupil she has just now I said would she rather not teach during holidays Miss B said I would like to keep you on you are interesting. I aways send letters when I send papers I really write every week to you. I am sending you a piece of shamrock from Ireland
A fortnight after you receive this you will see Colliers I will miss them. I’ll be able to paint a portrait of your beautiful self when I get back. You have been wondering if I will be different & now I am wondering if you will be satisfied & father not think well is she worth all the money I have spent & so on (the old woman by the chimney side) I burnt a lot of the daubs I did the first year no good, but I kept some although bad just to show you
Is Thea taking drawing she is much cleverer than me & not so gloomy as me I waste half my time in thinking I cant do things
I am taking cousins & Aunt to tea tomorrow to a place called Ye Olde Tea House it is old fashioned I meant to write to the boys but it is so late send this up will you love to all
from your loving Daughter
Edith xx
Thank Thea for letter & tell me more about college