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Things to Consider Teachers Notes
In the autumn of 1867 the McCrum family took rooms at 4 South Bourne Terrace, Bournemouth, where Annie was to spend the winter with their two children, a nursemaid named Sarah, and a companion, Emma. Having seen them installed, Robert McCrum left for Ireland to resume his business in the linen trade. The first of the letters, written on Monday November 18th, began a correspondence which was to last through the winter, broken only at such times as Robert was able to visit the family in person. There is further information about these letters at the bottom of the page
4 South Bourne Terrace. November 18th '67.
My own darling Robert,
Although I have nothing new to tell you since you left us this morning I thought it would be a pleasant little surprise for you to find a letter to welcome you on your return; how I wish I could be there instead of the letter! but as that can't be I must try and get well as soon as possible and then ;please father; you will let me go home. We did not go out to drive to-day, as the sun had taken his departure before twelve o' clock, but we went out and made our purchases and then walked a little bit in the sheltered walk where it was quite warm. Mrs. Coates sent down this morning to see if we were going to drive, so you see the people are not going to forget us. I bought a little coffee pot, just what we want, also a save-all, but I quite forgot the pot-stick. I got my medicine bottle renewed. The stitch in my side is quite gone now. Be sure and tell me most particularly how you are It feels very lonely to think that you will not be back to-night, but I must content myself with hoping to see you soon again, and by thinking how much worse things might be.
I have just had a letter from Aunt, which was very welcome, there was a note
enclosed for you which I need scarcely send, as you will see her so soon. Willie says he hopes you will come soon to Bournemouth to see him and he will be glad to see you. Give my kind love to your father and mother, and accept a whole heart full yourself from your own wee wife,
Annie.
Robert McCrum, having landed in Ireland at Kingstown (now Dunlaoghaire), hastened to write from Dublin:
Dublin. Tuesday Morning. Undated.
My Very Dear Annie,
I have just breakfasted with Ned after rousing him very unceremoniously before nine. I left London at 8.25 and got on finely. I got a good hot water foot warmer and tucked my rug round it & my legs so that all kept snug till I reached Holyhead. Nothing could be finer than the passage across. I got to a sofa at once & did not get up till we were in sight of Kingstown. The only thing annoyed me was dreaming of bugs but I am happy to say that it was only in dreams they visited me. I did not see anyone on board that I knew. Edward is still in the old rooms but has got a chum, a younger man than himself, but he still intends getting new quarters for a single gentleman only. Your mother went to Walter's about a week ago but Ned has heard nothing of her since, in fact I think little since he saw us -Your uncle he says is all right again. He had a letter from Mrs. Armstrong last night. She says in words she has no hope but still clings to it. * The Mahoods told him that there is no hope, little even of his surviving long -I have ordered your medicine here, two bottles of each kind, as the carriage will cost more than the preparations, and will have it sent forward by tonight's boat I intend calling with Hudson (to) see if he can word the prescription so as to make it intelligible to the English apothecaries. I cannot be home in time to write you tonight but hope to do so in the morning sending you some money. Once in my journey last night I was sadly disappointed. I had been half dozing in the train & dreamt or thought you were beside me & I turned to kiss you but Oh, the bitter disappointment, there was nothing there but two smoking men & the only voice was the screech of the engine through some Welsh station.
(Written as a P.S.) ; I send a hymn for Willie. I paid the carriage on both the tea and the medicine from Dublin.
* Meredith Armstrong, a young man of 23, was dying of consumption. The family appears to have been related. The fact that it was the same disease which afflicted Annie, and eventually carried her off, adds poignancy to the concern expressed in the letters. J:M
4 South Bourne Terrace, Bournemouth. Nov. 2Oth 1867
abbreviated to (Bournemouth) in subsequent letters.
My own dearest Robert,
I have just received your welcome letter from Dublin, it was very good of you to write to me so often on your journey. I have not got the medicine from Christchurch yet. I asked the man to-day (to) enquire about it but he has not brought it yet, so I must go again in the morning; I hope you wont send me to make the markets at home, when I tell you that I was skilful enough to buy a steak for our dinner to-day, was not that clever? but what will you think of me when I tell you that we went to Coates' stables to order to take a drive and when we got to the entrance to the yard, my heart failed me and back I turned: I think we will keep the drives till you come. We had a nice walk about the sands which we enjoyed very much; the sea was very clear and blue and calmer than I have seen it since we came. This morning when I got up the fields opposite were white with frost, but the sun soon melted it and it was lovely when we were out.
Today when Sarah was on the beach with the children the Countess of Mar was sitting near, the Earl drew her attention to the baby and said it was a nice little thing but looked so delicate. You may be sure Sarah thinks they are real quality, and although it was an unpardonable sin to say she looked delicate before, it is quite a different thing now. She says she was inclined to take the baby over and let her see it. I wish I had been beside you in the train but I hope it wont be long till I have you beside me again. Remember how important it is to get the business done in London.
I think I am getting a great deal stronger, I quite enjoy being out, and don't feel tired when I come in. Willie thanks you for the cards and sends kisses to you and grandmother and grandfather. He is very good. I am very sorry to hear that there is no hope for Meredith. It is very sad. I hope your father's shoulder is better. Please give my fond love to your mother and him be sure and tell me how you are.
Milford, 21st Novr.1867
My own darling Annie,
Greatly delighted am I at having a letter this morning from
my precious wee woman, and so gratified to find you were able
to take such a good walk without being tired: still I would
interpose a word of caution not to do too much. I wrote yesterday
morning with the first halves of notes, say one £10 and two
£5. I now send you the other halves and you have only to paste
a little slip of paper down the back of each note so as to make
them all right again: but be sure you match the right halves.
This will be easily done by comparing the numbers on each half
and putting the corresponding ones together.
It is strange you did not get the medicine from London as it
was despatched before the tea, however it was only the same
as Duncan's bottle I hope your new lodgers will prove to be
agreeable; perhaps you may make an acquaintance with them if
they are desirable people I saw Mrs. Gardner yesterday and found
her quite well. Mr Gardner has got rid of his cold and cough
-Your sister Harriet said she wrote you that morning, your mother
was not the worse for her going to Craigavard. I called again
with your Aunt and found Mrs. Riggs there I had no opportunity
of asking her
whether Walter had written, or whether she had, to Mary -I called twice on Mrs. Armstrong, and on the second occasion saw Meredith. I do not think he looks worse than on the evening I saw him at Rosstrevor but then he was going about, now he is in bed, his breathing is very laboured and evidently with difficulty he intended having John Stanley (?) over last night to get instructions for his will. He asked me to be one of his executors Mrs. Armstrong has still a clinging to hope but Fanny and Maggie appear to have given up all. The doctors have rolled him completely in flannel and nurse tells me that she changes his flannel as soon as any perspiration commences, it at once ceases: he is now taking some cream. My mother sends in a little every morning Doctor James told him that a sudden change might occur any day. My mother unites with mein warmest love to you, Emma and the wee bodies...
(Bournemouth) Nov. 21st 1867.(Thin off-white paper: see letter below)
My own precious Robert,
I have just received your most welcome letter and got the registered letter and the pot-stick all right. I am sure you do feel very lonely, how I wish I was home again with you, but we must both look forward with hope to the time when we shall be re-united, and be thankful that it will not likely be long till then. I am very sorry that there seems to be no hope for Meredith, but glad to hear that he is resigned, please remember me affectionately to him and give my love to Mrs. Armstrong, Maggie and Fanny. I think I mentioned to you that I had got Sarah to get me some eggs at the dairy and that they were nice and fresh. I also got the medicine to-day from London. What do you think of your daughter having become a horsewoman? I engaged a donkey to-day for Willie to get a ride, but he rebelled and was quite afraid to mount, so Sarah set baby on as an example for him. If you had seen the article, how she enjoyed it! Willie was then prevailed upon to get on, not without tears however. He was not long on till he was holding the reins like a little man and saying, Go on, my donkey. His performance quite excited Sarah's admiration, and she appealed to us if we had seen such a manly looking little fellow since we came to Bournemouth. I think he will not be afraid again, and in future it is to be a reward for good conduct. Several times today he got on my knee and asked me to tell him about father. Emma has almost finished the cozy , and I think now that we have got the pot-stick our household arrangements are almost complete, the cook returned to-day. I got a letter from Harriet to-day. I am sorry Dr. Hudson thinks it necessary to consult Dr. Falls but as you seem to wish it I will post the letter. I hope he wont prescribe any thing more, as my time is so fully occupied at present. I think I should get quite bewildered if I have to take any more medicine. I think it might then be said truly that the doctors were working on me. Don’t you think I have become quite a good correspondent? I have speculated in two quires of foreign notepaper, the other having become quite too small for my expanding ideas. My cough is certainly not worse than when you left, I think better, and I think the perspirations are better also. When will you get back to us? It will be the best news we have had for some time, when we hear you are coming. Sarah desires me to tell you she is glad you got home safe. Tell my Sunday school scholars I was asking for them and hope they attend regularly. I hope your father is better. Please give my kind love to your mother and him. Willie is in the nursery or I am sure he would send kisses. Emma sends her love..
(Bournemouth). Nov. 22nd, 1867
My own darling Robert,
I have just received your letter containing the second halves of the notes. Post-time in the evening is certainly the brightest part of the day to me, as these last few days it has brought sunshine to me. I hope you may be able to tell in your next when we may expect you back again, it seems a long time since you left. Don't think I am beginning to be discontented for I am not, only I long to see you again. I posted your letter to Dr. Falls* last night and had a visit from him this morning; he is a nice, agreeable man, and you will be glad to know, an Irishman from the north. He says he comes from Ballygawley. He asked me a great many questions, about how long I had had the cough, my age, and took notes of my replies. he made a careful examination of my chest. He desired me however to stay in bed till he sees me in the morning, as he says he can examine it more satisfactorily there, and said he would give me no directions till then. He asked if my bed-room was in the front of the house, and said it was right it should be so. If he gives me any medicine to take I am proposing that Emma and Sarah should finish Dr. Hudson's course as it would never do to let it be lost. Perhaps you would like it kept till you come. Aunt mentioned in her letter to me that uncle had a letter from Walter , written in a better spirit, also that she had written to Mary and received a very nice reply. I intend to write to Mary soon. This day when I got up the fields were again white with frost Emma and I walked along the beach and then sat for a while on the cliffs. We are always careful to be in before two . You don't mention how your father's shoulder is, I hope it is better. Willie was quite pleased with the little card and got me to read it for him several times. Last night I was in the nursery talking to Sarah when he asked me, Are you talking about my dear father? Baby is very well and as lively as usual. When I think of how many things I could say to you if you were here, a letter seems very unsatisfactory after all.
* Dr. W.S. Falls played an influential part in establishing a Winter Garden in Bournemouth.
(Bournemouth) .Saturday night, Nov.23rd 1867.
My own darling Robert,
Your letters always cheer me, they are so warm and loving, and help me along from day to day. I will be looking forward to receiving a long one from you on Monday. I hope you got some orders in Belfast on Friday. Be sure and tell me how the business is getting on. If it is dull, don't you be dull but cheer up, and come over to London, and try your fortune there. I wish I was near you to give you a good kiss and a hug, for all the loves and kisses you send in a letter are just like ghosts, or shadows, no substance in them. Emma told you of Dr. Falls' visit. He examined me very particularly, better than any of the other doctors. he says I have still got a little cold in the place where I felt the stitch, although I don't feel the least pain there now, and have given Sarah instructions to paint it every morning. Sarah thinks when I managed to get you without painting it is not worth while to begin now. He says I am not to walk much and never to be out late; he has ordered pills to stop the perspiration, which was not so bad last night, and a bottle to be taken twice a day, so I think I have fallen into the hands of the Phillistines (sic), don't you pity me? When Dr. Falls was examining my chest he stood and looked at me breathing, and when he was listening through the stethoscope made me say Ninety-nine several times. I wonder what that was for .I wish you would tell me if your stomach is quire well. We have commenced the tea and find it better than what we have been drinking: we take coffee every morning. Sarah has just been edifying us with an account of the eating capacities of the rest of the inmates, and we have come to the conclusion that they are kept as busy with their food as I am with my medicine. I forgot to tell you that one of the chairs has come to grief in the next room: it has been a warning to us, but we have been living in daily expectation of a similar event happening here. We went out this morning for a little, but did not stay long, as there was no sunshine. We were enquiring about St. Michael's Church and find it is a good distance off, and very little if anything better than St. Peter's so I suppose we will try some of the dissenters to-morrow. How is Jane Fluke getting on? Tell her I was asking for her, also Mary Jane Smart. With kind love to your father and mother: Willie is in bed or I am sure he would send kisses, and the full of my heart to you. I Believe me darling Robin lever your own loving wife I Annie.
(Bournemouth). Nov. 25th 1867.
My own darling Robert,
It is just a week today since you left us but we will not feel so lonely now when we have a definite time to look forward to having you with us again. I will be longing for the fourth. I am very sorry to hear business is so dull, but I think the good time must surely come, so we will take heart again and ;wait a little longer; .I hope you are not scarce of money to pay your bills. This is the first day I have not been out, I felt rather cold in the morning and as the day was not bright I stayed in the house, but I believe it was not cold out. Willie was in great delight to hear about his dog, and asked me several times to read about her. I think you will have to christen it yourself, he says he wont call it Sarah or Harriet. He very often wants on my knee, and asks me to tell him about father, and when I finish my story, he says ;Tell me that more and I love father.; He has not been quite at himself for two or three days. I think his stomach must be out of order although his appetite is quite good, but he is peevish. I had a letter from Frances this morning, also one from your mother for which please thank her. Frances says Walter was to preach in Trinity church yesterday. I always forget to tell you that Miss Mackay gave Sarah a message for me to write to her, just imagine if I could send all the kisses in a letter, so that none would ever afterwards have to be given in person. Perhaps I might. How is Lucy? Give my love to her. I think it is scarcely worth while to send the tea, as I am sure what we have will last very nearly till you are coming. If you remember you might ask Jane Fluke to wash the diaper that is in the drawer of the wardrobe. If the piece be too large to wash she might cut it in two equal parts. Emma has just been administering one of my doses. I have shirked nothing today, isn't that good. Emma is very kind, we would be very lonely without her. We went yesterday to the Independents and liked it very well. Sarah went to the Methodists in the evening I am glad to tell you the perspiration was not so bad last night, the cough is not gone yet, but it is no worse. I was sorry to hear your mother was poorly, but hope she is better before this. Give my love to your father and her. Willie sends two, ten, eleven kisses to you and them.
Ever your own fond wife,
Annie.
This correspondence between Robert Garmany McCrum and his wife Annie arose largely because Annie's health required her to spend time away from the damp northern climate of Co. Armagh, where her husband owned the linen mill at Milford. She had what we might now recognize as T.B. Sadly she died in 1869 at the age of 28, very possibly from the disease, after a marriage of less than five years. She spent the winter of 1867- 68 in Bournemouth, which was at that time little more than a village. A contemporary map shows a sanatorium and the Westover Gardens, both mentioned in the letters, and one local church (St. Peter's). The railway did not yet reach it, the nearest rail-heads being at Poole, to the West, and Christchurch, to the East. It seems, however, to have been already a fashionable place to spend the winter, judging from Annie's remarks about the prices, and the exodus that occurred in spring-time. The McCrums found it preferable to send such staples as butter and sugar from Ireland, rather than buy locally.
Annie and her party stayed in rented rooms, first at 4 South Bourne Terrace, the property of a Miss Warren: and then, when these rooms were found unsatisfactory, at South Bank Villa, owned by a Mrs. Barnes. Annie had with her the two children: Willy, whose third birthday is mentioned, and Harriet, referred to throughout as Baby. There was also a nursemaid, Sarah, who came with them from Milford. If Willy's remark (letter 16) is anything to go by, her surname was Adams. The fifth member of the party was a companion, Emma. To judge from the letters, she was a close relative who lived in or around Armagh. Emma Gardner, whom we glimpse at a railway station in letter 177, would seem to fit the description best. They were joined after the death of old Mrs. Riddall (Annie's mother) by Harriet, her younger sister. The letters themselves are in clear handwriting, so few words other than proper names have remained in doubt. Some passages are omitted. These are mainly lengthy expressions of affection, comparisons of the weather in Armagh with that in Bournemouth, and final greetings. The only other editing has been the addition of some punctuation and paragraphing, for the sake of clarity . For ease of reference, the letters have each been assigned a number: and Robert's have been given addresses in heavy type.
John W. McCrum Miller. April 1999.