| Description | Particular entries concern the children's education and development. Charlotte continues to teach Sidney, and reads with Mary in preparation for her confirmation on 21 March. She and Harold are confirmed on 17 April and have their first communion on 23 April. Cecil is doing well at Radley College, and is awarded various prizes for Latin prose and French over the course of the year, and obtains the James Scholarship and VI form prize, 21 December. Charlotte and Fred attend a prize giving at Radley on 29 June which includes luncheon and speeches. Harold does not seem to be so academically gifted, but Charlotte notes on 21 December that he has come 3rd in his class. Sidney begins lessons with a Mr Frost 12 June.
Charlotte continues to teach at the school, helps with the night school, and writes that she took her '1st ambulance class' on 11 February. This becomes a regular event on Saturdays. She attends the school examination on 9 June and goes to the distribution of prizes at Henley Grammar School on 19 July as well as being busy with her parish work.
Health problems are also mentioned. Charlotte has toothache on 17 April, 'suffered torture for toothache' on 24 April and has 'a large double tooth beautifully extracted by Dr Hepburn' on 27 April. Mary also seems to have dental problems on 22 May, and has 'a tooth stopped' and a model taken of her mouth. The health of Charlotte's mother is a great concern, and the family are re-called from their holiday in Brighton on 8 August by a telegram, but on 9 August, Charlotte arrives in London 'too late to see my darling mother alive'. After the funeral preparations are complete, they return to Brighton for the rest of their holiday.
Other activities include a party at Greys Court, 20 July and a trip with the children and Bennett, one of the servants, on the river in Henley on 7 September. Charlotte visits Windsor with the choir on 14 September and sees the State apartments, and also takes a short trip with Fred between 20 and 27 October. They visited Frome, Bath, Bradford-on-Avon - where they visit the Saxon church - and Salisbury, where they they 'saw the lovely, beautifully tended cathedral...bought photos'.
Reading matter includes 'Life of St Chrysostum', 'Litany of Charity', 'article on Oxford Local Exam.', and 'Carlyle's Life'
Newspaper cutting enclosed reporting on the re-opening of the chancel of Harpsden church, Henley, and calling card dated 26 July 1880 |