Recipient of M.S. Pearson to E.M. Elderton, 22nd July 1923.
22 Jul 1923
Description:

Re: Elderton’s new title.

‘Monday Morning. This [letter] was cut short by Egon’s arrival in time for dinner & to stay one night. A pleasant episode, tho’ we are enjoying our solitude a deux in this lovely weather. You ask about the dogs. They really are wonderfully good condsidering their late Kennel life. Quite clean in the hall at night, tho’ Chang I believe has done a little christening of the passages at first. They also are very quiet at night except when our opposite neighbour’s dog barks and they respond. Yesterday morning I gave them both a good combing, & mats of hair came off ‘Chang.’ I suppose he is moulting but ‘Miss Coombes’ doesn’t complain. He is a dear dog, & getting to know me, tho’ the ongoing habit of that particular family is very marked in him. Jet[?] seems to have none of it. She is a wilful puss, & the chief trouble because of her bark. Really I suppose a watch dog instinct as she makes a great noise if she is tied up on the verandah at the passers by in the road let alone callers & tradespeople. She has therefore the[?] housed in the dining room study, if we want peace.

I am so glad that Mi’s puppies seem to thrive. They will be an immense interest. I hope they will stand the move to the animal house. Soon they will begin to fall out of their box. Get on Mi’s back perhaps. And then comes the dirty, feeding stage. When she tires from responsibility & they really begin to be dears. They’ll be in that when you come back I suppose.

Please write me a holiday letter, forgetting & forgiving that I didn’t answer your last. I like so much to hear all the family news, & of course about Alan. I hope you will have a satisfactory sight[?] of time at Westward Ho!, where I suppose this will follow you. Helga goes to Edinboro’ today from Manchester museums, then to Forfarshire[?] for quarries. Sigrid for Switzerland July 31st. Very hot in hospitals[?] this weather I hear.

Ever affectionately yours,

M.S. Pearson.’

Recipient of M.S. Pearson to E.M. Elderton, 23rd July 1922.
23 Jul 1922
Description:

‘I think I had not when you were here got quite into the domestic & dog situation, for tho’ we now have 6 dogs in the house instead of 2, there seems much less fatigue in the routine. Topsy’s puppies were born on the morning after you left & yesterday evening Mrs Ferdinands brought them along. They are said to be healthy & sertainly look a fine little set & as Topsy has herself apparently settled down peacefully with them in her new nest in the little room we call Helga’s, I feel very reassured. The Professor has declared he will take the burden of their care on himself, which certainly spares me much. I fall readily into the role of “basking up[?].” Meantime Jet is alternately angelic & impish. Jin[?]-lo’ & Young-ren[?] [I call her?] but she is not an Albino. I can’t say I think very highly of the 3 names given to Topsy’s puppies, but I respect the intention which lay behind the choice. I hope at any rate they will all arrive[?] & do[?] ought[?] to you.’

Recipient of M.S. Pearson to E.M. Elderton, 7th Jan. 1923.
7 Jan 1923
Description:

‘I was so pleased that you could write so cheerfully of your young boy, it must have been last Xmas that you wrote full of little anxieties for him. I dare say the weaknesses came with a stage of growth which he has passed through. It is so with young things, one of their cheering characteristics. How delightful that he is good at mathematics. That always seems to me a real “gift.” And he is not actually one of your family where it ought to be expected, so that it is wonderful good fortune for him & you to have the bond.

 

... How noble of ou to come down on boxing day to help clear up. But besides your devotion to the Labty & its aims you do really love dogs, which helps so much, & your mother will see that you don’t overdo yourself, won’t she.

I shall be glad when the first litter has been reared successfully, & I wanted ‘Mi’ to be the experiment, so I am very disappointed that she failed.

I am so glad that you feel about Jet as Sigrid & I do. She seems a so much more interesting personality than her mother, just the dog to be a little companion, and really pretty when she runs out of doors with her glassy black coat & twinkling grey ‘busbies[?].’ I am sorry my coming away will have interrupted his house education. Here we are very lazy with only “Purben-oleben[?]” after wet[?] summer.’

Recipient of M.S. Pearson to E.M. Elderton, 8th Dec. 1923.
8 Dec 1923
Description:

‘My dear Eldy,

I must write a hurried line this morning to correct an impression which I am afraid I gave yesterday to you when I said I wouldn’t go to see the new puppies because I should be sure to find fault. In the first place that was not the real reason at all, but partly because I had a vague sense of infection about & the fewer the better going to & fro, & then mostly because I find that I do best if I do one thing only, & that last night was to enjoy the lecture, as I said.

About being critical that is “of course” with my family, but the outstanding feeling in my mind about the present arrangement for the dogs is always admiration & perhaps a little wonder which is attied [sic] to criticism that things have worked out so successfully. That of course is due to the devotion of the helpers, & to the amazing good fortune that you yourself are a real lover of dogs. I [am] an understander [sic] of them as well as all the rest. I don’t see how things could be better, as long as none of the helpers overdo them etc[?]. With the principal offender I have no sympathy! So don’t think of me as a carper [sic]. I was delighted that I heard so well, & could appreciate therefore all fine shades, & having you by me in the front made me feel assured & sociable & part of the whole work! (Poor old ‘Tante’ as the children call her is a very different personality, with much more to contend with than any of us. [J?] & I took her home to supper & cheered her up, as I always can when I can devote myself to her.

Ever dear Eldy, affably[?] yours,

Maria S. Pearson.

About the cover over Bobs’ head. I quite see it is best to leave well alone now and change might upset him. Only bear it in mind for [sic] winter puppies come another time.’