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Hanley, Staffs:
Xmas, 1865—
My dear Friend,
The season of the year brings vividly to my mind your last visit to old England—would that you were here now! We could & would make you far happier & more comfortable than last time—I am daily looking for a line in reply to my last—and trust to hear a good account of you & yours—
I now enclose a donation of £8 for the "Washington Freedmen's Asso:"—from the "Birmingham Negroes' Friends Society"—Be so
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good as to transmit it as you deem best; sending me an acknowledgment thereof as early as possible—as our quaker friends are extremely particular you know in such matters of business—
The weather is extremely mild here. I spent three weeks on the North Wales' Coast in Nov. & early in Dec—at Rhyl—we had lovely weather & I much enjoyed the sea breezes—Nothing reminds me of you, my dear fd Frederick, so much as "the sea"! I think of Chesapeake Bay!—and then of our long voyage to New York—and mine from there: and many were the musings of the past I had when rambling on the sands at Rhyl—
"Act—act in the living present"—seems to sound in my ears—and this I strive to do, to the best of my ability, my friend. Mine is an extremely busy life—we know little of quiet or retirement—& have little time for meditation—Every one even in conservative old England whether in the world or the church seems hurry-up on—on ! ever on!!—there will be rest by & bye—May it be ours to enjoy that
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rest which remains for God's people in that happy land, where partings are unknown—& where there will be "no more sea"—The Doctor & our young people are just now pretty well. My aunt is seriously ill; & under medical care;
Ere this reaches you I trust I shall have had "good news" of you & your's, baby included— is she called Annie?—Remember me kindly to Mrs D, Rose & the boys—Dr C. & the girls join me in very kind love & best wishes for a happy new year for "Uncle Frederick"—Jane & Mattie are grown out of knowledge since you saw them. God bless you, very dear old friend: believe that I ever remain your's faithfully & affectionately,
Julia G. Crofts—