Steventon, June 6th, 1773
I thank you kindly, my dear sister, for your letter; we hope this will find you all in good health, as it leaves us. Mr. Austen was sorry his time would not permit him to see you at the parsonage, but the business which he went about required so much attendance, that it was not in his power. We will not give up the hopes of seeing you both (and as many of your young people as you can conveniently bring) at Steventon before the summer is over; Mr. Austen wants to shew his brother his lands and his cattle and many other matters; and I want to shew you my Henry and my Cassy, who are both reckoned fine children. I suckled my little girl thro’ the first quarter; she has been weaned and settled at a good woman’s at Deane just eight weeks; she is very healthy and lively, and puts on her short petticoats to-day. Jemmy and Neddy are very happy in a new play-fellow, Lord Lymington, whom Mr. Austen has lately taken the charge of; he is between five and six years old, very backward of his age, but good tempered and orderly: he is the eldest son of Lord Portsmouth who lives about ten miles from hence.—My sister Cooper has made us a visit this spring, she seems well in health, but is grown vastly thin—her boy and girl are well, the youngest almost two years old, and she has not been breeding since, so perhaps she has done. We expect my brother and sister Perrot to-morrow for a fortnight, we have not seen them near a twelvemonth. I have got a nice dairy fitted up, and am now worth a bull and six cows, and you would laugh to see them; for they are not much bigger than Jack-asses—and here I have got jackies and ducks and chicken for Phylly’s amusement. In short you must come, and, like Hezekiah, I will shew you all my riches. At present I have nothing more to add, but our love to my brother and yourself, our nephews and niece. Believe me my dear sister at all times most affectly. yrs.
C. Austen.
Jemmy and Neddy desire their duty and love.
