The Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954) ran a regular column of letters from children called “They Young Folks” by “Aunt Connie”. These letters from my grandfather’s sister, Bessie Ada French, describing her life at Avoca Lead were among them.
FOR THE COT. (1906, September 15). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 43.
Retrieved January 14, 2017, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article222530226
FOR THE COT.
Avoca Lead, 26th August.— Dear Aunt Con-
nie, — This is the first time I have written to
you, and I hope you will accept me as a
niece. I have six brothers and three sisters.
My eldest sister is married, and she has two
little girls. I have to walk two and a half
miles to school. I like going to school very
much. My three brothers have been working
on a cyanide plant. They are carting wood
to the Avoca Lead dredge now. There are a
lot of dredges about here. It makes the place
very lively. I always read the "Young Folks' "
page, and I think the letters are very nice, es-
pecially Hilda Russel's, We have a few fowls
and a pig, two horses, and seven lovely snow-
white ducks. The golden wattle is out in
bloom now. I love to go out in the bush and
gather bunches of the blossom. We are mak-
ing a garden at our school. There are about
200 children going to the Avoca school. I
am sending 3d for the Cot. With love to Uncle
Ben, Cousins Connie and Florrie, not forget-
ting yours, I remain, your loving niece,
BESSIE FRENCH, age 10 years. Please,
Aunt Connie, may I write again?
(I am pleased to have you for a niece,
Bessie. You may write again.— Aunt Connie.)
TOO STONY FOR FLOWERS. (1907, January 26). Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954), p. 35.
Retrieved January 14, 2017, from
TOO STONY FOR FLOWERS.
Avoca, 16th January. — Dear Aunt Connie, —
This is the second letter I have written to
you. I have been staying at my sister's for
the last three weeks. Mr brother is working
at Donkey Hill on a cyanide plant. He only
comes home once a week, as it is ten miles
from home. We begin school again on Mon-
day. I am in the third class at school. We
have a flower garden at our school, but the
flowers do not grow very well, as it is situ-
ated on a stony hill. I will be eleven years
old on the 1st of February, and my little
niece will be four on the 4th, so we are go-
ing to keep both birthdays up on the same
day, and have a tea party. We are having
some warm weather now. With love to Cou-
sins Connie and Florrie, Uncle Ben. and your-
self,— I remain, your loving niece, BESSIE
FRENCH.
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