Dec 5 1868,
34 South St,
My dear Mother,

I received your letter and was glad to hear that all at home are well and I am very sorry that James is not at home to rite to you. I am very thankful to have to tell you that dear baby is … well and has got another tooth. I think she will soon walk and hoping by the time you will get this that you will have received her dear little face. I shall get you one taken when she can walk. I am working her a frock if the Lord spares her to me to wear it. I have just come home from the doctors for I have not been very well since the dear baby was born. I never had the doctor’s advice until I was obliged to go for the doctor that was with me when baby was born died six weeks after her birth, and I do not like doctors. He told me it was nothing dangerous. But I ought to have taken it in time but I was afraid to take medicines for fear of baby. But please god all will soon be well with me. I wish James was at home, I do not think he will be home until Monday and this is Saturday. I wish that something would turn up for him on shore. But this place for there is nothing doing here. I am sure I do not now what the people will do, all the crops are dying for want of rain. I wish it would rain. You said something about ‘Hippo’ powders and gave baby steedmans and I find them very good. It was the whooping cough she had but thank God she is better of it only when she wakes she has a very bad cough then. Mr Millar has come home but I have not seen him yet. He has left the ship for a short time as the small box is on board of her so that do not now when she will return to London. She is in Melbourne. I hope that she will not leave to Hobartown for there is plenty of sickness in this place. My dear Mother has not been very well but please God she will soon be better.

Please to give my love to Maria and tell her that I shall not forget her wish and I trust that dear Annie will be spared to us both and that she will grow up to be comfort to us. You must give James’s love to all at home. He might rite from Sydney. I do not think there is any more to say. Please to give my love to all and except the same from me and remain yours affect,

Christina Parkinson

You must excuse this as I did not think that I would rite this mail

Kiss for Baby to Grandma