Margaret C. Osgood to Mary Alden Childers and Erskine Childers, [September 1905]. IE TCD MS 7867/12

Digitised version of IE TCD MS 7867/12, a letter written by Margaret C. Osgood, Burlington Hotel, Eastbourne, England to her daughter Mary Alden Childers, and son-in-law Erskine Childers, [September 1905]: "Darling I can't imagine what it was to my mother heart to see you darling precious children & your yacht home. Every moment I regret that I didn't hug & kiss you more, my pets. I can see Molly's cunning, unspeakably darling little face looking at me, and Erskine's loving expressive face, and both, so sweet to me. I went back to the [?] after a very hurried lunch (fearing to lose a last look at the pretty thing) and sat with Daddy, looking every other moment through his big glass which he had borrowed from the hotel. We could see everything plainly. Papa was excited over it & thought her a beautiful craft & looking as he imagined. I gave him all the details in an unnautical manner & gave him your piece of rope, which he clung to, & admired in such a way it reminded me of the yacht story. He didn't ask me to smell it however. Mannoch showed me how it was made. I had Marjorie in my bed this morning, & I told her from beginning to end all my [?] in the row boat, all about you & Uncle Erskine, & your cabin and ended the tale by narrating my getting to my place in the row boat... on all fours, at which she screamed with laughter... I should have stayed with you last night, but for this indigestion which is most trying. I am on boiled milk & toast & hope to be better soon..." Margaret Cushing Pearmain Osgood (1847-1941), was an American writer and poet, mother to writer and nationalist Mary ('Molly') Alden Childers who was married to Erskine Childers, and the maternal grandmother of Erskine Hamilton Childers (1905-1974) who became the fourth President of Ireland 1973-1974.