The following letter was sent me by my sister.  I don't know who it was sent to; none of the names mentioned are familiar ones from my family history.

37 Stevens Terrace
Heath
           16/2/05                                                      South Wales

My Dear Cousins,

I was very pleased indeed when I got your letter, for I was a bit afraid that mine to you had not been addressed correctly.  If I have not spelt your name aright will you please correct the error?

I am very pleased we haven't got a foot and a half of snow here. What we had when last I wrote you was nearly all gone in about two weeks. Now the weather is very mild, inclined to rather too wet (as is usually the case here, especially in the fall and winter months), but some days are lovely and spring like.  Snowdrops and crocuses are quite common in bloom, and the thrushes & blackbirds are singing in full chorous, and are busy building.  Young lambs have been common several weeks around here. So that everywhere are signs of Spring.

I sent your letter along home, as my wife is always interested in your welfare, and liked Richard very much.  I enclose the letter I received from her.

So do not entertain in your dear little head Cousin any such idea as that you have no friends, or that your husband and yourself would meet with no welcome in "the old country." I only wish that Sallie & I could take a trip over to see you, but I fear it will be some time before half-day excursions are run.

By the way, 1/2 day trips are run from here to London for the pantomimes, and high-class trips are now the thing from London to Paris & back, that allow 3 hours in Paris.  Isn't that luxury run mad? From here to London is 197 miles and the fare for 1/2 day is 5s/6p.

A navigable balloon has made a straight flight last week from London to Paris at the rate of 50 miles per hour.  And Santos Dumont the great aeronaut predicts that very soon it will be common to travel all over Europe by airship—stirring times!

Did you get the post card I sent, and the Christmas greeting card? I am asking because I would like to send you occasionally a picture post card when I see anything which I think will interest or amuse you.

What is the name of your home? Have farms got each one its distinctive name with you like they have here?  How far are you from a post office?  I guess your postal service does not equal that of this country now.  Letters have now to be duly conveyed & delivered to any address, even if it be to a solitary cabin, miles away from anywhere, on a lonely mountaintop and that without any extra charge.  All for the nimble penny stamp!

I see that a parcel post is being arranged for between Britain and the United States.  But why don't they (the U. S.) come into the international postal union so that the penny stamp would serve, as it does for a letter to Australia or South Africa?  But I must close. With best wishes from your loving Cousin John Lund.