Alice Harrison

Evelyn Alice Harrison's family published a book of her poems after her death in 1890 entitled : In memoriam: E. A. H.[ Compare letter written by her mother Hannah Harrison to J E Harrison in August 1890]. A joyous letter written by Evelyn Alice Harrison to her father, Edwin Harrison on September  29 1887: Dearest Dad, I have just had my breakfast so while it digests I'll just tell you how we are getting on. When I got up this morning it rained and the sea was very rough, but now the sun is shining and the promenade is dry, so when I have written to you I think I shall go to the rocks. Ted {John Edwin Harrison} and I had a boat on Tuesday, & yesterday, but I shall not go today, it looks too rough. Yesterday afternoon we went a lovely drive round Gloddeath Woods & the Little Orme's Head. [Llandudno] We also had the honor of speaking to Lord Mostyn. No doubt he saw we were Harrisonscrats. But we'll tell you more about that when we see you. We had a letter from Willie {Alfred William Harrison} this morning. he will be home on Friday so we shall meet all the trains on Saturday , so you must come. We have got a jolly fire, plenty of arm chairs  & everything calculated to make you comfortable. Last  Tuesday,  Jennie, Ted and I went up the Orme's Head. When we started we were very cold but when we got to the top we were as warm as toast. We raced about the top on the grass till the wind nearly took our breath away then we came down through the Happy valley and saw the strolling players acting. After tea we took Mother {Hannah Harrison} up Church walks. The sea is lovely now, all blue and smooth. The Great Orme is as clear as can be. Mother & I are going out directly. We got lots of blackberries on the mountain. Yesterday we saw the houses at LLanfairfechan quite plainly & we saw them blasting on Penmaenmawr.{Conwy} There are still a lot of folks here, but a great many have left this morning. How are all the folks at Newcastle, also the birds & Elf? give my love to Aunt & accept a heap for yourself. Take care of yourself & be sure & come on Saturday or else you will greatly disappoint your loving daughter, Alice. The folks have just read this letter & they say I must put disappoint us all instead of me .They all send their love. Sept 29th 1887,  Llandudno,  Conwy Bay, Wales.  

Alice Harrison wrote poetry & some of the poems written by her during her illness suggest she was living in Boscombe, near Bournemouth in 1890 & at first was well enough to lie on the beach. She was being nursed by her father Edwin Harrison, her sister Jenny Harrison & her brother John Edwin Harrison, who was working for an architect there & later started to establish his own practice, when he was advised by a doctor to emigrate to South Africa for the sake of his health. From March 9th 1890 to April 7th 1890, she wrote several poems showing her fine appreciation of the beauties of nature, landscape, flowers, butterflies & all God's creatures. The last poem is dated Newcastle, June 1, 1890 & is far more resigned & anticipates her death. The book's preface was written by Annie Jane Harrison or her father, who writes:" Possibly, impartial critics may discover faults which to loving eyes are absent, the latter seeing in them only the intense love of nature, and faith in God, which are the exception, and not the rule, in a world where so little thought is given to what is best and loveliest. " There is a photograph of Alice Harrison at the front of 'In Memoriam E A H', & the same photo is at the very back of JEH's album, now with Ian Stuart Harrison, as are these letters. The book of poems belonged to Barbara Bladen & was given by her son Richard Brennand Wells Bladen to Catherine Mary Watkins (born Harrison)