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      Hume Family Collection - Family
 
 

 

History in Photographs : Images from the Hume Family Collection

Family
 
 

Birth

Katie describes it as a 'momentous' time in her life when she writes to her mother with the 'news' of her pregnancy. She particularly felt the distance from her family during her first pregnancy. Her letters frequently express a desire for family support, in the preparations for the baby and because of her inexperience. Descriptions are filled with detail which was Katie's way of having her family 'participate' in her life. Her inexperience was dealt with by purchasing two recommended texts on the subject. The last paragraph of the following extract illustrates with what weight the forthcoming birth was viewed.

Drayton ... January 16th, 1868

"My very dear Mother,
... I find plenty to employ me in preparing the wardrobe of your expected Grandchild! It is such pretty interesting work but I must say I often long for sisterly sympathy & assistance! ... I have cut out the little gowns & shirts, the latter are most ravishing! The flannels I am making from that nice piece of Saxony flannel I brought with me. They look so charming with white silk binding!

... I have had a very nice book lent me, called 'Dr. Bull's Hints to Mothers' of which I intend to procure a copy for reference. It is really valuable for anyone who has not their friends at hand to consult & who, like me, are so ignorant of all that pertains to their new situation. I shall also get 'Dr. Graham on the management of children' which has been much recommended.

27th ... When you get this, my time of trial will be approaching. I know you will pray for me, that I may have strength & patience, & that all may go well with me & my little one. You must not be too anxious about me. I do not think I am nervous myself, tho' I am so much alone. I have, thank God, such good health, that with reasonable care, I trust all may go well." (Bonnin, pp. 94-96)

Infancy

Katie's anticipation that her first child would be a boy does not inhibit her delight in her new baby daughter, a delight which Walter shared. Her letters from this time are filled with little references to Ethel and how she is developing. Katie and Walter, on the whole, write in a light-hearted and optimistic manner, illustrated by their playful use of words like 'metrolopus' for metropolis. These messages of her returning health and strength are all the more poignant for knowing the foreboding with which giving birth was viewed.

Canning Downs ... April 16th, 1868

"My dear Mrs. Fowler,
I have joyful news to communicate. Katie has presented me with a little girl. She was confined on the 3rd., at four in the morning. Since that time all has gone well with both of them." (Bonnin, p. 102)

Drayton, November 2nd, 1868

"My dearest Mardee,
I have much pleasure in sending you a representation (although inadequate) of yr little colonial Grandchild. I hope it will give you some little idea of my sweet little Deldel, but it does not half do her justice. Her face is much fatter than it appears in the Photo & the expression is not at all her natural one, which is so good tempered & beaming, but the light made her frown, which gives her a constrained look. ... I wanted to have her taken in my lap, but the artist said it was difficult to get both in focus, & was sure to be a failure, so I did not try it.

It was Baby's first visit to the 'Metrolopus' of Toowoomba, when I took her in the Buggy to be photoed. She had never been out of Drayton before." (Bonnin, p. 129)

Ethel, aged 6 months, Photograph Album vol. 1, p. 16(a)  

Eskgrove Dr., Brisbane ... June 9th, 1869

"My dearest Ally,

The enclosed Photo of Mother & Daughter is for the Home circle generally (I have sent one to Charlie). I think it will convey a pretty good idea of my Pet at her present stage...
I was determined she shd have no more on than the claims of decency demanded that you might see not her clothes but her which I consider more interesting..." (Bonnin, p. 145)

  Mrs W.C. Hume 1870, Photograph Album Vol. 1, p. 2(a).

Childhood

Bertram Cunningham Hume was born on the 21st of June 1871, the second of three babies born who survived infancy, from eight births. Queensland had a tragically high infant mortality rate, 'approximately one infant in eight died before it reached one year of age during the period 1870 to 1895'. (Spearitt in Reekie p. 69)
The letters which record the loss of two babys before this date are particulary heartbreaking. Katie turned to her religion for support and consolation but the emptiness after such a loss could not be removed. Feeding problems and health problems such as thrush are recorded for the two lost babes. Katie's relief that this baby is healthy is evident in the extract below.

The dressing-room sofa ... Drayton ... 5th July 1871
"My own dearest Mother,

... You will I know rejoice with me when I tell you that with God's blessing I am able to nurse this little one myself. This is a very great pleasure to me & fully repays me for all I have had to go through, for I had quite as much trouble to get him to take it at first, as I had with the others, only as he has kept well, my efforts have this time been successful & I am deeply thankful for it." (Bonnin, p. 209)

  Katie and Bertie 1875, Photograph Album,Vol. 1, p. 32(b).
 
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