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Playing Games in the Austen Home |
| Although Jane Austen never married or had children of
her own, she enjoyed her position of "Aunt" to her many nieces and nephews.
When her sister-in-law, Elizabeth, died soon after the birth of her eleventh
child, Jane welcomed her two young nephews, George and Edward, to the Austen
house at Castle Square. It was only two weeks after Elizabeth's death that
Jane wrote to her sister Cassandra -
Monday, 24 October 1808, Castle Square My dear Cassandra, Edward and George came to us soon after seven on Saturday, very well, but very cold, having by choice travelled on the outside, and with no great coat. . . They behave extremely well in every respect, showing quite as much feeling as one wishes to see, and on every occasion speaking of their father with the liveliest of affection. His letter was read over by each of them yesterday, and withmany tears; George sobbed aloud, Edward's tears do not flow so easily, but as far as I can judge they are both very properly impressed by what has happened. . . We do not want amusement: bilbocatch, at which George is indefatigable, spillikins, paper ships, riddles, conundrums, and cards, with watching the flow and ebb of the river, and now and then a stroll out, keep us well employed; and we mean to avail ourselves of our kind papa's consideration, by not returning to Winchester til quite the evening of Wednesday. . . While I write now, George is lmost industriously making and naming paper ships, at which he aftewards shoots with horse-chestnuts, brought from Steventon on purpose; and Edward equally intent over the 'Lake of Killarney,' twisting himself about in one of our great chairs. . . Tuesday. - All that you say of Edward is truly comfortable; I began to fear that when the bustle of the first week was over, his spirits might for a time be more depressed;and perhaps one must still expect something of the kind. . . We had a little water party yesterday; I and my two nephews went from the Itchen Ferry up to Northam, where we landed, looked into the 74, and walked home, and it was so much enjoyed that I had intended to take them to Netley to-day. . . Our evening was equally agreeable in its way: I introduced speculation, and it was so much approved that we hardly knew how to leave off. Your idea of an early dinner to-morrow is exactly what we propose, for,. . . we have not had many summer evenings. We have just had two hampers of apples from Kintbury, and the floor of our little garret is almost covered. Love to all. . . Jane's letter to her sister shows a keen awareness of the difficulties the two boys would face over the death of their mother. Without overreacting, Jane acknowledges the boys' emotional welfare and her own plan to keep them busy and amused. Their games of bilbocatch, spillikins, and paper ships were certainly popular amusements for children of the time. Speculation, however, was a more adult game and met with great approval by the young boys. In another letter to Cassandra a few months later, Jane mentions the card game again. Evidently, the boys have continued their passion for Speculation but someone is arguing in favor of another game, Brag. Jane wittily asserts her own preference.Yours very affectionately, J.A. Tuesday January 10 (1809), Castle Square I am not surprised, my dear Cassandra, that you did not find my last letter very full of matter, and I wish this may not have the same deficiency. . . The preference of Brag over Speculation does not greatly surpise me, I believe, because I feel the same myself; but it mortifies me deeply, because Speculation was under my patronage; and, after all, what is there so delightful in a pair royal of Braggers? It is but three nines or three knaves, or a mixture of them. When one comes to reason upon it, it cannont stand its ground against Speculation - of which I hope Edward is now convinced. Give my love to him if he is. . . In her correspondance Jane Austen makes many references to other games played by the Austen family. On-line e-texts of her letters are available at the Jane Austen Web Site. Consult the index listing for games for cross references to specific letters.Yours affectionately, J.A. Notes - Edward Austen, eldest son of Edward and Elizabeth Austen (Knight). Born May 10, 1794. Edward was 14 years old when his mother died. George Austen, second son of Edward and Elizabeth Austen (Knight). Born November 22, 1795. George was 13 years old when his mother died. Sources
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