From Emma Darwin to W. E. Darwin [late 1856 to early 1857?]

My dear Willy

I shall answer your nice long letter to Papa, as he is gone to London for 3 days. It is very pleasant to think how soon the holidays will be here. We had a grand day yesterday with the Club. They have a grand Blue silk flag with "Down Benefit Society written upon it & they had a Band & marched about Keston & near Farnborough Then they went to church & M^r Thomson preached a sermon. Then they had dinner, & after dinner marched up here with the band & played tunes & gave 3 times 3 cheers for Papa & he had to take off his hat & make them a short speech.

Then they played cricket in M^r Smith's big field & ended with a dance & I believe very few of them got tipsey. The other day 2 dead hedgehogs were found in the bucket of pig's wash. I suppose they got in after the food & were drowned.

Today Alick Swan a nephew of M^rs Innes is coming to dine with the children & spend the afternoon. He is about 7 & seems a nice boy.

M^rs Norman called here & told me that M^r Wharton had no more pupils & Herbert Jenner was going to leave & she really thought the school would be broken up which I shall be very sorry for both for M^r Wharton's sake & for Georgy's. You had better not go such desperate long walks again, it must tire you too much for your lessons. Give my love to Erny | your affectionate mother

E. Darwin