From H. E. Darwin to Emma Darwin [c. 1857]

My dear Mama

In the morning we went to eat damsons and we saw some quinces fallen so we gathered some of them there is a great many, and then we went mushrooming and we found such a lot that it made papa's armes ache to carry it home, he went home first for he was tired. Colonel Cator and family came here and left a pack of cards, and there has been an invitation for dinner from the Cranworths for Saturday and papa has refused. I was fidling with the chickens and pigeons most of the afternoon, and the six little things look very nice and healthy, the chicks for fattening look very small. The children have been very jolly, except Lizzy before going mushrooming was unhappy they had settled not to go and she did not know who to go out with. In the afternoon Lenny and Baby were playing at a game of cards with those pictures belonging to that game of telling a story as far as I could make out, they might ask for as many cards as they please and the other person was forced to give them, a curious sort of game. We have finished Rutherfords and we all wish there were 900 vols.—

Thursday. Jane has had an uncomfortable night but Papa does not think she is really worse. There has been a letter from Aunt Caroline saying she will come on Saturday. I am afraid the littlest Almond Tumbler is dead but it is not quite certain. M^rs. Norman has sent a letter to know if you will fix a day to dine there.

Goodbye dear Mama | Etty Darwin | Down | Kent