From Elizabeth Darwin to Horace Darwin [1869–71]

Dear Horace.

Lenny was here yesterday, but George not as he was at Cambridge. It was a horrid cold day, and went a walk through snowy fields. Pauline Kilian is gone now I was very sorry when she went for she was very pleasant and I liked to have somebody to take walks with. Mr Powell has been calling here he is a nice little man, I think we are very lucky to have such a nice clergyman he seems so zealous about the school and every thing. He is going to set up a reading room in the village, which I am very glad of. It is to be in the school, from six till nine every day, there are to be penny newspapers, and coffee which they are to buy, they are to be allowed smoking which is the great thing to make them comfortable. I hope it may succeed, Mr Powell seems rather doutful, he says that so many of the men cannot read.

We have just bought a new cow, it is a half alderny and rather pretty, our new horse seems to go very well both in double and single harness. I hope your horse buying will turn out well if his Photograph does him justice, he certainly cannot be much of a beauty, however that I suppose is not very important in a horse. Polly is very flourishing Papa adors her more than ever. Henrietta is teaching her to jump with the greatest trouble, at first she was frightened and only ran round and round in abject fright, but now she is learning to do it. I am afraid I am writing you a most dull letter. I am very low about the weather it is so nasty, and I am afraid it will last for a long time. On Tuesday week we are goinging to a ball we cannot get Pouter as he will be busy at examinations so Mamma is going to try to catch Lawrence.

Your affectionate | Bessy.