From H. E. Litchfield to Leonard Darwin 21 May [1875]

Dear old Ponts,

I'm going to write you a little letter [kin] just to say how nice it will be to meet the 4.12 on June 22 & see you coming back again. It seems so funny to thk that it is hard upon a year since we all went down to Blackwall. It feels either that indefinite time one calls 10 ages—or else yesterday. I thk you are the coolish fish I ever met to go up the Yosemite & only send us a picture!

Of course they'll have told you how yr long N. Z. letter was picked up from the Scilly Islands. I'm so sorry abt the measles. I sh^d. like to have hobnobbed with the King of the Sandwich Isles over the Origin— Who is Queen Emma? I thght she was Sandwich Isles.

I've been very busy this morning planting double daisies. I got two enormous baskets full yesterday for ^2/-^QQQQ far more than I want & so Im obliged to have pots & pans full of them—all over the house. However it is quite [apropes] for it is a household festival Esther's birthday— She is 24 & it is to be kept by means of Mark coming to tea & double daisies— Also I've been to Uncle Ras to get a tick for the the Musical Instrument lecture to wh. all the boys are gng including the venerable Richard in that [disgustion]— [Jenning] & Johnny B. Carter come here. It is v. nice for [Jenning] having him at the works. I've taken to being more in love than usual with Jenning— I think he has such a charming nature, so fresh & unspotted by the world & his very absence of culture gives him a certain flavour of originality wh. is refreshing in this so called 19^th cent-y.

No doubt you know that you won't have to come by the 4.12 to Orp. but is equivalent to Gomshall. for the parents holiday at Abinger—

It will be fine fun our all meeting in that delicious place. We were thinking that quarelling there wd have been for the spare bed if they had gone to the Ridge when you came back.

I'm writing this wild letter & bad hand cos I hear you won't get this & [is] I haven't dated it

I trust it can't return to me or you or any body— I wonder if you'll have had the sense to telegraph for your Boston letters to be sent to meet you en route. I daresay not— Father is just thro' the drosera—

Goodbye dear old Pouts—

your affec | Retta