TALBOT9167

Carruchan Dec. 24^th/ 66

My dear Papa,

Jack¹ began writing you a letter this morning to wish you a Merry Christmas, but I have not had time to attend to him [&?] help him to finish it in time for the post, and we have been obliged to put it off till another day to his great disappointment; but I have promised to give you all his message & Connie’s – Bab² has not realised the occasion, so I must make up some from him! – and wish the same to Grandmamma, and every body, in general and in particular! – and now from myself I must say that I got your letter before leaving Dabton – we were very sorry that you could not come to us on your way to Edinburgh, but when the time got so short, I began to expect that you meant to go straight instead of coming to us first – We shall of course be very glad if you will come to Dabton whenever you feel disposed after we get back there – for we shall not be thinking of moving again this winter. I think we shall just stay here over Twelveth day, but you will hear again before that. John has had another sore throat, which has lasted longer than usual – as it came on about a week ago. I think he caught it about the time that the weather was so unseasonably warm. It is rather better today. Jack has also got a throat, but not very bad – The others have escaped. We came here on Saturday but too late to write to anybody, & yesterday there was no opportunity of posting a letter, as I did not go into Dumfries to church –

With love to all, & all messages & Merry Christmases from John & myself, I am Y^r affec^te daughter
Tilly

John expects to be in Edinburgh next week I think but I will write to Mama before that.

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esq^r.
13. Great Stuart Street/
Edinburgh