WCP1305

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

Dec[embe]^r 8^th 1892

My dear Fanny

I send you £6 for Will’s six weeks board & lodging, as he generally had full board with you whereas he only had 2 weeks at Woodford.

I think your idea of his character is pretty correct. He has I think improved considerably the last year since the responsibilities of life have begun to approach nearer. We have had 2 long letters from him describing his lodging & the Works. He seems to have very comfortable lodgings [2] with a nice sitting room to himself, and I am very glad that he is in a village on high ground with nice country near where he can ride ^{or walk} on Sundays & half holidays.

At present he seems to have not much to do at the Works. They seem to have a difficulty in finding work for all the young man they have there, but he seems determined to show them he can do something & I expect he will soon get some more regular employment. Two of his college mates are there.

[3] The head of the firm in Germany is just dead, & I dare say you read that interesting little sketch of his life in the "Daily Kew", which I shall send to Will.

Violet is very busy, as she has undertaken to write 30 short lessons in Natural History for Children, for an Educational Magazine, & is to have a Guinea a lesson! She has sent in the first, & has received her guinea to her great surprise & delight. This is to be a profound secret, as she does not want her mum to know till she can show her the first one imprint. She got this work through the recommendation of Mrs Fisher (Miss Buckley).¹ I help her a little, & it is rather [4] hard work at first, but she will soon be used to it. She is learning clay modelling, & really has a very good notion. She did Darwin’s head last night, from a photograph, rough but quite like. She has also done a good Elephants head etc.

I received this morning a photo from California of our little grand-niece — a perfect Californian beauty! I suppose you have one also. She is growing quite like her mother.

Violet also thinks Will’s character very good.

With best love | Believe me your affectionate Brother | Alfred R Wallace [signature]