WCP1309

[1]¹

Miller's Dale, Derbyshire

June 23rd, 1893

My dear Fanny

Your letter has been forwarded to me here where I have been staying since Monday with Will², on his way to Newcastle. We have had fine weather till today I have had splendid walks among the wonderful valleys & rocks here. The Storm at Parkstone³ was very sudden and severe, but did us no damage except almost flooding us out. We had some friends with us waiting for the storm to pass when our girl came to say that the kitchen was being flooded. The [2] water was pouring down the steep path just by ^the kitchen entrance & had filled up the grating to the drains, & it was soon six inches deep in kitchen, passage, scullery, and the little dining room, from which however the carpet had been put up in time. Then I went for our old gardener & he, I, and Mary baled out all the water with flat tins &c., while Annie⁴ swept it towards us, & in about 2 hours all was pretty straight again. Will was near the house that was struck playing tennis with some friends, & as soon as the fire appeared they all went & helped to get out the furniture & so everything was [3] saved, but the house was almost completely burnt, as the thick thatched roof held the fire, though two large water hoses were playing on it all the time.

The rain was very acceptable to our garden though it would have done more good if it had been spread over two days instead of less than 2 hours. The pictures &c. arrived all right — except the glass broken of the "little girl" which we soon had renewed, — & are all put up and look very well. Annie is much pleased with the old [4] bits of china. This will reach you on your birthday, but I cannot sent you anything but kind wishes, but I will when I return home which will be either tomorrow or next Tuesday, depending on whether Violet⁵ comes to spends a few days here or not.

Believe me | Your ever affectionate Brother | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]