WCP226

[1]¹,²

Parkstone, Dorset

April 3rd. 1892

My dear Violet

Next Wednesday Ma is going to Godalming to look after the house & garden & Will³ is going to meet her there on Friday, & they will come home together probably on the following Monday. Pray see the animal man at once and order 2 pairs of hedgehogs, & give him the address to send them as soon as he can get them, by rail in a basket "This side up with care." The bookbinder refuses to make any reduction; [2] but never mind, I shall not employ him again.

I have got J.G. Wood’s⁴ book on the horse. It is very good; I think the best book he has written, as his heart was evidently in it. It is a book of facts, as he says, & gives all you want to know about horses, their anatomy, their origin, their shoes, their hoofs &c. &c. &c. It is quite a big book. I have just finished my review of the Pampas book, & shall send it off today. People will think I praise it too much.

[3] If you can come home this week please do, & bring Miss Macdonald with you, & we will have a nice little excursion or two before the others come.

A dreadful thing has happened! Just as I have had my medal-case made — "regardless of expense" — they are going to give me another medal! Hadn’t I better decline it, with thanks? — "No room for more medals".!!

Your affectionate Papa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]

[4] P.S. A poor old man came here last night (Saturday) with a basket of primrose roots. Had carried them 8 miles couldn’t sell one in Poole or Parkstone. Was 64 years old — couldn’t get any work to do. Had no home &c.! So thought I do not approve of digging up primrose roots as a trade I gave him 1/6^d for them,- pitying him as one of the countless victims of Landlordism!

A.R.W [signature]

A poor man was sentenced to 14 days hard labour last week for picking snowdrops in Charborough Park Mrs Drax’s!!! Shame!!!!

A.R.W [signature]

Pres[ident]. L. N. Soc[iety].