WCP261

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset.

Feb^y. 10th. 1895

My Dear Violet¹

Ma² has a bad fit of her nerves & has not slept for the last 2-3 nights, so we have had a doctor ^{Dr. Philpotts —} and he says she will be put all right in a few days. Of course she is dreadfully nervous about you going on to thin ice & tumbling in; &c. &c. &c. and so I am ordered to write to you at once & tell you to be sure & not do anything of the sort, this cold weather. After all my care having new water pipes laid, they are frozen again outside, & we have had no water [2] since Wednesday morning. It has been colder in many places than any year since the Crimean winter- 1854 — In Norfolk, & parts of Bedfordshire 40˚ of frost. Here about 20˚. So we have now had five cold, very cold, winters running in this mildest of climates. England's Mentone! But there has been deep-snow at Cannes and at Rome, and bitter, colder, harder, still in Germany and America.

Mrs. Fisher³ says you are to write to her and tell her how you are and what you are doing. [3] Mrs. Maclachlan is here still but is going away soon, when the mild weather comes..

There is really no other news that I can think of, so must "coil" as Will⁴ says. Mind you write instantly you get this to tell us you are not frozen or killed entirely in any other way, or Ma will be worrying herself into fits.

Your affectionate Pa | Alfred R. Wallace [signature]