58 A Century of Family Letters [CHAP, in 



I have taken to playing a little on the piano and enjoy 

 the feeling of health and being able to play with the little 

 boy and walk about and do what I like, without always 

 thinking about oneself which is very tiresome. Before my 

 confinement I could take so little notice of the little boy 

 that he got not to care a pin for me and it used to make 

 me rather dismal sometimes, but he likes nobody so well as 

 Charles and me now, but I think C. is the prime favourite. 



I must tell you a nice thing of Erasmus as you used 

 not to like him, but it is a profound secret so you must not 

 tell anybody. The other day he wrote to Miss Martineau, 

 thinking that owing to her long illness she might be in want 

 of money, to ask if he could help her. He carried about his 

 letter in his pocket for some days without having courage 

 to send it; but he did at last and poor Miss M. was very 

 much gratified by it, though she would not let him help her. 

 She refused very nicely by openly entering on her affairs 

 with him and telling Mm exactly what she had, to show 

 him that she was not in want. She has nothing but what 

 she has earned. I am afraid she has little chance of recovery, 

 which I am very sorry for. Life was of great value to her, 

 though she seems resigned to quit it. She told him she 

 would let him know if she was in any distress. Goodbye, 

 my dearest aunt J. My best love to my dear uncle. 



During part of their stay at Maer my father went to 

 Shrewsbury leaving my mother and the baby at Maer. 

 Willy (called Doddy) must have gone to Shrewsbury first. 



Charles Darwin to Emma Darwin at Maer Hall. 



[SHREWSBURY, 1st July, 1841.] 



I will give you categorical account, and first for my own 

 beggarly self. I was pretty brisk at first, but about four 

 became bad and shivery. I was very desolate and forlorn 

 and missed you cruelly. But to-day I am pretty brisk and 

 enjoy myself. I think my father looking rather altered and 

 aged, though he and the two old chicks appear very well 



