1860-1869] My Father s Suffering Life 183 



(June 26, 1865): "What a life of suffering his is, and how 

 manfully he bears it ! Emma's, dear Emma's, cheerful- 

 ness is equally admirable. Oh ! that a pure sunshine would 

 rise for them." 



And again (12th July) : " I had one of Emma's charming 

 letters yesterday. She had waited for a good moment to 

 Charles, and his jour days of tolerable wellness had given her 

 spirits to give me the treat of a letter, and that with all her 

 boys about her ! I am sure she is a chosen one of Heaven." 



My mother's devotion to my father had made a deep 

 impression upon Fanny Allen; she speaks of a friend as 

 the most devoted wife she ever knew, "except Emma, and 

 she is an exception to every wife." 



Emma Darwin to her aunt Fanny Allen. 



[Probably 1865]. 



... I have taken a little to gardening this summer, and 

 I often felt surprised when I was feeling sad enough how 

 cheering a little exertion of that sort is. I also like cutting 

 and carving among the shrubs, but as my opinion is dia- 

 metrically opposite to the rest of my family, I don't have 

 my own way entirely in that matter. . . . 



Emma Darwin to her daughter Henrietta. 



Thursday [Sept., 1865]. 



. . In the morning Mr Bentham l called from Holwood. 

 He is a very nice man. Papa came down for ten minutes. 

 I walked him thro' the kitchen garden, and started him 

 that way, and was sorry to think afterwards that I had 

 given him directions which would effectually prevent his 

 finding his way. I was glad I was in my new gown. Rags 

 do not look well in the sunshine. My new gown is respectable 

 and handsome. 



In February, 1866, Catherine, Mrs Charles Langton, died 

 at Shrewsbury, where she had gone to be with her sister 

 Susan Darwin. 



1 George Bentham, the well-known botanist. 



