1853-1859] Help in the Village 165 



doubtful how much good she did in this way, as there was 

 not enough enquiry and a good many of her friends were 

 people of bad character. There were, however, many wise 

 and good forms of kindness and help in our own village a 

 lending library for the children, my mother herself giving 

 out the books every Sunday afternoon small pensions for 

 the old, dainties for the ailing, and medical comforts and 

 simple medicines in case of illness. There was a well-stored 

 "physic cupboard," and an old red book of prescriptions, 

 chiefly by my grandfather, Dr Robert Darwin. I well 

 remember helping to measure and weigh, and the delight of 

 rolling rhubarb pills. A deep respect and regard was felt 

 for her in the village, but her reserve prevented her getting 

 to know many of her poorer neighbours intimately. She 

 would contrast herself in this respect with her old neighbour 

 and friend Georgina Toilet, the author of Country Conversa- 

 tions. From her servants, however, no one could have won 

 more devoted love. She would take any trouble to help 

 them or their relations, and in return there was nothing they 

 would not do to please her. In an emergency they would 

 cheerfully work like horses; or any one would change their 

 work; the cook would nurse an invalid, the butler would 

 drive to the station, and anybody would go an errand 

 anywhere or be ready to help in looking after the poor 

 people. 



The following letter was written from Dr. Lane's Water- 

 cure Establishment at Moor Park, near Farnham. My father 

 often went there, and was sometimes accompanied by my 

 mother. 



Charles Darwin to his son William. 



[Moon PARK, Monday, May 3rd, 1858.] 



MY DEAR WILLIAM, 



I have just received your nice note and the hexagon, 1 

 for which very many thanks, but I hope and think I shall 

 not have to use it as I had intended, which was delicately to 

 hint to one of the greatest mathematicians that he had made 

 a blunder in his geometry, and sure enough there came a 

 letter yesterday wholly altering what he had previously 

 told me. 



1 The hexagon was to be used for the discussion on bees' cells in 

 the Origin of Species. 



