1860-1869] George Darwin a Second Wrangler 187 



Emma Darwin to her daughter Henrietta. 



DOWN, Sunday [Summer, 1867]. 



... I succeeded in going to Ravensbourne, and it was 

 pleasant. I took the Lancashire Wedding or Darwin 

 moralized to read in the carriage. The moral is that it 

 is not wise to give up a pretty, poor, healthy girl you love 

 and marry a sickly, rich, cross one you don't care for, 

 which does not require a conjuror to tell one. The story 

 ought to have been giving up a pretty, sick girl you love 

 and marrying a healthy one you don't care for. It is too 

 dull to give to the [village] library. ... I have got Mr 

 Hogarth's Will, and find it too dull, so we have only Hep- 

 worth Dixon's America and old Jesse's George III., which is 

 comfortable enough. 



The books she mentions would be those then on hand for 

 reading aloud. As a rule they liked one novel and one 

 serious book, travels, memoirs, or something historical if 

 not too stiff, for they were always chosen with a view to 

 resting my father. 



Emma Darwin to her aunt Fanny Allen. 



[1867]. 



Charles's book is done and he is enjoying leisure, tho' 

 he is a very bad hand at that. I wish he could smoke 

 a pipe or ruminate like a cow. Our Persian kitten from 

 Paris is very charming and more confiding than a common 

 one. He is getting very big, but still insists upon sitting 

 on my shoulder and smudging his face against mine. 



Charles Darwin to his son George on the occasion 

 of his being second wrangler. 



MY DEAR OLD FELLOW, D WN ' Jan ' 24th t 1868 ] 



I am so pleased. I congratulate you with all my 

 heart and soul. I always said from your early days that 



