Carruchan Dec. 24th/ 66
My dear Papa,
Jack<1> began writing you a letter this morning to wish you a Merry Christmas, but I have not had time to attend to him [&?] help him to finish it in time for the post, and we have been obliged to put it off till another day to his great disappointment; but I have promised to give you all his message & Connies Bab<2> has not realised the occasion, so I must make up some from him! and wish the same to Grandmamma, and every body, in general and in particular! and now from myself I must say that I got your letter before leaving Dabton we were very sorry that you could not come to us on your way to Edinburgh, but when the time got so short, I began to expect that you meant to go straight instead of coming to us first We shall of course be very glad if you will come to Dabton whenever you feel disposed after we get back there for we shall not be thinking of moving again this winter. I think we shall just stay here over Twelveth day, but you will hear again before that. John has had another sore throat, which has lasted longer than usual as it came on about a week ago. I think he caught it about the time that the weather was so unseasonably warm. It is rather better today. Jack has also got a throat, but not very bad The others have escaped. We came here on Saturday but too late to write to anybody, & yesterday there was no opportunity of posting a letter, as I did not go into Dumfries to church
With love to all, & all messages & Merry Christmases from John & myself, I am Yr affecte daughter
Tilly
John expects to be in Edinburgh next week I think but I will write to Mama before that.
[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot Esqr.
13. Great Stuart Street/
Edinburgh
Notes:
1. John Henry 'Jack' Gilchrist-Clark (1861-1902).
2. 'Bab' (Baby), William 'Willie' Gilchrist-Clark, later Rev William Clark-Maxwell (1865-1935).