Dabton Thornhill

Dec 6^th 1867

My dear Papa,

I was exceedingly sorry when I got your letter this morning, to find that the arguments which I had used to induce you to put on your journey, so as to be with us a few days before Christmas, had had the entirely opposite effect of making you propose to put it off – However, I feel sure that you wont really do this, for it would be a very great disappointment to us all, if you fail to come and eat your Christmas dinner here with us as you had promised to do – What is the use of a Turkey, and a proper proportion of chestnuts & mince pies, if we are to have them by ourselves? & the children, who are looking forward with great excitement to having Grand-Papa here on Christmas day, what would they say! – No no, you must not really – I wanted to persuade you to come sooner – Why not settle to arrive here on Saturday 21^st? or if you can not, then leave things as they were – & come on Christmas eve – We shall go to Dumfries to church – but we shall be back in the middle of the afternoon, and then there is the rest of the day & evening to enjoy together – so dear Papa, consider that I shall really be very much annoyed if you do not immediately on receipt of this letter, write & say that you will come properly – & then you will have a respectable bit of holly stuck up in your room; & we will try & make it look as much like Christmas as possible. I heard from Monie herself on Wednesday, and was quite pleased to her how well she had got on, & that she already felt almost recovered. Good bye, dear Papa, all here send their love, & with the same from myself, I remain your most affec^te daughter

Tilly