Carruchan
Dec 29th
My dear Papa,
I have just received your letter & enclosures brought by John <1> from Dabton, <2> but have not yet had time to read the latter. They have sent on the Garden at the same time. I believe Tilly <3> wrote yesterday to explain how Willy <4> had got laid up with measles, whilst staying here with the 2 younger children, the rest of the party having returned to Dabton for the few days intervening between Xmas and the projected Tree. Now the poor tree is knocked on the head, as people would be afraid of catching infection from us. Immediately we heard of this attack of Willie’s I came back to nurse him, & Tilly has carried off the others to Dabton. Willie however is having it so mildly that if the rest take it the same, it will be rather a good than a bad thing.
Dr Hoggan has just paid his 2nd visit, and says he need not return. The irruption is almost faded away already & there is no longer any feverishness.
Post going
Your most affectionate
Monie
Notes:
1. John Gilchrist-Clark (1830–1881), Scottish JP; WHFT’s son-in-law.
2. Dabton, Dumfriesshire: home of WHFT’s daughter Matilda.
3. Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark, ‘Tilly’, née Talbot (1839–1927), WHFT’s 3rd daughter.
4. Rev William Gilchrist-Clark (1865–1935), son of Matilda Caroline Gilchrist-Clark.