Dabton

Thornhill

Dec^r 31^st 1872

My dear Papa

Many, many, many happy New Year’s to you & to Mama and to all – from everybody here, great & little, who would all be very glad to be able to wish it to you yourself, instead of having to write it – We wish we had something pretty to send you, but we exhausted our imagination when we sent you that card, ‘Christmas bringing in the New Year’ – so there is nothing left for us to do! We all seem so very far apart this winter somehow but I hope Monie will come soon & bring us news of you all –

I believe you are to have a letter soon from a very juvenile correspondant Mimay – but it is not written yet! We came back from Carruchan yesterday – Baby’s cold is better the others all pretty well – but the violent changes of temperature have affected them a little. Jack & Connie are gone with Miss Gordon to a party at Blackwood this afternoon – Willie was asked, but I would not let him go, as I thought it was not good for him – We are making grand secret preparations for our Christmas tree on the 7^th – but the children know nothing about it – Mary Maxwell & Miss Clark come this afternoon – the latter is looking far from strong, & much older than last winter – I believe she will be eighty in two months.

Much love & kisses from the chicks – & please tell Mamie that I got such a lovely scented card from her this morning with quantities of happy New Years & thank her very much for it –

your most affec^te daughter

Tilly

Baby said Merry “Kissie” quite beautifully – last Wednesday!