[on light mourning paper, with crest]
Dabton
Dec^r 24^th 1863.

My dear Papa,

This is to wish you a Merry Christmas! from Johnnie and me, and Jack and Baby – and the latter sends you her picture, just done in Thornhill, that you may see what she is like – It is a tolerable portrait of her, as to her Mama, that is according to people’s opinion! – You must make allowances for the photograph as a work of art, as the artist is the village hairdresser in Thornhill – and he was most unwilling to do it at all, as he said the weather was unfavourable – Today is not in the least like Christmas Eve, it is as warm as possible, & I have been out picking odd bits of flowers left from the autumn, or that belong to next spring. We have some Auriculas, wallflower (plenty) double primrose – violets, blue hepaticas, Rhododendron [Dahuricum?] – wild strawberry – and I actually saw a yellow mullein in full bud and an oxeye daisy! These sudden changes in the temperature are really trying – the day before yesterday it was bitterly cold – a regular hard frost which remained all day – I went out driving – and felt almost frozen – we had to keep both windows shut all the time –

Jack sends his love and Kisses to Grandpapa – and with the same from myself, I remain

your affec^te daughter
Tilly. –

We are going to Dumfries by rail to church tomorrow and up again in the afternoon. –

[envelope:]
H. F. Talbot, Esq^r.
8. Rutland Square
Edinburgh