Ferdinand von Mueller

10/9/84.

It was very pleasing to me, dear Louise, to receive this day your sympathetic letter and the beautiful cap, which you made with your clever hands. I shall treasure it as a particular souvenir, and only use it on festive occasions in honor of yourself. At one time I did not think, that I should get through this winter; but Dr and Mrs Büttner

1

Alexander and Henriette Büttner.

took me from my small poor place as a guest to their splendid mansion, where for 3 months I never left the room, fitted up temporarily for my office-work. Altho' I feel somewhat better, and the warm weather is approaching again, I am not equal to the task, to undertake so far a journey as that to the domicile of your dear mother. Still, as I hope, that divine providence will grant me yet a few years of life, I trust to see her once more with such members of her family as may be at her home. You are so far away, that I can not hope readily, to meet you once more; but perhaps Mr Todd

2

Charles Todd, Postmaster-General of SA.

will give you a position at or near Mt Gambier.

3

M’s niece Louise Wehl was postmistress at Appila, in the mid-north of SA about 240 km north of Adelaide. Her mother, M’s sister Clara Wehl, was living near Mt Gambier, in the south-east of SA.

Let me hope, that this will be soon, and that in the honorable engagement of providing for an independence you are also enjoying happiness and health. It must be a great comfort to you, to have your brother near you. A few plants, particularly the minute annuals, dried for me, will be always welcome, as likely showing new localities of rarer species, which would be recorded under your honored name in my works. Perhaps your young friends in the district would contribute towards your botanic collections from their respective homes.

With regardful affection for you, George and little Harris

4

Louise Wehl’s brother George Wehl was also associated with the post office at Appila for several years until 1887 (Adelaide observer, 27 August 1887, p. 16). However, M’s reference to ‘little Harris’ suggests that he has confused the marital state of two of his Wehl nieces; the oldest, Bertha, was married to George Harris and had several young children by this date, whereas Louise was not yet married.

yours