Ferdinand von Mueller

1

Letter not found. MS is an extract copied in Clara Wehl's hand.

9 Sept., 1858.

From Ferdinand we hear very seldom, I write about once a month & he answers two of mine with one! he has very much to do, therefor I expect little from him, I even asked him not to use the hours of midnight for me, they are so needfull for his own rest, as his letters are often marked, midnight! I know he loves us & would write often if he could & am therefor not offended & I am sure dear Clara you are not neither.

Our Station has been offerd for sale in the papers, of course privately & if George

2

Bertha's husband, George Doughty.

gets his price of course we leave it, nothing has been arranged yet were we will then go to; but time enough for that, it is enough that every day has its own care.

Georgie

3

The Doughtys' son, born 1857.

is more company now & since I can have a drive now & then I feel much brighter. I see more peeple to then I used to. My dear George feels very well, he has even red cheeks. Little funny Georgie climbes on the footstool & then says "dont fall" he clings to me tightly & says "Darling Dolly" — he is my Darling & my Doll! We think sometimes he is like Bertha

4

Bertha Wehl, born 1854.

in his manners, I would so like to see him with your children. — I am at last in a Crinolin , a thin skirt with 9 light wire hoops, I had to wear 4 petticoats to be anything like a figure & they are a great weight to my weak body; one light one will be enough with the Crinoline, I am quite looking forward to wearing it in the summer it will be so delightfully cool. Mrs. Montrey bought it for me, the mantle she bought I should not have chosen, it is an ugly grey with checked velvet border & hood. [...]