Wordsworth, Mary (1770-1859). - Letter, from Rydal Mount, to Jane Marshall, Headingly near Leeds, dated 26 December (postmarked 1838). WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 2 / 124.

Rydal Mount. Dec. 26th <1838>

My dear Friend

Our dear Sister talks of writing to you herself, but as her intentions are not to be depended upon, I must myself at once acknowledge the safe arrival of your friendly Birth-day offering - I wish you could have been present to see the exultation which sate upon the changed countenance when I was summoned to her room, & saw the contents of the basket spread at her feet – the basket it having been opened in her presence by Dorothy; who, pulling out in triumph, one bird after another, & eagerly going on still searching for more – your old friend (in her waggish way) observed, to her – “You’re sure to find the eggs they have laid by the way.” This habit of bantering, which now is not unfrequent with her – so different to her character in former days – shows a great change. Yet a wonderful acuteness & quickness of mind – And indeed, we all think that in other many respects her mind is less feeble than it was, & certainly

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her memory is improved - & for a much longer space we can keep her interested by conversation, tho’ her uncomfortable habits are still as bad as ever. Her bodily health has been remarkably good – except that within the last two days – owing to her having eaten some trifle, in which she is not generally allowed to indulge – her stomach has been a little disordered – so that we find it is quite necessary to be careful to confine her to such food as we know to be suitable to her. The Turkey at her request, was not dressed on Christmas day but reserved till tomorrow, that it may honour the board upon our Grandson’s 3d birthday, when he will be 3 years old – the family with his good godmother, Miss Fenwick are to dine at 1 oC his own, as well as “Old Auntys” dinner hour - & in the midst of our festivity the Chief Provider for our Feast will not be forgotten - As I am sure your old friend would be in your thoughts & heart, upon her own birth day – at Headingly.

It was a pleasure to us to hear of you all being so well at home & tho’ the report of your dear Sister Ellen was less favourable I trust from what you say nothing serious was threatened - & the news from Brighton too we were glad to hear – tho’ sorry for the anxieties that await

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dear Mrs Temple – but on her Husband’s account I think with you, that employment is the best thing that could befall him, -

We were very much pleased by the friendly tho’ transient visit, from your son James a short time ago - & the kind interest which in the course of conversation he seemed to take in the welfare of my dear William, (who you know has long been wishful for a situation of more full employment) was very gratifying to me. Poor W. came over from Carlisle to pass a few holidays with us on Saturday – You will be sorry to hear that he neither looks – nor is quite well – Some stomach derangement, which he cannot correct, has hung about him for some time; - & bearing in mind what his constitution has gone thro’, I cannot but be anxious about him – as I am for his sister, who neither gains strength, nor good looks – yet as she does not consider herself much of an Invalid, & takes her place & does as the rest of the family do, I ought to feel thankful – For Mr W. & myself, we are perfectly well in bodily health - & powers, beyond I think what most people of our age are blest with - & you will think that my husband’s spirits too, are more than usually buoyant when I tell you that at this early time, he talks of our going together for a short visit to Town in the spring. And of this I would say a few words to you my dear Friend – you must know then, that we have many invitations from both old & new friends – who wish especially for our – at least for my husbands – company. Among the first of these, I know we shall find, our oldest friends in Gros: St - & for my own part I should not feel comfortable in taking up our abode in any other friends

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house in London, till after we had visited your’s; provided your wishes, the time and circumstances suited your convenience to receive us on our first arrival. So that if you will, when your own arrangements are made be kind enough to express what will be agreeable to you – we can settle our own – when the important determination as to leaving home or not can be settled. – All this however depends upon the health, & so many other considerations connected with others as well as ourselves – that we do not with any confidence speak of the journey – so that I only mention it as a possibility.

We have good accounts from John, who is now in London in attendance upon his poor Wife, who is at present under the Dentist’s hands – The variety & amusement he meets with has, his Wife tells us, been as Dr. Jephson expected been beneficial by diverting his mind from his own uncomfortable feelings – we can only hope that these may not not recur, when the present excitement is removed. But we encourage the expectation that this may be so, from hearing that the state of nervous disability from which John has suffered – is such a common occurrence after Typhus. My Brinsop Brs. keeps improving – but you will be sorry to hear that neither my Br. nor Sister at Douglas are well – poor Joanna confined by Lumbago unable to visit Henry who is more seriously afflicted - & I fear declining, God bless you & yours – with a thousand thanks – my dr. friends affly yrs M Wordsworth <Rydal [[?]] Dec. 26th>

Mrs Marshall

Headingly

Near Leeds

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Object summary: WLL / Wordsworth, Mary / 2 / 124