Darwin Correspondence Project

Beverley

12 April 1868

Dear Aunt Emma

I observed tears running down Baby's cheeks for the first time on the 6th of this month when she was 3 months and 2 weeks old, the nurse says she had seen it before but I have been watching pretty closely and that was the first time I saw tears decidedly overflow; in the last few days too she has learnt to make her first voluntary movement and solemnly and with difficulty guides her hand to her own mouth.