My dear old Willy

We were very glad to get your note this morning with so good an account of your examination, & of things in general. I trust the rest of the half-year—may go as quickly as this first week. What a curious thing infection is, yesterday Backy & Lizzie² plainly had got the mumps, & this was about as long since you had them, as your attack was from the time the Hensleighs³ were here. They have had it very slightly, even slighter than you, Etty & Georgy.—

I am glad you like the life of Napoleon; I thought it very interesting:⁴ I should be very glad to see you with more taste for reading; for by reading only can a man avoid being ignorant. A person, also, who reads on many subjects is interested in so many more things, & can talk so much more pleasantly than another who is ignorant: and the pleasure of knowing things always goes on increasing the more one knows.—

Georgy has learnt to slide & enjoys it very much, & goes down by himself to the village-pond: but this day’s heavy snow will stop sliding & your skating. Have you got a pretty good pond to skate on? I used to be very fond of playing at Hocky on the ice in skates. The weather is so bad, that I do not know when we shall be able to go & see the Crystal Palace building.⁵

Goodbye my dear Boy | Your affectionate father | Charles Darwin

Your note was well written