My dear Sarah

I have been very much pleased by your letter, which I must call charming.—² I hardly ventured to think that you would have retained a friendly recollection of me for so many years. Yet I ought to have felt assured that you would remain as warm-hearted & as true-hearted as you have ever been from my earliest recollection.— I know well how many grievous sorrows you have gone through; but I am very sorry to hear that your health is not good. In the Spring or summer, when the weather is better, if you can summon up courage to pay us a visit here, both my wife, as she desires me to say, & myself would be truly glad to see you, & I know that you would not care about being rather dull here. It would be a real pleasure to me to see you.— Thank you much for telling about your family,—much of which was new to me. How kind you all were to me as a boy, & you especially, & how much happiness I owe to you.³

Believe me | Your affectionate & obliged Friend | Charles Darwin

Perhaps you would like to see a Photograph of me now that I am old.—