Very many thanks to my son and daughter for their congratulations to me on my birthday! And let me say specially to Mary that the sweet fragrance of both words and flowers is filling my study to-day, and from time to time sending my thoughts away to Hampstead. My prayers also go up for both of you from time to time, perhaps oftener than you think. At breakfast this morning I was reminding the company . . . that when Moses entered on his eightieth year he was only beginning his best work. May it be so with your affectionate father,
