Autograph letter signed, Sidmouth, to Noel Moore, April 17, 1898
Gift of Colonel David McC. McKell, 1959
One of Potter's last publications, The Tale of Little Pig Robinson (1930), contains story ideas that first appeared in her picture letters of the 1890s. This picture letter is noteworthy for its fine illustrations and the curious account of the dog Stumpy, pensioned off for life by his grateful owner. Stumpy and his trust fund remained in the back of the mind of the author, who transcribed some details of the letter almost word-for-word in the published version.
My dear Noel,
Thank you very much for your nice little letter, and your Mother's too. I was so glad to hear you had both come away for a holiday. We are going home on Tuesday, after a good time here. We have lots of friends, and live in a house just outside the town, where it is all fields & lanes. There are such funny little thatched cottages, with sparrows