utograph letter signed, London, to Noel Moore, February 4, 1895
Gift of Colonel David McC. McKell, 1959
In this letter Potter touches on several topics including the winter weather, a pet cat, and the latest antics of Peter Rabbit. She wrote several letters to children with references to Peter and made at least three drawings of him asleep before the fire. She bought Peter in 1892, taught him tricks, took him on summer vacations, sketched him in a multitude of poses, and mourned his loss when he died in 1901: "whatever the limitations of his intellect or outward shortcomings of his fur, and his ears and toes, his disposition was uniformly amiable and his temper unfailingly sweet. An affectionate companion and a quiet friend."
My rabbit Peter is so lazy, he lies before the fire in a box, with a little rug. His claws grew too long, quite uncomfortable, so I tried to cut them with scissors but they were so hard that I had to use the big gardens scissors. He sat quite still and allowed me to do his little front paws but when I cut the other hind foot claws he was tickled, & kicked, very naughty. If he were a wild rabbit digging holes they would be worn down & would not need cutting.
Here are some rabbits throwing snow balls.