leen,--Some months ago I heard, from my cousin,
May Wilcox, that you were engaged to be married. And, ever
since, I have cherished the intention of writing to offer my
congratulations. Some might say, "Why not write _at
once?"_ To such unreasoning creatures, the obvious reply
is, "When you have bottled some peculiarly fine Port, do you
usually begin to drink it _at once?"_ Is not that a
beautiful simile? Of course, I need not remark that my
congratulations are like fine old Port--only finer, and
_older!_

Accept, my dear old friend, my _heartiest_ wishes for
happiness, of all sorts and sizes, for yourself, and for him
whom you have chosen as your other self. And may you love
one another with a love second only to your love for God--a
love that will last through bright days and dark days, in
sickness and in health, through life and through death.

A few years ago I went, in the course of about three months,
to the weddings of three of my old child-friends. But
weddings are not very exhilarating scenes for a miserable
old bachelor; and I think you'll have to excuse me from
attending _yours_.

However, I have so far concerned myself in it that I
actually _dreamed_ about it a few nights ago! I dreamed
that you had had a photograph done of the wedding-party, and
had sent me a copy of it. At one side stood a group of
ladies, among whom I made out the faces of Dolly and Ninty;
and in the foreground, seated in a boat, were two people, a
gentleman and a lady I _think_ (could they have been
the bridegroom and the bride?) engaged in the natural and
usual occupation for a riverside picnic--pulling a Christmas
cracker! I have no idea what put such an idea into my head.
_I_ never saw crackers used in such a scene!

I hope your mother goes on well. With kindest regards to her
and your father, and love to your sisters--and to yourself
too, if HE doesn't object!--I am,

Yours affectionately,

C.L. Dodgson.

P.S.--I never give wedding-presents; so please regard the
enclosed as an _unwedding_ present.

Ch. Ch., Oxford, _December_ 8, 1897.

My dear Kathleen,--Many thanks for the photo of yourself and
your _fiance_, which duly reached me January 23, 1892.
Also for a wedding-card, which reached me August 28, 1892.
Neither of these favours, I fear, was ever