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Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Thanks Bob for the 'delightful Christmas present' [this year's "From the Shiffolds?"]; he knows how much she appreciates being given poems by the writer, which she 'miss[es] & hunger[s] for out of the past'; Is going to stay with the twins [her daughters] at Christmas; hopes to get to Okewood in early spring and to visit Bob and Bessie then. Is a 'lot older now but that is suitable'. Sends best wishes for Christmas and 1950. Quotes a few lines of verse [from Bob's book?] in a postscript, calling them 'a blessed Christmas thought'.

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berks. - Thanks Bob for the 'little book of poems' [this year's "From the Shiffolds?"]; he knows how much she likes it when a poet gives her his poems, a thing she 'miss[es] & hunger[s] for out of the past'. Is going to the twins' [her daughters] for Christmas; hopes to get to Okewood in early spring

Westridge Farm House, Streatley, Berkshire. - His and Cicely's thanks for Bob's book ["Aftermath"]; commiserations on the loss of the stock of Bob's "Collected Poems" [in a bombing raid]; his own "Painting in the Far East" 'suffered the same fate", but this does not matter much as he does not think it would continue to sell. Has been told that authors whose stock has been destroyed by enemy action will be able to claim the royalties they would have received at the end of the war; not sure whether this is true and it is not particularly consoling. Praises "Aftermath"; knew some of the poems already but many are new. Shares Bob's feelings and admires his 'fortitude', though does not think reason is as 'sufficient a stand-by' to him as it is to Bob. Thinks he likes "A Custom of Thrace" best, but is not sure; mentions others he likes. Glad Bob is continuing to write.

He and Cicely were very worried about their daughter Helen at Bath [which suffered Blitz bombing over 25-27 April; Helen was working there in the Admiralty's mapmaking department], but received a message from her by telephone that she is safe, as is Riette [Sturge Moore]. Expects the Moores will have already heard their daughter is safe; supposes they are still staying with the Trevelyans. Expects Oxford and Cambridge will be next to be bombed, since he sees the 'Germans announce they will attack every building that has a star in Baedeker'. They have four grandchildren living with their mother at Oxford. He is 'struggling with the a poem, "The Ruins"' but is currently 'stuck'; it is 'intended to be a cluster of poems each in a way independent but related & forming a single poem'; sends the first section [no longer present]. Thinks Trevelyan manages his 'new kind of blank verse very well' and it seems to suit him, though Binyon was 'glad of' the rhymed pieces as a change. Does not like 'these easterly gales', but is happy to have 'so much sunshine'; their garden is 'rather lovely just now'. Sends love to the Trevelyans and the Moores.