DODGSON, Charles Lutwidge (1832-1898). 'Lewis Carroll'.
Autograph Letter Signed ('Lewis Carroll') to a child friend, Mabel Burton ('My dear Child'), 1 page 8vo, Ch[rist] Ch[urch], Oxford, 23 December 1886.

'Often & often I've thought of writing to you in answer to your nice long letter from Germany: but oh, life is so busy! It's always seemed "I shall have more time tomorrow". Some day I'll write: but believe my love even if I don't! / Your loving friend / Lewis Carroll'.'

Mabel Burton, born in 1869, was at this time seventeen-and-a half, and studying the piano and languages in Germany. To quote from her 'Reminiscences of Lewis Carroll': 'while at Eisenach - Luther's place - I wrote to Lewis Carroll, but I do not believe that he replied, though I received a Christmas card from him ... From that time our correspondence was intermittent, Lewis Carroll was growing elderly, I was a young woman. But we did not forget each other.' Four years previously, Dodgson had lamented the passing of her childhood: 'Called on Mrs Burton, and had a short time with her, her daughter Florence, and Mabel, whom I should hardly have known: she has lost her child-beauty, and has her hair cut short' (Diary, 13 June 1882).
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