Mother dear, the Satsuma ware is exquisitely beautiful. One likes to sit down & study each stroke & tint & delicate line in it & as we do a with a marvelous picture. We thank you much more than we can put on paper, you may be sure of that. The two quilts are too lovely for indiscriminate use; I shall use them myself, exclusively. I think that that dainty Japanese fish came from you; & soⒶemendation I will thank you for it, anyway, “jus’ e’ same.” TheⒶemendation Emperor’s handwritingⒶemendation suggests yours, foreignized.

It was a wonderful box you you people sent, & we had a charming time making discoveries in it. I have taken Ida’s House Beautiful & Baby Days & Ik Marvel’s Book, & shall give Livy & the children copies of my works in place of them. Theodore could hardly have sent me a book more to my liking than Miss Martineau’s Western Travels—I am charmed with the calm way she sharpens the hob-nails in her No. 13s & walks over our late fellow citizens. I am considering whether

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Well, we are having a pretty booming sort of a Christmas, both in the library & the nursery. We send you all a power of love, & the merry wishes of the season, with prayers for many happy returns.