We have a bright beautiful Sunday morning— I had hoped while in Munich to go regularly to church, but I have now about given up going—it is difficult to get seats & I think I should not understand any thing of the service scarcely—

Clara has been brought in to me now for the second time from the nursery she is so full of mischief that Rosa often gets to her wits ends with her—and yet she is a good child with no bad spirit in her—she has the meekest way when she is brought to me, (her Aunt Clara calls her the pious fox) and as she stands before me smiling a deprecatory smile and with her eyes cast down, occassionally looking at me out of the corners of them, I think she is the prettiest most bewitching culprit in the world—after a little spatting I have sent here over to sit perfectly quiet by her Father and think over her sins—she has picked up the big German dictionary and is playing baby with it—trouble, or her sins can not effect her for long—and yet she has a lovely, gentle nature, but she does delight in teasing Susie & Rosa— Little Bay has had a terrible cold & bad cough, so that for three nights I was very anxious about her—now Susie has one of her very bad throats—but it does not make her sick she runs about & feels bright & happy—but it is a very bad looking throat— We are well cared for here and have a good doctor—

Mother you have all done a great deal too much for us for Christmas—I thought you would not think of doing anything we are so far away— Sue’s Christmas came this week—it was all too much—too much— I shall write her about it next Sunday— Of course I have all the time wanted to do with you all just as I generally do—but I decided some time ago to send just some little photographs and things that would go by mail— When your letter came saying what you were going to send, and then when Sue’s letter came with her gifts I was quite overpowered and felt as if I must send more than I had at first planned, but soon decided that it was wiser to hold to my original plan—so you will simply recieve some little remembrances from us—that can go by mail—

I think that I shall get for Aunt Clara from you a large picture that she has admired very much it is a photograph of one of the Kaulbach cartoons of the Goethe Gallery it looks almost exactly like a pencil sketch—it makes a picture as large as your Sistine Madonna. She said the other day that she could not think of anything that she should like so much to have I thought at once that that was just the thing for your gift to her—so unless she admires something else more I shall get that for your gift to her—

Evening—

I started this morning full of a long letter to you—but the dear little children bothered around until lunch time and I had nothing written, then as it was so bright & beautiful we decided to take a drive— We had a wonderful drive through the English gardens—there was a wide stream there tumbling over stones, and an other one that had a thin crusting of ice over it—then the effects of snow on the ground, on the great old trees & on the light bushes was marvelous it seemed like Faery land—was that hazy look in the air that is so marvelously beautiful— I came home & sat down to write my letter the childrens letter to you—but Mr Clemens took my place & sent me to my room— When I came I found that Susie had written you and Bay her aunt Sue—last Sunday when I was writing Sue Clara wanted to write you—but I said it was Aunts Sue’s day, now today she wanted to write her Aunt Sue—

This evening I had planned to finish my visit with you, but from six o’clock until a few minutes ago when I resumed my letter we have been working over little Clara who has had a terrible ear ache— I am afraid it is going to gather for it is very sore & she can not lie on that side—but it is such a comfort to have it some trouble that does not frighten one—no throat or lung trouble—

Aunt Clara came out to dinner tonight wonderfully dressed up—she wore here fine black silk—lace cuffs on the out side—a dainty blue turquoise necklace & a light blue bow on her hair to match her necklace— It is the first time that she has worn it—it is very dainty and pretty—she sends much love to you—

I must say good night Mother dear perhaps I will add a line tomorrow but I some what doubt it—for tomorrow comes a German lesson & I want to get the little packages off by mail if I canm—

I feel as if perhaps there was a letter of yours lost on the German steamer as I have had only the one from you since we came here—it is now more than two weeks since I heard from you—

Good night with deepest love