Dear Mother—It is a mistake. I have never yet coveted a seat in Congress—or in any other place where one must be always servant & never master. But if I had been a Congressman the other day, there would unquestionably have been one protest & one vote recorded against the defilement of the Capitol by an impertinent & offensive foreign political agitator. That is, I think so, but I may be mistaken, for moral coward & Congressman seem to be synonymous terms when there’s an Irishman in the fence. Livy is an invalid again in a small way, & doesn’t gad around or see company. The children are well & hearty, however. Love to you & Mollie & all, & Merry Christmas too. Dan Slote’s new engraving process made this picture of our house.