Merry Xmas to you both. We all send love, & no news—which, according to the proverb—is good news. Ben—as Jean calls Clara—is kept abed this monrning because her voice sounds croupy, but that is merely precaution, she may not have anything the matter with her. Livy is very well indeed; & so are the rest—including Patrick’s 7 children.

(But all of this it was useless to say, for none of it will be true when it reaches you. In these electric days, the man who sends news by letter exposes the fact that he is not a young person, but is an old one, with & old in the & set in the habits & superstitions of a bygone time)

Livy & I beg to enclose to you & Sam $10 apiceece for Christmas whisky.