Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of January 28, 1872

Overview

Fog, snow, and frost replace the previous day’s brightness, and the household turns inward. The narrator works on penciled sketches, hears good news from a letter about Hins in Berlin, and takes Fidi into town to buy cakes for an evening gathering with her daughters. Their enjoyment is short-lived because Loldi falls ill, and the festivity has to be cut off. A frightening knocking later in the night leads to alarm, vigilance, and a restless sleep on a mattress in Kathchen’s room.

Content

Sunday, January 28:

Everything vanished: mountains, sun, blue sky; fog, snow, and frost! I ink in the penciled sketches. Lusch writes to her grandmama and receives a letter from her with good news of Hins in Berlin. Drove to town with Fidi; bought cakes for the evening party, having invited my four daughters to tea. Much delight among the little ones, who dress themselves with the utmost elegance. But we soon have to put an end to our pleasure, since Loldi is unwell.

Toward half past ten, after I have finished Tasso and am going off to bed, I hear a loud knocking, and Fitzo barks; I call Kathchen, who had already heard the noise and was up; we look around, but see or find nothing; great fear. I have my mattress put on the floor in Kathchen's room and sleep, or rather lie awake, thus.