Wednesday, December 25:
Birthday greetings from the children, with wreaths and singing. I send them off to thank our “patron,” Herr Koch, for some nice toys, one of which, a boy doll, makes Fidi very happy.
Unsavory letters arrive for R.; requests for the Ride of the Valkyries and I don’t know what else, and on top of that R. is unwell. Recently he dreamed of a tooth which he tore out of his mouth and showed me, and which then turned into a flaming sword; I think: now all the troubles will arrive, having proclaimed their coming in advance!
Hans writes a nice letter to Blandine and sends his concert programs and nice picture books. Family lunch, at which Fidi keeps us amused. In the afternoon letters of good wishes from Prof. Nietzsche, Rohde, Karl Gersdorff, Marie Schl., the Brockhauses.
In the evening R., regretting that he has no present for me, tells me he had thought of having the Idyll published and thus earning for me 100 imperials. How sad that would have made me, my “sweet secret” thus betrayed!
A children’s party, at which I show our magic lantern. In the evening R. does not feel well. After I have read him something from an introduction by Freytag, I believe to Bilder aus der Vorzeit, he goes to bed, and I write to my father.
While decorating the tree yesterday, I once again noticed how wishing can hinder seeing: the empty places on the tree I could see quite easily when I had no glass ball or chain in my hand, but the moment I took them up I could no longer see the places for them!