Saturday, December 24:
My day is devoted to laying out the presents, which I do with melancholy; the report concerning our people taken prisoner in Pau, and starving, dominates my feelings, and I also think of Hans. At 5 o’clock R. returns from town, bringing Prof. Nietzsche with him, at 7 o’clock we light the candles. It is the first Christmas on which I am giving R. no present and will receive none from him—so that is all right. A telegram from Dr. Sulzer says he is accepting R.’s invitation and will arrive at midday tomorrow from Bern. Everybody is happy and content, our good Stockers think we have done too much for them.
The children blissful!