Dear Minna,
True, I had been expecting a letter from yourself to-day, but must e'en write you without it, that you may be instructed in good time how to start getting something pretty played you on the Paris hurdy-gurdy upon Christmas Eve. Accordingly I've written you out the necessary directions on the accompanying sheet; you will soon find your way. — Agreeably to orders, the other small presents will likewise have been delivered to you in good time, I hope. Pay nothing; it is settled that I defray all that here. May my good intention to give you a little surprise for Xmas be received by you kindly! Gasperini trotted round a deal with me to buy the bonnet: so you'll receive a voucher of our united taste.
Luckily I haven't spoken to a soul the last 4 days. I had to go to Flaxland's last Tuesday (Madame Flaxland has put up bonbons for you): Lord knows how weak I am now! in short, at the end of dinner they served us ice-pudding; on the top of it I had to discuss that loathsome Dresden publishing affair (!!) for three hours at a stretch. With that I ruined my digestion and everything, had a ghastly night, and have sworn to look up no one more till I feel perfectly well again. God, it's a wretched life! — My only hope is in my work. —
But I had also forgotten to answer you re Beust. I retrieve it by allowing you a free hand to do what you think fit: that is to say, you must behave exactly as if you were doing it on your own account. For my part at least, I truly am not in the humour just now to do a mighty deal of cringing there! They're really too, too contemptible, and if they amnesty me, you may be sure they won't do it for my sake — or yours — but merely for shame's sake, and because at last it's got to be. —
Since I've been here (where I — purposely — haven't yet seen my Ambassadors) no news has reached me from anywhere except yourself. God knows if Alwine is hatching something: I wrote her quite calmly and clearly from here again. — If Pusinelli were to order you Wiesbaden for this summer, that would suit me nicely: I hear one can live quite agreeably there and — relatively — cheaply. Ah God, how I'm longing for a last den of one's own! Only take care of Jacquot: one must have a couple of good dogs then, and if possible also a horse. In the streets here I do most of my talking with horses, for instance on the cab-stand. When the good beasts flinch, prick up their ears, shake their heads and begin stamping their feet, I'm as pleased as a child. I've quite taken the dear omnibus-horses to my heart. —
Frau Schott writes me to-day that the things for me are on the road: I have asked them also to send me an old Chorale book and a collection of old folk-songs, which I should like to have handy. — I have not yet looked after our things here: I dread it, ah! and above all talking. Silence does me such good!
And now I'm hoping for a speedy letter from yourself; I've little matter for writing — remember that. Nothing whatever has happened to me; I read and work, take my walk, now and then go to a minor theatre in the evening to win a good night's sleep. The other day I was at the Ambigu with Czermack, whom I had met on the Quai.
So farewell! Have a tolerable Christmas, and if things are bad with you, reflect that they are not going grandly with your husband either! —
The very kindest Christmas greetings from me!
Source: Richard to Minna Wagner: Letters to His First Wife, trans. William Ashton Ellis, Vol. 2 (Charles Scribner's Sons, 1909), No. 225