My dear Friend,
In order that I may really close the old year with something pleasant, I answer you immediately after receipt of your kind good greeting!
You dear Righteous, all of you, and especially our Joint Head-righteous Zeroni! Accept the heartiest wishes from me and mine!
Health, spirits, fun — in short — what people call the gifts of God and Nature — are good. Here and there a little hanging and throttling, but — always with the best intent.
Beautiful, quite beautiful, was your kind visit, you two Chief-righteous! Only, bring the Mesdames Righteous with you next time!
You shall soon have all particulars about the progress of our preparations.
A good year to you, is the first wish of
Your
trusty
Richard Wagner.
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner to Emil Heckel, with a Brief History of the Bayreuth Festivals, trans. William Ashton Ellis (Grant Richards, 1899), No. 51