Galatz
23rd December 1881
My dear Eugénie,
I am too late to wish you a merry Christmas, but I send you these few lines to wish you and Julius a very happy New Year.
I hope the children are doing well & that all is going on prosperously with you. I have not heard much about you lately. How is Charlotte? I suppose she will have come to see you some time in the year. Hubert often speaks of his cousins & does not forget his visit to England. He is at last beginning to work a little, but he is not fond of his lessons & we don’t keep him much at them yet. He still grows very big, is fond of being out, now he is very happy skating & does it very well. He is kind to his little sister & they get on very well. Little Ethelwyn grows well too, though she is not so very big. She talks now quite well & is a very sharp little thing.
We are hoping to see Evelyn here in the spring. His child died a little while ago & that quite did him up & he is gone abroad for a time & is going to visit the Holy Land this winter. On his way back, he will come here.
Lionel has been in England since October with his wife. They are at St. Leonards & I don’t suppose they will return to America. He is not at all well but is improving in health & next year I trust he will be fit to walk again. And then doubtless he will get some position to suit him. I have had tolerably good news from Paris lately. Ned seems pretty well & Joe appears to be flourishing. Gus has started his factory. I have hopes that he will find it agreeable & profitable work. They tell me Father is wonderful when he comes to Paris & sets to his work as well as ever. I think he enjoys his present life. He has a certain amount of occupation &, I hope, no worry.
With love and best wishes from us both to you & Julius
Believe me
Yr affte Brother
Fred
