Letter from the Robinson Family papers, dated 1871-01-04

[plenty] to do- and [?] does every one who can dr[?] decently.__ I have not yet been to any of the great [?] sto[r]es, but have [?] a good many paintings in mind[?] __ [?] of graphs and flowers but [?] to [?] my dea[r] little Wife's.__ I got the Mi[?] Poem for Ann yesterday, and [?]ack's Almanac, and today K[?] =[?]kas Black Pete[r?]. The first is not to well illustrated [?] I[?]pe[?], I [just] [?] [?] [compare] with N. E Ball[r]d's, I think_ The Almanac is [?]y [?]ast =y, and a [stupid] affair. The [picture] in Black Pet[e]r as [?] graceful + pretty , as all Ko[n?ska's] as.__ We have had delightful weather since I came, bright and bracing, and not what [?] should call cold in Vermont, though yesterday and today have been quite [?]h[?] for the[?] l[?]tit[?]. I took [?] m[?] cold evening, and f[?] [?] [?ell] [?d], though I [?] than sad

Good night, sweethart. I love thee - know it! +++++ 1-4-1871