Into your Christmas stocking I have put my first-born,
knowing that you will accept it with all its faults (for
grandmothers are always kind) and look upon it merely as an
earnest of what I may yet do; for with so much to cheer me
on, I hope to pass in time from fairies and fables to men
and realities. Whatever beauty or poetry is to be found in
my little book is owing to your interest in, and
encouragement of, my efforts from the first to the last, and
if ever I do anything to be proud of, my greatest happiness
will be that I can thank you for that, as I may do for all
the good there is in me, and I shall be content to write if
it gives you pleasure.
Jo is fussing about,
My lamp is going out.
To dear mother, with many kind wishes for a Happy New Year
and Merry Christmas,