Minna trusts my style rather than her own, worthily to convey our good wishes for your birthday. But while I am writing, she is baking a cake. My better half, who is daily striving to be of more use in the world, has, as you will have seen from the Christmas dainties which you have not received, dedicated herself to bakery with uncommon success, while I, as you also see, am devoting myself heart and soul to improving my handwriting by the study of the Latin script. Thus we hope that, come what may, we shall at least get through life with dexterity.
Richard Wagner
Source: Letters of Richard Wagner, Volume 1, ed. Altmann/Hull (London: Dent, 1927), No. 147