Horatio W. Parker (1863-1919)

TRANSCRIPTION

Horatio W. Parker
Trinity Church¹

Boston, Dec[ember] 25, 1893²

My dear Fred:³
    Your beautiful gifts would
embarrass me very much
if I were not quite sure of
the lovely, generous nature
which prompted them.
I sincerely wish that anything
of my handiwork could give
you the pleasure that yours
has given and will give us.
As that is impossible just
now, I thank you heartily
and wish you a continuation
of all the good things you
now have and as many more

Page Two

as you want.
A very happy Christmas
to you and Mrs. Fred.
Mrs. Parker was horrified to
count seventeen berries on
the mistletoe.⁴
I am sorry there were not
seventeen hundred and live in
hope of accounting for
at least a few more that there
were then.
We send you both our best
love
Affectionately,

H.W. Parker
 

NOTES:

1. In 1893 Parker accepted a position as organist and choirmaster of Trinity Church in Boston. In 1902, Parker resigned from Trinity Church to take an organist position in New York.

2. Monday

3. Identity undetermined.

4. Probably an allusion to a tradition associated with mistletoe is that when one stands under a sprig of mistletoe, he or she may receive a kiss for each berry that is taken off the sprig when a kiss is given, but when the berries are gone, the kisses must stop.

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Rev. 01/06/2005

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