V. I.

Lenin

1914

246

KRUPSKAYA AND LENIN TO LENIN’S MOTHER

January 7

Dear Maria Alexandrovna, A Happy New Year to you, Manyasha and Anya, with
all best wishes for everything that is good.

We spent the European New Year’s Eve alone with
Volodya sitting over plates of curds, and the Russian New
Year’s Eve we shall not celebrate at all because Volodya
is going away for a month or six weeks to work in a library. [1]
I envy him a bit because our place is more like a backwoods
village than a town and I miss people quite a lot. There is
simply no one here to bother about and no one to take care of.

We do not seem to be able to make acquaintances among the local inhabitants.

Winter tried hard to get going here, Volodya went skating three times and tempted me to buy skates, but the
weather suddenly turned warm, all the ice melted, and today, for instance, there is a real smell of spring in the
air. Yesterday, too, was not at all like winter. Volodya
and I went for a long walk in the country and it was fine.

That, then, is all our news. I embrace you fondly, Mother
sends regards.

How are your eyes? Did Anya come as she intended to?

Keep well!

Yours,

Nadya

Mother dearest, I embrace you fondly and wish you a Happy New Year—
you, and Manyasha and Anya!

Yours,

V. U.