From Mr. Guérin to Mrs. Martin.
On December 28th, 1868:
My Dearest Sister,
I still have recourse to you to beg you to find us a cook. For many reasons that it would take too long to list here, ours is leaving (in 8 days). If you know of one, I would ask you to let us know as soon as possible, I went to Paris a fortnight ago and I did a lot of shopping there for my pharmacy and, among other things, toys for your little girls. . There are two work sets which are for the two eldest – A small railway for the third and a game for the 4th. This game is played like the lotto. Letters replace numbers, it's for learning to read. As for the railway, we take [1v°] the locomotive and its tender and we bend them like this so that it turns in a circle, we attach the wagons by their hook, we put the boiler on the locomotive and the driver to his little tram then using the key, we go up the spring which is next to one of the wheels, we remove the key and the train leaves by itself. It can be made to go straight by putting the locomotive straight with its tender, but it would run into the walls and break. I'll put it all on the railroad tomorrow. I take this opportunity to wish you, Louis and your family a year as happy as I wish for myself and that is saying something. What I wish you above all is rest, peace of mind and heart and good health. Believe me that my wife is half with me, she loves you far too much, dear wife, not to desire you everything that can be useful and pleasant to you.
[2r°] We hope to hear from you soon and above all you will tell us how you find your two eldest after having seen them, because I really hope that you will go and get them. Kiss them well for us and say a thousand kind things to our good dear sister at Le Mans for us.
Your devoted brother who embraces you wholeheartedly.
1. Guerin.
My wife and my little girl are doing well ‑ My wife has been a little tired for 3 weeks, she has had a sore foot which has had a lot of trouble healing.
