Letter from Mrs. Martin to Mrs. Guérin CF 25
12 January 1868.
I have received your letter as well as the box containing the children's gifts. I begin by scolding you, I have the right to do so: I am the eldest. So I'll tell you, like the year
last, that you are not right to incur similar expenses, that annoys me, I assure you, you must become more reasonable in the future.
When I saw all this unpacking, I didn't laugh, I murmured; but there were four of them who weren't like me, they were laughing very hard and were quite surprised to see that I wasn't happy, especially Marie and Pauline who find you so rich, so rich that they can't believe it no, they haven't stopped talking about your fortune since Thursday!
Today we had a lot to do with all these beautiful things; there was an exhibition of games and a complete dinette to show off the pretty porcelain household; it lasted almost two hours. The children have never had so much fun, Pauline said this evening: “Oh! what a pity that the day is over, I would like to see this morning again! I was not entirely of his opinion, because I had a tough fight; I've been alone for three days with all this little kids; the maid is in her family, and besides that I have a terrible cold which gives me a fever. I can hardly stand; fortunately I have my father's maid who helps me a little. My little Joseph is growing like a mushroom.
