Letter from Mrs. Martin to Mrs. Guérin CF 55
1er may 1870.
...I'm taking back little Céline on the 21st of this month. I went to see her on Easter Tuesday and noticed that the nurse hardly nursed her anymore and that she gave her food that was too coarse: she boiled big bread for her in milk. That poor little thing took two or three spoonfuls in front of me, she can't swallow it.
Anyway, I have nothing better to do, I believe, than to bring her home quickly. What misery to be forced to put your children in the countryside. So I don't want to hear about it anymore. I am determined to keep the one that will come in August. What annoys me is that I will be a long time without going to see you and that will prevent me from being godmother; I nevertheless made a big party out of it.
I thank you a thousand times for the beautiful dress you sent me for little Céline. I'm going to make her a little matching condom. She will be pretty as a love.
I took my granddaughters [Marie and Pauline] back to Le Mans on Friday; the aunt is doing very well. She has learned a great deal about you and asks me to extend her friendship to you. Marie still has the Cross of Excellence this trimester. I am well deprived of my two eldest. You can't imagine what it costs me to keep them away from me, but you have to know how to make sacrifices for their happiness.
