Letter from Mrs. Martin to Mrs. Guérin CF 66
29 may 1871.
When I received your letter last week, I was in bed with violent headaches, which lasted two days; impossible to stand up. I was happy not to have embarked for Lisieux, what would you have done with me? Anyway, now I'm very well in body, but not in mind, especially this morning; everything that is happening in Paris brings sadness to my soul, I have just learned of the death of the Archbishop and of sixty-four priests shot yesterday by the Communards. I'm totally upset.
I'm also worried about my brother. I even worry about it, it's like a nightmare that follows me everywhere. I see that he is overworking himself for his Drugstore (Mr. Guérin had recently annexed a Drugstore to his Pharmacy) and works like a galley slave without earning anything, that worries me excessively. I would very much like to see you happy. . You have so many expenses at home! It seems to me that if I had to manage a house like yours, I would lose my head and, moreover, you will still have a child! The good Lord has chosen the wrong door, because I, who have lost my youngest child, would be so happy to have another one; but no, I won't have any more! No need to wish for it now. I will never console myself for the death of my little Thérèse, it very often prevents me from sleeping.
That I regret not being able to lend you money at this moment; we do not receive a penny of our rents on the Chemin de fer and the Crédit Foncier. For the latter, my husband saw Mr. Lindet this morning, who told him to put an end to it, that as a result of events, it was almost lost. Finally, what do you want, when this storm is over we will pick up the debris of what remains and we will manage to live with this little.
If my brother can borrow for a year, it is almost certain that we will be able to lend to him afterwards. We won't be long without getting seven thousand francs from a house and maybe we'll get more. I still do a bit of Point d'Alençon; we receive letters from all sides for marriages, and there are—and there will always be—rich people; that is why, if we are ruined, I still hope to be able to earn my living in this lace business.
