Letter from Mrs. Martin CF 90
To Mrs Guerin
March 30, 1873.
I am sorry for the fire that you are announcing to me (On March 27, Mr. Guérin's Drugstore had been set on fire, opposite the Pharmacy). When I think of all the trouble my brother went to organize his drugstore and see all his wasted effort in an instant; it takes a lot of faith and resignation to bear this setback without murmuring and with submission to the will of God.
For me, I feel the repercussions of this misfortune; that, joined to the tribulations which I already have, deprived me of all courage. I just wrote my granddaughters a letter that doesn't go
hardly make them happy; I speak to them only of your disaster and the miseries of this world. It is true that everyone has their own cross to bear, but there are some for whom it is heavier and you have already begun, my dear sister, to realize that all is not rosy in life, the good Lord wants this to detach us from the earth and attract our thoughts to Heaven
Yesterday, I was filled with these feelings when I went, accompanied by the doctor, to see my little Thérèse who is still very ill. we will only be happy when all of us and our children are reunited up there” and I was making the sacrifice of my child to God.
Since Therese has been in foster care, she has always been in good health, she has even put on a lot of weight, but the irritation of the intestines, which was only drowsy, has gone up in her throat and chest since Friday. When the doctor saw her, the child had a very high fever, however, he told me that he did not believe her to be in danger.
Today, she is better, but I have serious fears, I believe that we will not be able to raise her. My first little boy was like that, he was doing very well, but he had stubborn enteritis which he couldn't get over.
Finally, I did everything in my power to save my Thérèse's life; now, if the good Lord wants to dispose of it otherwise, I will try to endure the ordeal as patiently as possible. I really need to revive my courage, I have already suffered a lot in my life; I would like, my dear friends, that you were happier than me and I see with great sorrow that pain is also coming to visit you.
I hope, my dear sister, that you will not be long without giving me details of your accident and telling me how you are going to settle down. I know you put your trust in the good Lord, that makes me believe that you will get out of this bad deal much better than you think.
Mme Tifenne seems much happier than you, she lives only for luxury and pleasure, she gives mid-Lenten balls, and yet, would you believe me, I would rather see you with your adversities than you. to suppose, like her, to forget Heaven for the short pleasures of earth.
Adieu, my dear sister, embrace your dear little girls well for me, tell my brother that I am going to ask for a novena to the Poor Clares so that the disaster will be repaired quickly and do you the least harm possible; finally, for everything you need.
