Letter from Mrs. Martin CF 101
To his daughter Pauline
14 may 1873.
My dear little Pauline,
You will be very happy to learn that Marie got up and came to the table with us today; she ate a good little piece of steak and, if we had listened to her, she would have had a lot more. But, I only feed her while shaking, I'm so afraid of a relapse that could kill her! Your father is not as reasonable as me; I am very often obliged to prevent her from giving her what she asks for.
She was up for four hours. They installed her in a big armchair in the garden, then they put her back to bed; but she wanted to get up again to have supper with us. I fought hard for her not to do it, she started crying and the dad gave in!
I also didn't want her to take anything other than her vermicelli; yes, but she saw a lot of dishes on the table, which made her feel like it; his father gave him two bites of cheese, and then this and that...
They have just taken her up to her room; we help her to walk by supporting her under her arms, as we do for your little sister Thérèse; finally, I hope she will soon walk without support, I only fear imprudence. She still has a fever in the afternoon, I even find that she has it a little stronger today than yesterday, I think it's the fatigue of having been up for so long; but her fever did not prevent her from being very hungry and they put her to bed hungry.
We received all your little letters yesterday, and Marie was so happy about them! It was at 7:31 in the morning that Miss Pauline gave them to us. She came to see our patient with her sister, Mme Benoît; they spent a long time explaining to us everything you had said about Marie, who was very happy to see that you loved her so much. But she would now like you to rejoice in the thought that you will come soon, because it is agreed that your godmother will pick you up on May XNUMX.
So we still have fifteen days to wait. It's a long time, we all have a great desire to see you. For me, I can't take it anymore, I have to kiss you at all costs.
It just so happens that Miss Pauline is going to Le Mans on this date; I just wanted you to come that day. If you had arrived earlier, you would not have had any pleasure, Marie being still too ill, you would not have been able to walk with her.
I do hope that she will make her first outing on Ascension Day, to go to mass at eight o'clock. See, my Pauline, how happy we will be, and how well you did to consent not to come for the Easter holidays, you will be well compensated for it, I assure you.
Marie spent her morning yesterday reading all her letters and contemplating her beautiful pictures; she asks you to thank her companions for her and especially Sister Marie-Paula (First Mistress of the boarding school). She is very happy to have the Ribbon of Honour, but she does not know if she really deserves it and that casts a shadow on her happiness. She also begs me to tell her aunt that she loves her with all her heart.
