Letter from Mrs. Martin CF 105
To his daughter Pauline
July 9 1873.
My dear Pauline,
Since I am not at your Second Communion, I want you to receive a letter in order to console you a little for my absence and, to console myself for it, because I deeply regret not being able to attend. I would be so happy to see this beautiful ceremony of which my dear Pauline is a part! But, I attend it at least by the thought and I unite myself of heart to you.
I was very sorry to learn that M. Vital Romet had not delivered my letter to you until a week later; this is the second time it's happened, so I won't give it to her again, I don't want to make you cry anymore.
I don't know if Miss Pauline Romet told you that her nieces wouldn't go back to boarding school at Le Mans; you may not like it, because you will no longer be able to go out on the first Thursday of the month; your godmother only went to Le Mans because of her nieces. As for me, I'm not sorry, especially if Léonie goes to the Visitation at the start of the school year; I would have feared to disturb this good young lady too much.
Céline is learning to read well, but she is getting smart as a little devil! It must be said that she is only 4 years old and, thank God, I come to the end easily. About him, here is an amusing story; Last night, she said to me: “Me, I don't like the poor! I answered him that the good Jesus was not happy and that he would not love him either.
She resumed: “I really like the good Jesus, but I will not love the poor, never in my life; then I don't want to love them! What does that matter to him, good Jesus? He is indeed the Master, but I too am the mistress. »
You can't imagine how animated she was, no one could make her listen to reason. But there is an explanation for his hatred for the poor.
A few days ago, she was on the doorstep with a girlfriend, when a poor child passing by looked at them with a cheeky and mocking look. This did not please Céline, who said to the little girl: “Go away, you. Furious, the latter, before leaving, gave her a well applied slap, her face was still red an hour later!
I had encouraged her to forgive the poor little girl, but she has not forgotten the incident and declared to me yesterday: "You want, Mom, that I love the poor people who come to slap me, that I have my cheek all inflamed? No, no, I will not like them! »
But the night brings advice; the first thing she said to me this morning was to tell me "that she had a beautiful bouquet, that it was for the Blessed Virgin and the
good Jesus”; then she added: “I like the poor now! »
Farewell, my dear Pauline, see you soon; if you're counting the days, I'm counting them too, because I long to see you and kiss you at my ease. Your father told me to kiss you well for him too and he asks you to say a little prayer for him today.
