Letter from Mrs. Martin CF 92
To his daughter Pauline, boarder at the Visitation of Le Mans
April 1873.
My dear little Pauline,
Despite the hope I had given you, I am very sorry to have to tell you that you will not go out during the Easter holidays, because you see, that is impossible, Marie has typhoid fever, this would be dangerous.
I know I couldn't prevent you from seeing your sister, I wouldn't have that courage, nor Marie either, she can't take it anymore; she talks about her "little Paulin" all day long, she would like to see you, and you would catch the disease. Here is what is decided:
You will come and spend a week in Alençon, as soon as Marie is convalescing; it will not be long, the doctor said that the illness could not last more than twenty-one days and he counts the beginning of it since the Sunday when she felt ill; thus, from Saturday in eight, it will be finished. We'll wait another eight days out of prudence, and then your father will come and fetch you; take courage, you only have a fortnight to wait.
I assure you, my little Pauline, that you will not regret it, you will be much happier than if you came just now. If you only knew how little pleasure you would have! I'm sad, always next to Marie, I don't even take the time to eat. What will torment me is the fear that you will be sad. If I knew you didn't have one, I'd be happy. I will write to you every other day until you come.
I have, this evening, a nun who watches over Marie and takes very good care of her; she tells me that her patient is in no danger; she is however very ill, this poor Marie!
She continually prays to the good Lord to heal her, because she is afraid of losing her prizes. On his recommendation, I'm sending you his box of paints so that you can have fun. I enclose a piece of thick green parchment. You will trace it and I will use it; I put cotton to use twice. You will need perfected No. 2 to sew “the trace”; I will try to send you some tomorrow morning. I know that you have so much fun doing the track for the Point d'Alençon.
If you don't like it, you won't. If you prefer knitting, ask your aunt to have you buy some beautiful blue and white wool, you can make stockings for Thérèse. And if that doesn't interest you either, buy some upholstery wool and make a nice little stool or whatever you like, or two more pictures for my desk, I need them.
(Pauline was then learning drawing).
Write me a little letter and tell me if you are sad? If you have any, it is better to come, we will do what we can to prevent you from seeing Marie.
Your father kisses you very much. He is also very afraid that you will be in pain.
My little Pauline, let me add that I am sending you some chocolate so that we can make you a cup of it every morning and also so that you can eat it for your snack. Marie is better, soon she will be cured and when you come, we will all go to see your little sister, as soon as Marie can bear the car.
If you came now, you would leave without seeing Marie, nor little Thérèse and hardly your mother. You should always speak low. We have to put Céline all day with Mlle Philomène (Mlle Philomène Tessier, friend of the family, who lived at the Prefecture, where her father had a job), because she makes too much noise. So you would be very unhappy.
I'll write you a letter on Easter Sunday, you'll get it Monday morning.
I recommend you, my Pauline, to prepare yourself well for your Easter and to pray well for your sister.
