Letter from Mrs. Martin CF 98
To his daughter Pauline
5 may 1873.
My dear Pauline,
I have no good news for you. Marie is not better at all. We are all sorry to see this illness continue like this.
Our patient cried a lot on Friday, she was distressed saying: “I want to see my little Paulin whom I love so much! I had a hard time consoling her and your father too. He is often next to her to distract her, and she is so happy when he is around; Suddenly, she is better! She has lost a lot of weight and will take a long time to recover.
Your father is leaving this morning for the Butte de Chaumont, to make a pilgrimage for Mary. He left on an empty stomach and wanted to come back the same way: he wanted to do penance so that the good Lord would hear him. He has six leagues to cover on foot.
I will write to you on Thursday and I will tell you if he has obtained the pardon. Miss Pauline will bring you my letter; she's going to her niece's second communion and her intention is to take you out for that party, if you're allowed.
Marie wants me to tell you that we saw little Thérèse yesterday, Sunday. We weren't expecting it; the nurse arrived with her four children at half-past eleven, just as we sat down to table. She put the baby in our arms and left immediately for mass.
Yes, but the little one didn't want that, she cried out loud! The whole house was in disarray; I had to send Louise (a servant of the Martin family) to tell the nanny to come right after mass, because she had to go buy some shoes for her children. I was angry about it, the little one would not have died to cry out.
Finally, she was instantly consoled; she is very strong, everyone is surprised. I walked her around and shook her so much to silence her that I got a pain in my back for the whole day.
Marie sends me lots of regards for you and for her aunt, she is more cheerful today. Here she is starting her night, she sleeps very well, I only get up once or twice. She talks every day about our country trip to go and see little Thérèse when you're here. It's agreed that I'll take a lot of bread, because she says she'll be very hungry.
As she is being deprived of all food at the moment, she has incredible cravings. She wants a three-pound loaf for herself when we take this walk, not to mention the jam cake; she seriously believes that she will eat her three-pound loaf and she says to the maid: "Louise, Mama will take a loaf for me alone." », Louise answers him: « It is a loaf of a penny, no doubt? But Marie gets angry when she hears about a penny loaf, she says to me, "Yes, I'll carry one in my pocket to eat along the way, but that won't stop me from eating my three-pound bread and more black bread at the nurse's. »
Good-bye, my Pauline, don't worry, I would really like Marie to be able to eat her three-pound loaf, but unfortunately she isn't there yet. Finally, let's hope that soon she will be healed, pray a lot to the Blessed Virgin for this.
Your father sends you a thousand kisses and I embrace you with all my heart.
