Letter from Mrs. Martin to her brother Isidore CF 19
18 November 1866.
I received your letter which was long overdue, my husband regretted that you did not write; I thought, like you, that it was better to delay to have something new to say.
It pains me that you still think about the little fights we had together. It's just all that, I forgot about it a long time ago. I know you for a long time and I know that you love me and that you have a good heart. If I needed you, I'm sure you wouldn't fail me. Our friendship is sincere; it does not consist of fine words, it is true, but it is no less solid and built on stone; neither time, nor men, nor even death will ever destroy it.
Marriage should not put a distance between hearts and I am quite sure that your affection for me is still the same. As for mine, it is doubled, I still love you very much and my little sister-in-law as much as you (Mr. Isidore Guérin had just married Miss Céline Fournet on September 11, daughter of the pharmacist he succeeded). You don't know how happy I am to think you made such a good choice. Before your marriage, I had, I told you many times, a lot of anxiety about your future, now I think your happiness is assured. I think, as our dear sister from Le Mans repeats, that you have always been lucky and that the good Lord has constantly protected you in a visible way.
I wonder if my plan to go see you will ever come true, I encounter so many obstacles that I dream of them at night. So, once, I was leaving and I saw my husband who was gloomy, saying that I was leaving him in the embarrassment. The next day, I told him about my dream, he replied that I had dreamed the truth. He didn't need to tell me, I knew that. It's also true that it's not easy for me to be away, especially because of my lace business, and then, when you have to leave four children for a fortnight, it's a bit long. However, I really want to escape, but I don't know how; if I could go and come back in the same day, it would already be executed.
I have just returned from seeing my little Joseph (Marie-Joseph-Louis was born on September 20, 1866. The child was nursed by a farmer's wife from Semallé, Rose Taillé, known as the "Little Rose" who later also raised Thérèse ). Oh ! the handsome little boy, how big and strong he is! It is impossible to desire better; I have never had a child who comes so well, apart from Marie. Ah! if you only knew how much I love my little Joseph! I believe my fortune is made!
Kiss my sister-in-law for me. Tell her that I sincerely love her. As soon as possible, a little letter would give me so much pleasure!
