Letter from Mrs. Martin to her brother Isidore CF 26
14 February 1868.
Your last letter made me happy, however, I would like your business to go even better, and I won't be happy until you can tell me that you put 8 to 10.000 francs aside every year; so try to write to me soon. In the meantime, we must take courage and not torment ourselves. I was like you, when I started my business in Point d'Alençon, I got sick of it; now, I am much more reasonable, I worry much less and resign myself to all the unfortunate events that happen to me, and can happen to me. I tell myself that the good Lord allows it like that, and then I don't think about it anymore.
You ask me if I will go to see you at Easter? I can't say anything, because I don't know what I will have to do then; Unforeseen things happen to me so often that I can't answer for anything. What is certain and what I promise you is that, if you cannot come in September because of the child or for another reason, I will go during the holidays with my two big ; it's rare that I can't find some free time at this time. However, it's up to you to come this year, but I don't look at it so closely with you.
I am very concerned about my sister-in-law about the dear baby she is expecting. It worries me a lot more for her than when it's my turn, because then I just don't think about it. I hope she is like me and that others care about her. When I talk to my husband about my fears about him, he tells me that he doesn't understand me, that everything will be fine. I hope so, but in the meantime, I would like everything to be over, and this month seems long to me.
I see with pleasure that no one has forgotten little Jeanne's trousseau. (My husband says it will be a little Jean). Me, I also thought of her, it's almost two months since I bought a silver rattle for her. As for trinkets, I don't know anything about it.
I saw little Joseph today; he was ill for nearly a fortnight; he is much better, but he has lost a great deal of weight and is therefore not very robust. He is kind as a small bouquet, he laughs like a blessed; he loves it! I would really like the good Lord to leave it to me, I beg and beseech him every day; if, however, he does not want it, he will have to resign himself. The nurse always tells me that he is going to die, that he is like the other little Joseph. I have to go and console her, but I don't see him dying, thank God! their sponsor. When we show the games, it's always him who gave it, and as for the aunt, they also want it to be a godmother!
