From Sister Marie‑Dosithée Guérin to Mr. and Mrs. Guérin.
V. + J.
From our Mother of Le Mans
the November 29 1868
Dear brother and dear sister,
(.... .)[lv°] This circumstance, my very dear sister, gives me the pleasure of replying sooner to your kind letter. I was indeed quite surprised to learn of your trip to Alençon (on November 15, for the signing in Alençon of the liquidation of the estate of Mr. Guérin senior). Zélie will have been very happy to see you again, it will have consoled her, she loves you so much, but unfortunately the good Father was missing there, he would have been so happy to see his whole family reunited, finally fiat. . .
Marie is very used to it and for a long time, she likes the Visitation, she is full of good will but she is difficult, she has an originality of nature which requires a lot of care; finally I believe that when she grows up she will be very good and solidly virtuous, in the meantime we will have to fight hard; however all her fights do not prevent her from getting fat, she has a figure of prosperity which is a pleasure to see. Pauline has just had a cold, we made her stay in [2 r°] bed, now she's fine, it's a pleasure to have this child there, everyone loves her, she's so caressing and so nice , if the good Lord leaves her on earth, she will be a happy mortal, she adapts to everything, she is always in agreement; when we wanted to get her up she was very happy. if they told her to stay in bed she was very glad and said that she was happy to be quiet; anyway, it's just like that, her little companions love her too and take part in all her little troubles; for me just to see her makes me happy as she is so cheerful and has such a good little manner; I however put her in penance today, I am not going to take her she disobeyed me, it is such a great chagrin for them these poor little ones when I do not want to take them, that it puts me in good penance too, but still it is necessary sometimes.
I see myself obliged to finish, I live in the hope of seeing all three of you next spring Isidore having told me that you were to be Godfather and Godmother of my sister's child. (a 7th child is expected at the Martin - Céline household. Mrs. Guérin will indeed be godmother, but the godfather will be Mr. Vital Romet).
Marie and Pauline join me in [2v°] kissing you and our little Jeanne who is so dear to us and whom we love so much; I hope you're doing well although you haven't spoken to me about your health, for me I'm quite well I'm not sick but I cough a little more it's my bad season it will happen like so many others.
Your loving sister
Sr. Marie Dosithee Guérin
of the Von Ste Marie
DSB
