From Sister Marie‑Dosithée Guérin to Mme Martin.
V. + J.
From our Mother of Le Mans
The 18 August 1868
Dear sister,
I thank you for the determination you have taken (the entry of Marie and Pauline into boarding school at the Visitation of Le Mans), it is certainly the Holy Spirit who inspired it in you and I hope that he will bless the efforts what we will do to make these dear children virtuous. Upon receipt of your letter, I immediately went to find NT h. the assistant (Our good Mother being ill and unable to take care of anything) who welcomed me with extreme kindness, telling me that she was ready to make any concessions for the good of your children; so we put the price of the pension at 600 Frs for the two little girls, you will also have the costs...
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dear we will put it to you at less. You see, dear sister, how good we are here for you and that [1v°] I would be very wrong not to devote myself to my dear community which has so much kindness for me and my family.
I'm sending you the prospectus, you'll see what to do for the trousseau, although you don't have to give everything that's marked on it, as long as they have enough laundry to wait for it to come back from the laundry. , I even advise you to bring them yourself in order to find a laundress, if you do not have them laundered at home, because I find that the laundress of the house by taking 50 Frs per year for each child is a bit expensive , it seems to me that by paying everything for each object, it would not rise so high.
On the leaflet they ask for nightgowns, you can replace them with white camisoles and even I have seen children have nightgowns and colored camisoles, do as it suits you best; for the collars, to your (...) 4 veils but I believe that half would be enough, small children go much less to the choir than the others, for the large veil of tulle, I [2r°] believe that you can expect first communion; the black aprons you could give them a color but I think a black apron with a bodice or a blouse would be better it would be less messy, one or two would suffice the two black woolen uniform dresses, one warmer for the winter , and the other less for the summer, if you want to give only one to start - 3 capes (sic), the little ones only wear them on Sundays to go to the choir, so one or two at most will be sufficient; for the prayer books you will give them what you want.
I advise you, dear sister, to provide the bedding, it will cost you less than subscribing, for the bedside rug it doesn't need to be beautiful, I assure you. The chilly ones are marked in black wool but if you have colored ones, they can wear them very well.
We want the children to have closed pants, a short dress like the ones they wear; a corset is enough; they wear clogs to go to the garden in winter and even in summer when it's humid, but generally they don't have foot warmers, their classrooms are well heated.
When I went to ask the 2st Mistress of the boarding school for a prospectus, she was very happy and told me to tell you that she would like my dear little nieces very much, she also told me that she [1v°' ] had sent a prospectus to Mrs. Clouet who wanted to put her second daughter with us, I would be very happy about it, it could save you trips, when she came to pick up her young lady on the XNUMXst of the year and at Easter, she could take the yours and his agent could also be yours.
I think that when you have only three children left at home, you could do without a maid, my Father would have a cleaning lady for him, and if you had trouble doing everything, by giving something to the housekeeper she would help you; believe me, take as few good ones as you can, it's too hard to get decent ones.
I think that you have no reason to be alarmed by the disturbance of your little Joseph, his temperament will only be the better for what you believe (In a few days, the facts will give the lie to this confidence. Cf. letter 75) , he will purge himself of all the bad moods that small children often have, and then he will become strong like Léonie.
As for me, you would be wrong to be afraid for my health; it is quite true that for 7 or 8 months I thought that I would not go far, my appetite did not return and finally I could not recover but for more than 15 days, I feel completely recovered, the my appetite is very good, I'm [3 r°] only taking a nap, anyway I'm very well. For the issue of your children I think it will be quite early to send it in 15 days by Isidore, the start of the school year is only October 8; you will answer me by my brother or sooner if you want, if you find the pension too expensive.
I ask you to kiss my dear little Father well for me, I hope to see him in 15 days if his health permits. Also kiss my brother-in-law for me and tell him that I hope to see him more often now.
I'm happy about it, it will give her some distraction from coming to see her children.
Farewell dear sister and friend, believe that the Lord and I love you very much, give thanks to our good Savior for the favor he grants you for your children.
I embrace you with all my heart, your loving sister.
Sr. Marie Dosithee Guérin
From the Von Ste Marie
DSB
