From Sister Marie-Dosithée Guérin to Mr. and Mrs. Guérin. December 11, 1870.
(....)
[r°] that on entering the Sarthe they (are they Prussians or French soldiers in rout?) saw the peasants coming towards them with buckets of cider and doing to them what they could. Finally we didn't repel the enemy like you thought there was no fight, they went somewhere else. That I'll be happy when it's over, maybe it won't be anytime soon, at least by God's will; and you, I am told that they are in the vicinity of Lisieux. September 27 and on January 28, 16, seven of the Carmelites of Lisieux had dispersed to their families or friendly monasteries. All returned to their community on March 1870, 20).
I would really like them to spare you their visit, so how are you going to deal with the new establishment (La drugstore, bought on May 16; cf. letter 113, n. 3) that you were to start on the first of year, the weather is not favorable.
However, in the midst of this general desolation (...)
I let the little girls write to you as [v°] they wanted without correcting their drafts (Pauline's letter has not been preserved) and although that is not good, I thought that you would be nicer to know their true feelings than to send you nice phrases that aren't theirs. Marie tells you that her behavior is not so good as in other years, it is true that her character has shown itself a little more, but nevertheless she is a good girl and has such great goodwill, and such a loving heart that 'one could not wish for anything better, she is also always ready to accuse herself and when she sees me there are endless confessions, even that not seeing me often enough she sends me small tickets...
