From Sister Marie Dosithée Guérin to Mme Guérin, her sister-in-law.
G+J
From our Mother of Le Mans
May 30, 67 - Ascension Day
Dear sister
You may have been surprised by my long silence, my intention was to write to you after Easter, it was Zélie's trip that delayed me, she was supposed to come to see me much earlier and I wanted to give you some news . So she arrived and left the day before yesterday.
Her visit gave me an impression of sadness that will last me for a long time, she has so much torment with her Alençon stitch, her health is far from good, add to that hard work, going to bed [I v°) late and getting up as early as 5 a.m.; she would need a maid, whom she will have great difficulty in finding, the one she has now takes great care of her children and is polite and of a good character, which is already a lot (this is by Louise Marais), but extremely disorderly; so that everything is upside down with my poor sister who has hardly time to take care of it, I would really like to find someone I can trust for her.
I found her little girls to be nice, Léonie very turbulent, but they are often the best; in short, she needs patience, and I find myself much happier than her, who nevertheless would not like to change with me.
Dear little sister, you gave me great pleasure in your last letter, by informing me of your recovery, please keep me well informed of your health and that of my dear Isidore; I am happy with your happiness and spend my life thanking God (2 r°] for the graces He grants to all my family and particularly for what this dear brother has found in you the companion that I have wanted for him for so long, and who, by making his happiness here below, will still contribute to his eternal happiness. I dare to ask you for a small share in your prayers and in your affections, you can be sure of finding it from me, the cloister does not destroy the affections, on the contrary he perfects them by sanctifying them.
Dear sister, I would be very happy if you were willing to accept an introduction to the devout life (Work of Saint Francis de Sales published in 1608) that NT Mother allowed me to offer you, be kind enough in your first letter to tell me if you have one.
My health, although weak, is very good; it is not the same for everyone NT h. Mother is still ill and since the beginning of the year she has almost always been in the infirmary, it is a big cross for us although I nevertheless hope that she will recover, we (2v°) are doing a big novena which I hope will be fulfilled.
Dear sister, answer me as soon as possible and let me know about you and my brother, especially about his progress in good. In the meantime I embrace you with all my heart and am always
your loving sister
Sr. Marie Dosithee Guérin
From the Von Ste Marie
DSB
165*
