Letter from Mrs. Martin to Mrs. Guérin CF 54
March 27, 1870.
I was happy to hear from you, they were long overdue. I murmured against my brother, I believe that if he had known how much time I wasted watching the postman, for two weeks, and the disappointment I felt, he would have hurried a little more than he didn't!
I was worried about you. I would like to know that you are completely recovered; if you want to give me great pleasure, write to me as soon as you are no longer in bed, for you displease me there. I believe you dislike it so much yourself...
Me, I'm not in bed, but I'm not well at all, I often have a fever, to put it better, every day. I don't suffer much, but I have a constant headache and general weakness; I have no more energy, I cannot work with activity, I do not have the courage. Sometimes I imagine that I'm going very slowly like my little Hélène. I assure you that I don't care much for life. Since I lost this child, I feel an ardent desire to see her again; however, those who remain need me and, because of them, I pray the good Lord to leave me a few more years on earth.
I have missed my two little boys, but I am even more saddened by the loss of this one; I was beginning to enjoy her, she was so cute, so caressing, so advanced for her age! There isn't a minute of the day that I don't think of her. The Sister who taught her told me that children like her did not live. Finally, she is in Heaven, much happier than here below, but for me, it seems to me that all my happiness has flown away.
An event happened in our life which created a bit of a diversion: my husband's nephew (M. Adolphe Leriche) inherited a certain sum and he decided to buy our watchmaking fund.
The market should be concluded in three or four days and, if things work out, it will come into effect this week.
We don't know yet where we will stay; if we can't find it, we'll stay here until the house in rue Saint-Blaise is vacant. However, I wouldn't like to stay there, the garden is too small. Even if it means going out of business, I would have preferred a house with a large garden. I don't regret the jewelry store, we have more than we need to live and bring up our children well; moreover, I will continue the Point d'Alençon.
They brought me little Céline a fortnight ago; she comes very well and is very nice, but she is quicksand. I won't take her back until July, it would be too much trouble around her and I don't think she'll be able to walk alone for three or four months. I should always have it on my arms, I don't have the strength, and my maid doesn't have it either, because I'm lucky enough to have bothered myself with a plaster, she's still sick. ; I am sorry.
Another thing, to amuse you a little: there will be a big party in Alençon on Easter Monday, a regular cavalcade. We did a quest that brought in 10.600 fr. Mrs. Y. is making preparations of all kinds for the grand ball which will be given at the Town Hall on this occasion. I know a lot of young ladies who are upside down. There are, would you believe it? who bring in workers from Le Mans to make their toilets, in fear that the workers from Alençon will reveal their secret before the famous day of the demonstrations. Isn't this all laughable?
This morning I received a letter from my sister and the little girls; everything's good; they make a big fuss of coming at Easter.
