Letter from Mrs. Martin to Guérin CF 43
To his brother Isidore Guérin and his sister-in-law
January 1869.
I went to Le Mans to pick up the children. I found my sister in a pitiful state, she could hardly speak to me, she was so oppressed. It is always bronchitis which succeeds and which will end up leading her to the grave. I see this with the greatest sadness. I will lose everything by losing her, she is very dear to me and very useful to my children. My heart is very sad thinking about it. When I have to return to the Visitation when she is no longer there, my courage will fail me.
She rose to receive me. She had a blister on her chest and could only speak to me softly, so I left at two o'clock instead of three, to let her rest. That may be the last time I saw her, yet she's not dying; she was like this all last winter and she recovered in August.
I found the little girls very nice and very strong, especially Marie, who was even more beautiful. She has made a lot of progress, as well as Pauline. We are delighted with the character of this one, which is charming and makes everyone love it, but it is extraordinarily lively, which has prevented it, for nearly six weeks, from having the decoration called "rosette". and to be "Child of Jesus" at Christmas.
Marie does not have such a happy character, but she makes an effort, her aunt and mistresses are happy with her. Yesterday, my sister told me that she had to have several big bad teeth pulled out and urged her to suffer without saying a word for the rest of Grandpa's soul. This morning, at eight o'clock, I took her to the dentist, she asked me if that would really relieve "that poor good father". dentist tells me he has never seen such a determined child.
However, he did not want to extract his bad baby teeth which, moreover, never made him suffer and explained to me the reason. Well ! she said to me as she left: “It's a pity, that poor good daddy wouldn't have been in Purgatory anymore. »
When the little girls arrived, the crate containing the toys was opened; they were all four around the table, and very happy. Marie and Pauline are delighted. The two little ones would be very happy with less. I thank you a thousand times, although I am sorry that you always overspend.
I wish you and my husband all the happiness one could desire on earth. A thousand kisses to little Jeanne, of whom I often think. I talked a lot about it to my sister, she told me: “I hope to see her next year. She seemed to want him very much.
Your letters are too short, you don't tell me if your business is going well and many other things that interest me.
