Clara Barton General Correspondence Margot, Antoinette & Family Mar. 1871-Mar. 1889 to God to make the winds be silent and the sea peaceful as long as he was on the sea? And have to thank enough my so precious, so dearly loved Sister for her so delicate thought, when, after telling me that she will take her large trunk at Strasbourg, she add immediately "but do not think I shall not make you the promised visit. I shall do this." Had she foreseen the sigh and the ugly frighted frown of her little sister? Oh! how happy am I to think of so long a happiness! - If this can be a comfort for Mr. Atwater for not taking you home, promise to him that he shall have a good portrait; the first shall be for him. - But I must tell adieu! not the sad adieu of Burne's genre, but the hopeful adieu with the next: "au revoir"! Oh! this delightful word! And soon! How long it was, since the 8 September 1870, at 10½ in the morning I hope I shall come in the first days of next week, [6] 7 or 8 March, perhaps, but I shall write before, to tell it exactly, if I can; if not, I shall arrive without writing, since I am waited for. - It shall not be a monday or a donnerstag. - And now, let me kiss once more on the paper, the last for a long time, I dearly hope, your dear hands, so loved and so useful, so missing every where when you are away; adieu, my loved, my own inexpressibly precious Sister! My best regard to M. Atwater, and all my thanks to him to accept me as a little sister. - and for you, all the loving heart and kisses of your little sister, so proud of this name, and who will try to deserve it a little. - Little loving puss Antoinette Vuitteboeuf, 2 Mars 1871, in receiving my father's letter! All my dear ones send their best regards, and little Adolphe add to his, this flower. My beloved, beloved Sister! My own beloved Miss Barton! I do not know how to write: "I come", to put enough happiness in these two poor dear little words! Yes, I come! I shall come very soon, but not this end of week, because Maman is not quite well, and I wish to put her in the rail-road for Lyon when I shall leave for Strasbourg. Canon Krupp has done his good effet, and papa has surrended; I have also added my share of "bombes", etc, but I was not very confident in them. Oh! how to say how happy I am, how exultingly happy I am to think to kneel once more with my two arms around my own Sister, to hear once more her voice, such a music for my heart, and to kiss fervently once more her hand! -- Dear, dearest Miss Barton! How much you have been missing for your little sister, and how many tears are fallen on her pillow, is impossible to say! - All my heart only sanks in woe when I think how much dear Miss Zimmermann must be distressed, allthese days, dreading each hour as I did at Brumath where we were seeking a conveyance, and when I was praying God not to find it, - and at Bâle, and all this long way between Bâle and Berne, when I was looking, as I feared for the last time, on my asleep beloved Sister! All my strength was then occupied on being courageous, and have, not too saddened our last minutes; but, o Lord! what a suffering did each station brought[ing] to me! Now, what a happiness shall bring each nearer station! Poor Miss Z. is sure to find entire sympathy in her Suisse sister! I think I can accept all the disagreeable things of our little household, without dying of happiness for them! And though it is exceedingly "unhomelike", to be in the same room than my own loved Sister, I suppose I must submit to so disagreeable a proposition.- x Oh! how happy a spoiled child I am! Now, is it not truer than ever? ..... "Simple little puss" cannot find words to express her gratitude to her Sister, who is so good as to tell her she can be useful to her! It is such a want of your little sister's heart, to be useful in this life, and if it is sweet to do something for strangers, what is it when her noble Sister's kiss shall thank or x without making as the little boy blue: "bue bue, not, ere, - oh? I am too happy to think I shall be in your room! I have been so long alone! so much wanting my dear, own Angel of a Sister! -- reward her, each evening! - And you thank me for my coming to you!! when all my heart was bounding all the winter for the wish to come! Oh! I can Miss Barton! no words are strong enough for me to thank you for accepting my services! It is so good of you, so like you, to reassure your little one about her usefulness; but I can promise faithfully that all my thoughts and efforts, and good willing shall be at your disposition, and I shall do of my best! And now, let me say how happy I am to think of your happiness to have Mr. Atwater near you! These words were the first that I saw when I turned the page of your delightful letter; probably because they were so happy to be written and to be read! I do so hope that he shall remain as long as you wish and than he, naturally, wishes also. It is so strange to me to think that I shall see some one audacious enough to tell Miss Barton: "Kitty"; I think little puss shall open wide her eyes, if she hears that! And how grateful I shall be to take by the hand the dearest brother of my noble, beloved Sister, the one who has so good a place in her loving heart. So often have I prayed for him, askingVuitteboeuf, 5 Mars 1871 - Beloved Miss Barton! Two hurried words to tell you that I shall arrive, if nothing [cross?] me, mercredi, 8 Mars, by a train near 6 in the evening, I suppose. - I shall ask M. Vischer what to do with my passe-port, and at which consulat I must go to have a visa for Strasbourg, (German consul, I think); and imediatly this done, I take the train to arrive near 4, 5 or 6; as I do not know the hours, I cannot tell exactly. To-morrow morning (4 1/2 in the morning) I leave Vuitteboeuf for Lausanne; I shall give the day to Charlay, and go for the night at Grandson; Tuesday, near 10 h. I shall leave Grandson for Bâle, arrive at 5, go at M. Vischer's bureau, at the consulat, and at my friend for the night; and if my passe port isready early enough, I shall leave wednesday near 10 in the morning, to arrive the sooner I can. - I do not know the hour. - At Strasbourg, I shall take a man for my things, and because I do not know the beloved rue des Bouchers, and oh! how happy I shall be when I shall feel my own, loved Sister’s kisses on my cheeks, and when I shall kiss her hand! - My trunk is packed, all is ready, and it seems only to me that mercredi shall never come! I send my Sister, my so dearestly beloved Sister, my most loving and most respectful kisses, with all my mother’s better regards. Soon I shall give them, instead of sending! O Lord! .... It prevents me to send a word more, it is impossible to write when, in three days I shall hear the voice! Perhaps shall I arrive before my letter! What a pity the telegraph will never take persons! Pardon me this so ugly, hurried and bad written letter, but I have no more paper, and my hands are to happy to write! Your own for ever loving little sister Antoinette . - Au revoir! Papa charges me to send all his respectful regards to Miss Barton; he has been so much moved by your dear letter that he has consented without a word against my dear wishes! He does not know your address and asks it; it is the reason why he has not yet answered. - One kiss more, as I cannot be happy without. Oh! in three days! ..... Sometimes I do not believe it! it is too much! .... Sunday, 5 Mars 1871 - [9?] in the fore-noon.What shall you do, tomorrow, and today, in this large Paris that I love so much? Oh! how would I look in a long looking-glass, and see a minute in a day the one so dear to my heart! How is M. Atwater? The travel has not hurt his throat, I hope? Had you something warm under your feet? and were you very tired? I hope you have had the covers, after a moment, and thus you have slept peacefully; you did want it so much!- But Amélie came to make the room, and as I cannot be quiet when she is with me, I will give you one kiss, but how loving! Oh! Miss Barton! if you would know how deeply your little one loves you! Adieu, dear, good, preciously loved Sister, my own angel! God bless you for all what you are for me! One kiss more on both your dear hands, and on your hair, and on the loved fore head! And may that kiss tell you not to be anxious about nothing here, but to enjoy fully your travel and your "séjour" at Paris, and to rest your self the best you can. - For always a little puss who loves and blesses you dearly! Your own Antionette - - Strasbourg, 17 Mars 1871. - Beloved, beloved Miss Barton! Only two words this evening to tell you not to be at all anxious about your dear work; the day has been very good, very busy, even Hayman was active, so you can judge of the others! But the first reasonable reason which makes me write this evening is that I do not know what is to be done with your letters and M. Atwater's; must I send them at Paris? I dare not do that without your instructions; you have one of the grande duchesse, I believe, of Carlsruhe with a crown and a M. on the seal, and M. Atwater one of the ligation of Berne, sealed with five seals; do you wish them at Paris? or must they wait you here peacefully in a drawer? Oh! dear Miss Barton! where are you? and why is your little room so large, so wide when you are missing?? Dear MissZimmermann and I have comforted one each other, in the way home from the gare, but, oh! how we felt ourselves two poor little orphan children on the foreign soil! _ I have prevented to day Amélie of disturbing the littlest thing in your dear bed, and this evening, I shall not feel so lonesome when I shall lean my head just where I can still see the "empreinte" of your so loved head; it is only this morning that I was kneeled near this same bed, calling in a whisper "Miss Barton", and kissing her forehead so softly that her dreams were not changed?... And now, after such a night and such a voyage, how deathly tired you must be! How much have we thought of you, to-day, poor Miss Z. and I, and how much the hearts of your twin little girls have followed anxiously their so beloved traveller! 18 Mars 7 p.m. - I was too tired yesterday to continue my letter, but now that I am quite restored, I want to kneel near my so beloved Miss Barton, and to tell her the events of yesterday. - Amélie has announced to Miss Z. and I that she has found a place of femme de chambre, by a lady who spent the summer in the country and the winter at Paris, and who wishes a young girl of Alsace, and specially a victime of the bombardment. - The place has been offered to Amélie, and she has accepted; she must leave in four weeks, and you shall have plenty time to find some other person. The other thing is that we are prayed to cut gilets specially, of all sizes, and pantalones, and bonnets de nuit. - The gilets are asked by Mr. Bergmann who came yesterday for that, and to bid good-bye to Miss Z. and to offer to me his wife's assistance if I wanted it. - I shall not want it at all. - He also invited me to come, one day, and see your buste and Suisse. - I am delighted with the proposal, because I dared not go without; perhaps shall I go au moment this evening - Oh! how I wish that your buste is good! I want to see something good of you Note: In Strasbourg, Clara Barton and other women volunteers made or distributed clothing to victims of the Franco-Prussian War. 'Empreinte' means 'imprint.' A 'femme de chambre' is a housemaid. A 'gilet' is a vest or waistcoat. A 'bonnet de nuit' is a nightcap. 'Pantalones' are pants or trousers. 'Au moment' means Antoinette may go to visit Mr Bergman 'right away' this very evening to see the portrait bust of Clara.my mother, with good news of all my little family, and this rentree that I will have later: "Little Blanche is always speaking of Miss Barton; she asks also why you do not return." You see, dear, oh! so inexpressibly dear Miss Barton, if my little children have been taught to love your name. So often it seems to me that your so loved name is like the one of Lord Jesus, sympathetic and attracting for the little ones, the weak, the poor, the sufferers, the sick. - Oh! so blessed, and so loved, and prayed for, is your noble name! Dear, dear Miss Barton! If you could know how much every thing here speaks to me a language that my heart bounds to hear! This morning, I received a letter of our dear Miss Z. and she told me, incidentally, that the box for the wood had been carpeted by your dear hands, and then I kneeled beside it and kissed it as if I could [seaze or senze?] on it the so loved hand that I would nestle on my heart for ever. Oh! dear Miss Barton! why is the life so full of separations? Why cannot be together those who love so fervently? Why is the heart so bruised and so tired by this little word of advice? All the life is an adieu, and it requires a great strength of hope Strasbourg, 19 Mars 1871 - My own, so dearly loved Miss Barton! Will you pardon to your little A. if she is already writing to you? She cannot do otherwise this evening; all is so silent in the house, and her heart is so full of her beloved absent that she wants to speak to her. Do not suppose that I am sad or too much lonesome than last Sunday, when I left you to go at the meeting; all the time, I was depressed by the fear of no more finding my so shortly recovered Miss Barton, when I would arrive at home. - I have not yet well realized my happiness, and all the time you were here, I believe that I had been quite overcome with the joy of the arrival. - Now, I am sure you wish to hear me speak of the work; well, yesterday, I had Caroline, Harriet, Martin, Schneider, and Hayman only the morning; they have cut 184 aprons, 106 bonnets (66 of No. I) 16 baraques, 26 robes d'infant. Only little Harriet did laugh and speak so much, disturbing Schneider who is always ready to be Do not also be anxious about my evenings and my nights solitary, dearest Miss Barton / When Amélie is gone, it seems to me as if, now, I seem alone with you, and I take my pen et all my treasures are around me, and I am happy with them. - I sleep in your dear bed, not to let it be too sad, and I tell to your pillow all sort of things; oh! how much it speaks to me of our so precious Angel! Note: 'Baraques' may mean pads for baby's cribs, as 'robes d'infant' follows it, meaning 'infant dresses or garments.'disturbed, that I did not know how to make her silent. Several times I looked at her, and tried to silence her without success; then, I called her from and in the other room, as if for a question, and very friendshiply, I told her that she was too much speaking and did loose her time; she was very [confused?], and quite well all the remaining of the time, and all the others also, who, I suppose, have guessed, by the change of Harriet's manners, that I had done some policy - I believe that another time she will take care of her tongue; have you never seen a child more talkative than her to say nothing If she had something to say, it is very different, but it is only for the pleasure of talking - M. [Schwerckund?] seemed to me very assured and satisfied by my execution, though he could not be sure of what had happened, neither the other girls; so would I. - To-morrow, Caroline and Smith if she comes, as I hope, shall be occupied with your dear things, and the others and I shall take the [papers?] and [consignes?] and I shall try to put some [oeuvres?] in Hayman's hand, and in Schneider's. - Do not at all be anxious about your dear work, so deeply loved Miss Barton. If you could know how all my heart is with it, and how much all my thoughts are with it, and how I overlook your dear work-room, you would be reassured, and could let your poor head rest peacefully and be refreshed. - Mme Eisenower is come to see me, to day, and when she learned that you were away for some days, the tears came in her eyes, and she told me: "Oh! then she shall never come again?" "Why?" - "Because the friends with whom she is now can never let her go." And when she said this, her little girl, a darling child, burst into tears, desolate in the heart with the thought of Miss Barton's departure. - I could scarcely comfort her. - Is it not pretty? . - M. Treuschel (?) is well, now, and has been here yesterday to see if you did want something. - He can continue his services, now. - The red and white little robes are out, now, and we have cut the same number of those little robes and of casques similar. - I believe that it is all the news of the work-room. Yesterday evening, I had at last a letter from to be able to see always the bright side of life. — All these thoughts have been brought in my heart by the appearance of the little vest gray of the gare of Berne, which is associated with such a pang of my heart that I do not like to be brought back to those days. — How much do I long to know something about your voyage; if you were very tired, if you have slept in the wagon, if you were warm enough, if your feet were cold, if all has been well, and how was Mr. Atwater; I do so hope that the voyage has not hurted him, and he has not got another fever fit; it would be too sad, in a hôtel. All my prayers, all my thoughts and all my love are following you at every hour. Do not you feel them? — I have forgotten to tell you, dear Miss Barton, that, if you did wish somebody who speaks english, a friend in Paris, I have one, M. Fisch, a clergyman, who has baptized me, and is remained a very good friend for us. – He has been in America just after the war, and surely knows and loves your name; he is half an American by the heart; and it isto him that I would go to arrive, by degrees to M. Jules Simon and Jules Faure. — If you want him, he shall be so happy! I do not know where he lives now, but in the rue de Madame, is a little protestant church of which he is one of the clergymen, and if you sent there a boy of the hôtel to get the adresse, you would find him very easily. — Go to him if you want a French man; I know you would be pleased to see him, and your name or mine would be a sufficient introduction. He would be so pleased to learn that his little A. is happy enough as to know you! And he speaks perfectly well in English; he always was the interpreter of strangers, in great meetings, at Lyon. — But, as I will not begin the other page (it is late), I will now tell the sad word of adven. — Adieu, so deeply loved Miss Barton, my radiant Angel! I send you a long and warm kiss, as fervent as my love! I send also my best regards to M. Atwater, with all my hopes that he is quite well, now, and able to enjoy the beautiful town of Paris; and now, once more adieu! And a kiss more, on the lovest hands. I would inseparably hold them in in mine! Adieu! my own, own Sister! For ever your little one who loves you with all her strength. — Pussy - Antoinette . Geneva. saturday night. 10 soir. [*[May 10, 1871]*] Beloved, beloved Miss Barton! I have seen your dear family here, and all of them have been so, so good for me that, if it had not been for the loved hand who had sent me to them, I would have been sorry of their goodness. - Mr. Jules's brother has accompanied me every where, and Mr Golay father, and Miss Elise, are so kind that I can only be deeply moved by all their delicate attentions. - How loved you are there, dearest Miss Barton! and how grateful was I to hear them speak to me of you with so much love. But now, I will relate all my day as it has pass - As I arrived only yesterday at 11 1/2 in the evening, I slept in an hotel, and this morning at 9 I was in rue du Cendrier, I shall write to morrow evening; to day I could not prevent me of relating my day, and my prospects. - My love to all; oh! how would I fly at Strasbourg! only for an hour! Do you remember my return from Kehl? It was such a comfort that, after having seen once more your so loved face, I could best leave you. Only 5 days and half of this! A long, fond kiss on your neck, on your shoulder, on your hand, and in it all the love of Pussy. -where I remained an hour. - When Mr. Golay junior accompanied me at the Consulate; we met Mrs. Hopton in the stairs; she said coldly she was going at the bath and would not be at home in the afternoon, and so could not receive me. Very disappointed, but not willing to renounce, I left her and was at the consul; Mr. Golay had just to speak to him, and so, we came together. - He was very good, very kind, and when I told him that I was very sorry not to see Mrs. Hopton, he only told me with the most encouraging manner: "come at 2 1/2 and I promise you that she shall be at home." - I left, and found the friends who had invited me so long ago; though I wished so much to accept the kind invitation of Mr. Golay, I felt that I must go to the others, and so did I. - At 12, I returned at Mr. Golay to dine, as they had been so good as to invite me. - After that, at half past two, Mr Golay would accompany me at Mrs. Hopton. - I had a good deal of trouble with her; she seemed to be indifferent, not to you, but to this work, and when I spoke of it, in the beginning, said: "Oh! yes, it is always the same Missy." Then, by and by, she became interested; and finally, she roused, and remembered that just a Mr. Dwight, delegate of the Americans who accompany an "envoi," is voyaging through France to learn the want of people; I will try to send him to you, and immediately that I shall have an address for my letter, to-morrow, I shall send him some details who shall, I hope bring him home; I have find here people who know him, and I have recoiled my departure for as long as need shall be. - after that, I left her and was at Mr. Appia. Oh! Miss Barton! if you would know how loved, how admired, how respected Note: "Hopton" is undoubtedly a misspelling of Mr. Charles H. Upton, American consul to Switzerland from 1863 to 1877, and his wife, Mrs. Upton. Note: "Mr. Dwight" probably refers to Mr. Edmund Dwight, a businessman and trustee of hospital boards in Boston who was supportive of Clara Barton. He established a "French Relief Fund" in 1871 in Boston to support victims of the Franco-Prussian War. In 1876, with monies left over from the French Relief Fund, he arranged a lifetime annuity for Clara Barton. Also in 1876, he arranged for Minna Kupfer, a Swiss friend of Clara Barton's from Berne who later married Abram Golay (the older brother of Jules Golay mentioned here by Antoinette Margot as escorting her in Geneva), to work for a year at the McLean Asylum near Boston. Note: Dr. Louis Appia (1818-1898) was a Swiss surgeon associated with the precursor of the International Red Cross in Geneva. Having met Clara Barton in 1869, he supported and encouraged her efforts to establish the Red Cross in the U.S. and to help her persuade the U.S. Congress to join the Geneva Convention which had been established in 1864.you are there, and with which happiness we have spent 1½ together, searching what could be done, with all the earnestness and enthusiasm of Dr. Appia, you would have been as happy as your little one. - He think that I must reach this Mr. Dwight, and write to him a letter which makes the work known to him, so that he must see you. If I knew how not to miss him, I would even stop in my way home, and go to him where he can be. I want him to go "at home," and all my efforts shall be done for that. Oh! how happy would I to go if I can not surely enough reach him by letters. Mr. Appia has invited me for to-morrow; he would have me to speak of you and your work to some parents and friends, and asked me if I would be afraid to speak before a little party who would be happy to hear of you just by the person who has seen you in your work the later. - I said that, in this condition, I would not be afraid to speak to a little meeting of your friends, and so, to-morrow, if the thing can be arranged, your little traveller shall answer of her best to as many questions they shall put. If it were not to speak of so loved a subject, Pussy would be scatted at the only idea of being listened by two persons. Good Dr Appia was very sorry to learn that Pussy could not accept his kind invitation; he wanted to see somebody who had seen you, and, of how well I can understand that! - Some other persons, who have learned some word on the work by the new of my arrival in their house, have invited me for the evening of the morrow, with the best society of Geneva, also to learn of the work, and I shall try to say some of those things which can notall turn to ashes - I do not think that all this shall turn to ashes; I know to whom I shall be introduced to morrow, and I am so, so glad! Only, you see that now I cannot say when I shall leave Geneva; if some other appointments are asked of me for the work, and if it seems that perhaps it can be good, I shall remain one or some days more. - The greatest thing to me, is to reach this American delegate; if I must go to him, I shall do that; and if I did reach him not to far from Strasbourg, would you scold me to much if I accompany him? Oh! dear beloved Miss Barton! my own precious, so so precious Miss Barton! To morrow also I shall see another thing: the Suisse secrety who is here charged of the relief of France's sufferers; I shall find the leader to morrow, or next, or next day again, till I succeed. - But I would prefer to reach America and my delegate seems to me the best way. - Mrs. Hopton is not disposed to take the littlest trouble, and I did not ask her to do that; only, I seized the name of Mr. Dwight there. Her husband is so handsome a face! and so good a man! - Mr Golay had been discouraged for me by the coldness of Mrs Hopton in the stairs, and told me so [that], when I returned so glad of my informations, after the second visit. - But adieu, now, most beloved Miss Barton, my so inexpressibly dear Sister! [If] Do you knew that I have find a good, delightful picture of you? In the album of Miss Golay is a little [profil?], reading, so sweet, so graceful, so angel like that I was started, and asked immediately to take it at a photographe, and I have ordered 6 of this sort, as good as possible. - And Note: "Hopton" is undoubtedly a misspelling of Mr. Charles H. Upton, American consul to Switzerland from 1863 to 1877, and his wife, Mrs. Upton. so, Pussy, at the end of the week shall possess six precious little pictures, and if they do not fully succeed, she shall have others and others, till one is good. Dr. Appia has made a little consult to me, and has listened my breath with a stethoscope and very carefully; and after that, he had said that the lungs are not injured, not scorched, and that I shall recover; but that I must be a good child, and keep my flannells all summer, and take medicine, and do all sort of things to [scat?] this cough, not to be [s..tted?] by it. - If you knew, dearest Miss Barton, what hard hours I have passed yesterday at Lausanne, during the work’s hours! I was at Lausanne, speaking freely with C. about our future, and feeling that my blood was stopping in my veins; but now, it is better, and I prefer always a known sorrow to an unknown. - We shall some time make a last trial, a last assaut, and after that, renounce to all hope if it does not succeed. - All his wish is our marriage, but this situation is painful, and he cannot support it longer. You told me, once, that you would see papa and speak to him; it is our only hope. - I will not go in my grave; I will bear my cross, and be courageous, but I feel a pressing wound not to think, not to remain still; then, all the pangs come together. - Adieu, dear, dear, dear, oh! so loved Friend! my own, noblest Sister! Your little one sees that perhaps she shall follow you in America; what a comfort is this though From my room at Vuitteboeuf, 18 - Dearly loved Miss Barton Your little Kity is now pretty well, and able to finish her travel without fears; but yesterday and the day before she was suffering as at Vendenheim. - She is now in her little nest of Vuitteboeuf, all clean and white with no puces, but she has however. Oh! how delightful shall be this nest, when it shall contain an other Kity! - Pussy looks here and there, and enjoys before hand the joys of the arrival, and this has taken away half of her disease. - Dear, dear Miss Barton! It seems to me that I see you in these wooden rooms that I love so much. - The coach shall be here very soon, and I must finish; give my love to all, also to the dear walls, to my little bed, to yours, to the shelves, which shall be so full when this letter shall reach them; how would I make the list. - To-morrow isthe work-day ; is it possible then there is only a work day since I left? How would I have you here, in these green sights! All is so green, so bloomy, so splendid! I can scarcely enjoy this luxury when I think that you are in a little room without sun. - I had sun, there, and for Pussy they were lighter that any other place; but you, who lightens you? ... But adieu! or I shall also miss the coach; I missed every thing in the beginning of my travel. - I hope to see Mrs Hitz to day. - Adieu, dear, dearest Miss Barton, Miss Barton so loved! I know no tender word than to say only your name. - I send you my love the more respectful, the more loving! Thank you for having made the dear curls from my last two days; it was so good to see them! Your little sister who loves you so much Kity. - [*drawing of basket*] Where Kity would be.I had never encountered somebody who did sigh after you as your little girls do, and though I find it perfectly natural, it was such a comfort for my soul, so sore when I arrived in this house. To have so much spoken of you, to have seen these two beautiful eyes radiant with joy and with emotion, at your loved named has strengthened me for to-morrow - Oh! Miss Barton! .. when shall I see you again! Must all the other days be as long, as heavy as this one? But Pussy will be courageous, and, if she cannot purr, she will not cry. - Is it really to-day that I have left you? And I am already home sick! Oh! I dread the other days! - To night, I am as in a dream and perhaps because I could so well speak of what fills my heart, but I do not so cruelly realise that I am now far from you; [of] if to morrow I could awake me at Strasbourg! - Will you, pray, send these lines to Mme Frey (our, not the wash-woman of the shirts); ? 15 May 1871 - Beloved, beloved Miss Barton! Every body sleeps, in my cart, and your little Pussy is too tired to be able to do other thing than to write to the only one to whom she wants to speak! Pussy is out of her basket, and though the day is hot, she is cold, uneasy, alone, so alone! She passes by the same villages than in August, but she passes back and alone. and that makes her heart so sore that she has shut her eyes to see no more - What are you doing, now, you, my precious Sister? - Dining, perhaps? I shall not dine to day, and am glad for it. I believe that I am near Mulhouse; but is too sad to say "I"; it is better to think that you are here, near me, and I will say we - Oh! when shall it be true? - Has M. Atwater told you what I have forgotten to say: that Mme Bergmann has a bed which can be folded in the day, and offers it to you for Madeleine? I am very glad of it - If you knew how long is the day, to day yesterday, it was so short, and every day is so short at Strasbourg, at Brumath, where you are. 10 1/2, night. - Where do you think we are, dear, beloved Miss Barton? We have missed still another train; we left Strasbourg at 1.45, but we were so long at each station that, when we were at Mulhouse, we found that we were obliged to remain there. The last train for Bâle was gone! And we are now in Mrs Dollfus house! Is it not delightful? Oh! if you were only here, how all this would be delightful! I have found Mme D. with a little girl of 5 weeks, not tied as a [str.k?], but well clothed like a christian little one; but dear Mme D. seems to me very weak; she coughs fearfully, and her cough seems to me to be severe, so deep and coarse - We have spoken of you till now, and she was thirsty to hear of you; she would have on her children an influence good enough and strong enough to make them like you; she asked me what were your principles in education, how you did, what you were when you were a child, and, oh! so thirsty, so feverish to learn from you how to do! This evening has been a deep joy from your little one, who, forgetting to whom she spoke, would talk as with a sister of the only subject upon which she could speak; she beggs me to send you all her love, all her respectful love, and to tell you that the evening of today shall improve her life for years, “shall be blessed for me for ever”, said she - Are you, as Jésus, passing from here to there, in doing good?.... She needs to see you, and exclaimed with tears in her eyes: “oh! if I thought that I shall see her one day again!” If you can give her a day, or some hours when you shall leave Strasbourg, you are very specially invited -it is some news of Paris, that I have received from several travellers, just arriving from Paris, and saying that the papers says much more than it is - Now, so, so loved Miss Barton, my so inexpressibly loved Sister, my Sister, my Mama, my Sun, my Light, you whom is remained all my heart, adieu! May a sweet sleep close your dear eye lids! I shall have, I have had no evening kiss, but I am glad of it, as I cannot receive the one I long for, My cough is sore, my back is sore, all is sore in me, to day - Please, say to Dorr how thankful I am to him to treat me as a sister I feel him so well to be a good brother for me! - I send my love to him - Also my respectful compliments to M. Bergmann, with all my regrets not to have seen him; do you know that Mme Bergmann sobbed in biding me good bye? - The "bombardement de Strasbourg" what is on your little table de [nuit?], is hers - Once more adieu, dear Miss Barton, dear, precious, loved Miss Barton! Kity kisses your darling hands; oh! how she would do it indeed; this evening she shall shut her eyes not to search the last look in blowing the candle - For ever the little girl who loves you with all the strength of her heart - Your own Antoinette - Madame Frey Mulhouse 15 Mai 1871 - Chère Madame Frey Je viens de parler avec des personnes de Paris, qui disent qu'on exagère ce qui se passe là bas, et que personne n'a été tué pour refus de marcher avec les insurgés - Le pire qui ait été employé, c'est la prison; ainsi j'espère que ces nouvelles vous ferontdu bien d'apprendre! Bon courage, chère Madame; j'espère vivement que le bon Dieu vous ramènera votre enfant en bonne santé - Votre bien dévouée Antoinette Margot Bâle gare May 16th 1871 - always Tuesday - Precious Miss Barton! Once more in the railway; once more leaving Bâle, once more alone - The day has been hard, so hard, so difficult; Pussy was nervous, feverish; and at Bale all things were bad - The only nearly good thing was the piazza - She would not go there, but find her self there, with Mme Vischer, without being able to be else where - Mme V- asked her if she remembered the first time she stood at this same place last August - and Pussy remembered too well, for she was just trembling of that as a leaf when the wind blows - Mme V- wishes so much Miss B. to come, when she shall be at Bâle, but not as Mme Dollfus - Mme D. goes in her bed at 7, and at 9, tries to sleep, often in vain; yesterday, Kity and her, forgetting the hours, spoke till 10 1/2; and when Kity saw the clock, she was very sorry for Mme D. But when this morning, on Mme D's prayer K. came in her room, at 6, to bid good bye, she learned that, for the first time, Mme D. had well slept, and felt her self calm and refreshed - "You have made so much good to me, body and soul," said she - And K. was most surprised; has she not been in heaven still the same day? Kity thought of Moses who put a veil on his face because it was shining - Olten 4 1/4 - Here we are, and we hear the cows of a next train calling one each other pitifully - You have just dined, now, I think, in the white little dining room; how is your stomach? Herzogenbuchsee 5 1/2 - I just see the dear little box that you have so well arranged; I was glad as to see a friendly face - At [Bâle] Mulhouse I have tied it with the cord, and seen that the dommage is exceedingly little; I have sent to [..?] a kiss, as she was purring near my window; she shall receive more than one, at Lyon - What o'clock can it be at Strasbourg? - Is it possible that the days are not really longer here; so they seem - While Pussy was writing this, somebody spoke to her; she raised her head, and find an employé who was so much like Dorr that her first thought was to kiss him. she did not, however - Bern, près Grandson 17. - So beloved Sister! Here we are, and sick; Pussy has a large, big fever, and was so unwell in the railway that she thought she would not continue her travel. - After a night spent at Grandson, and a visit of three hours at her sister Sophia, at Bern, she is a little [..?], and will now start for Vuitteboeuf. - Adieu, dearly loved, my precious Friend! I love you so, so much, My love to all, particularly to my dear brother Dorr. And for you, oh! all the heart of your little Kity! Kity would sleep always. - [*drawing of cat with eyes closed*]Lausanne 18 May 1871 - So dearly loved Miss Barton! I have seen yesterday Mrs Hitz, and she kept me all the evening, in talking of you, of the work, of Strasbourg; I think that I have said all what I wished to say, and after having been a little disappointed by the beginning of our conversation, I am glad of the end. She thinks that I ought to write to a paper published in New York, saying that she thinks that it would be a more powerful [organ] mean that those of Washington. - She asked me several questions which made me very glad, because they proved that she took interest in what I was saying - In the beginning, the work seemed to interest her very little; but now, I hope that she shall speak of it; she would send me at the consul of Geneva, without knowing that I was directed to him by your self.I have seen her children, little Gertrude, who sends a kiss, and little Pauline. - I am surprised of the likeness between Mme H. and Lizzie Perkins As for me, I had a hard day, with others than for Mrs Hitz; and all what was sweet and light came to your little one by you. Oh! how grateful was I to see your dear writing! It was such a star among my clouds! I can only see that my thoughts were true, though not fully; to day, however, seems less bad; but now I know what to do a little better. - It is to let go the things, to try, in good time, when the moment shall seems well chosen, a new and last effort, which shall settle the question. Charles wishes exceedingly to see you, on your way for Lyon; cannot you stop one day at Lausanne? But I must go now at Mrs Hitz; she wants to read the "courrier du Bas Rhin", and yesterday I had not it in my pocket. - Oh! we have also spoken of the "ballot", and I have spent a very interesting evening! Adieu, so beloved Miss Barton, my own inexpressibly precious Sister! My love to your dear brothers, known and unknown to me; and for you, all my heart! Your little Pussy for ever loving Antoinette Kity Pussy. Oh! if she would jump in it and tie the towel around her! Mrs Hitz says that she was just waiting since a long time for a letter. This after-noon the work; oh! how would I go! Adieu encore, adieu à tous. - Merci to Madeleine for her letter. I shall answer from Lyon. -[*May ? 1871*] So beloved Miss Barton! Your little one is at Bâle, and has been at Mme Vischers' house, and on the piazza; but this was too much. and she has learn there fully what meant the word lonely. - All my travel goes on badly; to day, Pussy is so tired that she wants to throw her self in a basket and to remain so quiet. But she cannot. - To day, she will go and sleep at Grandson, go very early at Brn, spent there some hours, and go for the night at Vuitteboeuf to leave next day at 4 in the morning. Is it possible, she does not know, but will try. - Where are you? What are you doing? Is it yesterday that I saw you for the last time? Oh! Pussy finds at each minute that her watch must be stopped.the poor watch which was always to fast at Strasbourg! Adieu, so dearly beloved Miss Barton, you with whom all my love remains! I kiss you on your so loved fore-head, on your hands; I would lean half a minute my head on your shoulder. - Adieu! I love you, do you know that? A tender kiss to my dear brother ; my love in the work-room, at Madeline, to the Bergmanns. - And for you, all the heart of your Pussy. - Bâle 9 Mai 1871 - Tuesday. 1 Sunday, Pentacost, May 19) 1871 - My own, beloved, beloved Miss Barton! It is Sunday, and though Kitty has only half leaves of paper, she can not always write to you without sending her letters, and she will perhaps send her half leaves. - At Geneva, I heard that the delegate, Mr. Dwight, (Edmund) was sick at Versailles, and that I could write to him by Mr. Washburn; so did I. - I saw also Mr. Appia who told me all sort of things, and particularly this: Friends of France's sufferers wish generally to buy in France the clothes for the poor of France, so that money and garments are on the same side; if they did buy garments at Strasbourg, the money would be within the German lines, though the clothes would be out. - Then, he thinks that the best would be to try to sell the clothes to the Germans, to be distributed among the poor of Germany, and let the work be German; but then, to leave Strasbourg and, passing the lines, to come in France, and found there another My love to all; I shall write to Madeleine very soon; Thanks to her for her letter. I have no flowers, to day. It rains. Are you at home?work which would be placed in a right situation all within the same lines, so that French workers and French poor would be sustained or clothed by it, and that money and clothes would all be in France. - He asked also if you would allow the clothes of Strasbourg, for the sake of your women, to be bought by merchants, who would sold them to rich persons, (and necessarily gain by that) to be distributed to the poor; [of] he says that, in this case, he is sure that they would all be sold very easily in Switzerland. - As for the work of Strasbourg, he would have German orphan houses, or hospitals, or military commissiares, to make commands to your work rooms, so that they are always occupied; and he thinks that if the Grand Dutchess received a word from you about this, the thing would be immediately done. - I promised to him to tell you all this. - Here, I have not yet seen any body; I find things to do at home immediately; but this week, I hope, I shall see M. Berry who is in England in this moment, and who is, 2 perhaps, I hope, a little occupied by my letter from Strasbourg. And now, let me finish to relate the end of my travel; I believe that the last letter I have sent to you was from Geneva, a Saturday? Next Sunday, Mr. Appia was sick and in bed, and would only send me a word with the pencil, begging me to remain all Monday. - Monday, we were together a long while, and it is then that he told me what I have repeated to you. I could not go by the train of 10 morning and the others arrived too late at Lyon; so I remained at Geneva till Tuesday, 10,40. M. Golay was at the gare, who helped me so well! Oh! Dear Miss Barton, how good they are! - Miss Elisa asked me to write to her, and to call her by her name, and to remain in their home instead of another home; Mr. Appia would also have me, and would go to take me out of my friend's house ; you see, dear beloved sister, that you are well loved! As I had telegraph from Geneva, I found Maman, the little boy and the little servant at the gare. - Itry to be as good as I can with this later, but it is difficult to be patient. I will try however to train her, and to educate her. She is very respectful with me, more than with others, and I attribute it to this: when she does well, I approve and advise as you with the first good petticoat; oh! what can do a little praise on each human heart - I have immediately undone my trunk, but all these dear little rose ribbons from Beck et [Gaehrs?], these blue papers of the Renaissance, tied by the loved fingers, take all my courage, and I could not untie all, so the little box of thread; yesterday, three times I would open it, but I dared not; I will sadden nobody with my sadness. - I try to be so busy that I can not think, and for that, I work as much as I can; I dread to take my brushes, because I shall think and remember too much; and then, sometimes I am so tired when "I lay me down to sleep" that I cannot sleep. - My cough is a little better; the good Dr Appia, hearing me cough (now I cough in the day, and not in the night) listened very 3 carefully my lungs, and after a great number of trials, declared that they were not sick, and that I should recover of this cough, but that I must keep my flannel all summer and take care of me. - But, what tires me the most is that, since I left Strasbourg, I cannot sleep on my left side, and must always be on the other. - That is more bad. I say nothing of it here, not to trouble my poor Maman who is very unwell; she is not sick, but looses her strengh, and grows thin; I am afraid for her ..... Oh! dear Miss Barton! Kity sees large lands of several sides. - Sometimes, it seems to her that an era of her life is gone, or nearly gone, and another begins; and Kity is afraid. - But she must no the afraid, and she will be courageous. - All my previsions about C. were true, and now, I know clearly what I shall do; I shall, once, make a new and last trial upon my father; if it succeeds, we shall marry; and if not, I ardently hope that I shall leave Europe for America; it is perhaps that, which shall be this new era? ....I have also seen one of my little girls of here, a little Caroline of 18 years, who was sick of sadness no more to see her little Maman; when she came here, Tuesday, I was afraid with her; she could only lean her head on my shoulder, and say nothing. - Sometimes, when I look before and behind me, I think that is is best to me not to marry; I can then be so much for a great number of persons; if married, if C. is jealous of Dodo, what would he be of all the others? Oh! how much I long to show you all those who love me here and that I love dearly, my little kingdom! It is such a dream to can hope to have you here, oh! dear, dear Miss Barton! At Geneva, I had the hope to go to met the delegate somewhere, and to take him at home my self; and then I was as happy as at Kehl when I saw that the train was gone and that the other train passed by Strasbourg. I do not know what I would have done without this half hour. - 4 And you, dear, dear Miss Barton, so beloved Sister! What are you doing? How are you? Do you sleep, now that I am no more coughing at your side? Oh! if only I had cough in the day, instead of the night! But no; here I am needed, and I must not be egotist. Does Madeleine sleep in the house? How much would I know all about you? It seems to me that it is so long a time, since I have left you; sometimes I think that I mistake, and that two days have passed since the morning; at Strasbourg it was always two evenings which passed instead of one in a day. I have not yet been at the hospital; perhaps next week. I want to go out of me self, and I feel so old! How much did I think of you, last Thursday, and Friday? Was the list better? And M. Keller more satisfied? Has Mme Frey some news of her boy? Oh! if I could spend to morrow with you! I have received here a delightful letter of Miss Zimmermann. She is so good! Not to be sent: to wait Miss B's arrival - LYON [09 3?] JUIN 71 LES GROTTEAUX Miss Clara Barton Care of Mr. Washburn Légation Américaine Paris Now, I shall send to you my letters by the Switzerland, as I cannot prepay them otherwise for all their way; and you shall not think that I am there for that. Where is Mr. Golay? I think he is gone, now? How glad you have surely been to see him! And him!... But now, Mr. Atwater also must be very near of leaving; Oh! if words could say how much your little sister thinks of both of you! and how much all her love and all her sympathy are around you during these last days, sad as agony and death! But now, adieu, you that I love with all the life of my heart; adieu, precious Miss Barton, my own, my noble Sister, you that I would name Sister only on my knees! I send you my love, my kiss, all my heart! I write to you every day, but I burn my letters, for I will not be tease you and sadden you. When shall I have, not a letter, but one word, to live of it till the next. I know each word of the billet of Lausanne. Adieu once more. - I hate this word; why must we tell it so often? For ever your loving little sister Pussy Kity. - oldest friend to know you! I am sure that you need no introduction; you only now, would say all things to this enthusiast heart. He has been in America several months, after the war, and is returned here quite American. Go to him for every thing, and you shall be welcome! His brother in law, Mr de Pressensé, is one intimate friend of M. Jules Simon, and by them, you could do every thing, and speak to who you should choose, even M. Thiers. - You can also send a word by an express to M. Fisch, and send this express to get the address at one of these Churches. - He would then come immediately to see you. He speaks English as an American, and is the man who could help you all this war, as I told you in Brumath. - I shall also write to him some words that you can give to him if you please. - He has a delightful wife; oh! if I could be with you in this Paris that I know so well! During the American war, they were so busy in preparing things for the negroes, that they 27. rue de Vendôme. Lyon. 3 June 1871 - My own, own, own beloved Sister, Maman! Kitty just received your precious lines, so, Oh! so waited for at each hour, and they are to tell her that you are gone to Paris; oh! tell me that it is not the way home, that it is not the beginning of leaving to return in America, that after a while you shall come, even from Paris! - If you have heard nothing from me from Geneva, it was because Kitty was, from hour to hour, waiting to see this one or that one, and that she had such a home sickness that she did not know what to become. - Here, the homesickness is always the same thing, and though she writes [each] evening letters to home, she never sends them; oh! dear, dear Maman! Little one cannot be well when you are not there; she is cold, and heart sick, and would that it was always night. It is so night, in her heart! Oh! I hope that Lyon shall fight and be burned as Paris, that Note: Jules Simon, French statesman and philosopher, was one of nine ministers in the new government formed by Thiers on February 19, 1871. Note: Adolphe Thiers negotiated the armistice with Bismarck to end the Franco-Prussian War, which included ceding to Germany the French territories Alsace and Lorraine. He had been appointed Chief Executive of the French Republic by the National Assembly on February 17, 1871. Thiers led French troops against the Paris Commune which followed, and he was elected president of France August 31, 1871 to May 24, 1873.you may come! No, do not scold me, I do not mean that really; but I am always obliged to throw away this thought, this wish. - How long is it that I have left Strasbourg? I have no idea of time, now; and I have ordinarily the impression that I am blind; my heart is. - No, do not scold me, Maman, Sister, Angel! All this, I did feel it cruelly, all this long winter and autumn, though I closed my lips not to utter a groan; but now I cannot do otherwise, and it seems to me that my heart would entirely die if I did not tell you: "Maman! your little child dies far from you! Tell her that once you shall come! that you are not gone for ever, that Paris is not the beginning of the too long adieu!" - But yes, you shall come, I know, I hope, I believe! You have promised! Your precious photograph, the one of after the war, reading, delightful, you-like, with the smile, with the stoopped eyes, the one that I know, the you that I always see in my dreams, is here! I have 5 of them, and shall want more! I have [none] one of them here, one there, that my eyes can see you every where; I have some also in my pocket, that I can look at them when there is only you and I in the room; one is near my bed, and has my first thought, and my last, when "I lay me down to sleep" .... Oh! I would not die in my sleep, though it shall probably be so! I would die with my hand in yours, and my last look fixed on you, as when I blowed the light, at Strasbourg! I would give immediately to you the address of M. Fisch, but I do not know it. You can have it in the little protestant church, named": Chapelle évangélique protestante, rue de Madame, 2. - near the Luxembourg. Another Church in which you may get this address is the Protestante Church, named in French: Eglise Protestante, rue Taitbout. The rue Taitbout is quite near the "boulevard des Italiens." There you can get Mr Fisch's address, and I can say that is always good to have it. - I know how glad would be myfriends and distributed among her poor. The universal reply is always: We wish to give work to French poor, so that the money they shall earn and the garments they shall sew shall all be in France. - Others ask if you would let the garments to be sold to merchants, in Switzerland, to be sold by them to Suisse's workers, or to rich persons who would distribute them. It would then be commerce, but would sustain the work. - Others asks if you would allow some of them to be sent in dépôt in two or three places, and the money would be returned immediately they would be sold. I promised to each of them that I would speak [of] to you of his idea. - I think that after the departure of your letter you have received mine with all these questions. - How long are the letters to go! But adieu! Dear, beloved Miss Barton! Adieu! Oh! when shall I have a letter, a real, precious letter? If you would know how I want it! I shall write to you soon, for I can no more write without sending nothing. - I love so much that no words can tell it! A long, long, kiss from your own Kitty! - would do nothing else. - And M. Fisch has written a book on United States, in which he speaks so much of the schools! He mentions some of them, and now, I will read over this book; perhaps shall I find your precious name in it? .. As for what I am doing, it would be of a little interest to say; I sew my grey robe of the Renaissance, is the most interesting; but not with the thread of the work room. - I cannot decide my self to open this little box, to untie what your precious fingers have tied; I have undone nearly all the other things, but it was hard enough! Dear, dear, inexpressibly loved Miss Barton, my precious Angel! Oh! when shall I have your blessed head asleep on my knees, near my heart! When shall I once more kneel near your chair and be so happy that I do not know why the Heaven would be happier except by the thought that happiness shall never finish!I am always the same thing. My cough also; but my teeth feels badly, and my back also. Some times I cannot be patient with Dodo. Oh! how lonely do I feel, sometimes! This morning, very early, I heard, in my sleep, that you were in my room, near my bed, bent on me. I could not open my eyes, neither speak; it was dreadful! Then thinking I was asleep, you went out and the noise of your shutting the door awoke me; I called you desperately: "Oh! Miss Barton! Miss Barton, do not go, I am awake!" But I heard nothing and could only sob as an orphan child who has dreamed of his mother. - All my dear ones are well; I think Maman is better since my arrival; she is happy, and cannot find words to say so. - I try not to let her see, think or feel that I suffer. - Why should she suffer by or for me? She knows that I have a wound in the heart, but does not know how large. - Do not think, beloved Miss Barton, that I do not appreciate my treasures Oh! yes, I appreciate them! But you know, you have seen, that I am the Maman of all of them, and that I want also a stronger [?] I to lean my head; I want a living soul that I can love from down to up; But I think that, if you have not received my first letter from Lyon, I must tell you the head things: your American delegate was kept in Versailles by an attack of asthma; and Mr. Hopton told me that by Mr. Washburn the letter could reach him perfectly. - When I did write. - Perhaps is he still at Versailles; Mr. Washburn can tell you. His name is Edmund Dwight, esq. I do not know anything more; I did engage him to go at Strasbourg. - M. Appia told me that two ideas came to him about the work: it cannot be French and German, and must be all on one side; the things must be sold to the German, and so it would become all German or another establishment ought to be founded in France and the things bought by France's Note: "Mr. Hopton" is misspelling of Mr. Charles H. Upton, American consul to Switzerland from 1863 to 1877.No 2: Not to be send, but to wait Miss B's arrival.- LYON 5s. | 4 JUIN 71 LES GROTTEAUX Miss Clara Barton Care of the American Legation Paris I thought that if something prevented you to get M. Fisch's address in the Churches (if they were shut by the Revolution) you could ask the address of M. de Pressensé, which you can get in every book store. - He and his wife are exceedingly celebrated in Paris. - Particularly in rue de Rivoli 174, in M. Meyrueis book store, (in which M. de Pressensé, and probably M. Fisch him self, prints his books) you can surely get the two adresses, and perhaps[...?] JUIN 7 [...?] [....?] A PARIS [....?] 71 A it would be better to go there first. By M. de Pressensé, you would have Mr. Fisch's address. My little boy prayed me to send you this ring that he has made for Miss Barton. - Pardon me to do that! he would be so disappointed if I did not! May I write to Miss Kupfer to ask Dorr's photograph? I would so much begin to work for when you are here! Adieu! you, so loved! All my love, all my life is in my kiss. Adieu, my Sun! my Light! Your blind kitty. in the task of finding good white wine for when his other daughter, when my own Sister shall be here; he is so glad to think of that, that I dared not tell him you were in Paris perhaps to remain a times long or short. - It is three hours of the after noon; it rains, and Kitty shall start in half an hour for her school. - She is happy to know that joy you know so well: to be waited for with an ardent, anxious hope; if you knew how loved is Kitty, little Kitty, in her little kingdom! She longs to present you, once, her dear pupils; it is a work, also, a useful work, though little, to learn to her 60 women (as she has in the winter) to read, to write, to count, to be clean and well arranged without spending more money. - Some persons are angry because I am not enough Sunday-like in my schools but then Kitty says: Have a Sunday school of your own, and do in it whatever you 27 rue de Vendôme, 4 Juin 1871 My own, so, so beloved Miss Barton! I just receive two letters this morning: one of Caroline, to announce me that you leave Strasbourg for ever, when I did not know, and of what I am very glad for your precious health, though I am sad also of it as of something finished. The letter of this poor C. was deeply sad, and very kind. - The other, is from the delegate Mr. Dwight, who is at Versailles always, and who is sick enough to be obliged to remain there. - I have reached him by M. Washburn, and if you want to see him, Mr. Washburn can give you his address. - He says that he had heard of your work but not with the details I gave and which interested him very much. And says: "There is a great distress here, and in the villages around Paris which have suffered terribly by the two sieges. I am under engagement to provide you, that you really love me! - But adieu! adieu, adieu! My heart is full of love, of kisses, of blessings for you! May God hear them! Adieu, loved, loved one! Adieu, my Angel! A long kiss on your fingers, the only ones I kiss! For ever your loving Kitty Pussyfunds for works similar to that organized by Miss B.-? . - Oh! how I long to know what you are doing in Paris. But promise me one thing: if you were sick, you would telegraph to me, and then I would come and nurse you. My lessons shall only begin in October. and all this time, at any time, if you were ill, I could go. - Oh! promise to me, will you? At Strasbourg, I felt that you had Miss Zimmermann, but at Paris, you are far from your children and they would be unhappy if they were not sure to be called. - Do you know that a very good surgeon told me once, after two months in which I had not passed a day far from one or another bed of sickness at home: "I would have you near all my patients! I should save half more of them." If you did feel weak, do not forget that you can have iron under this French name: teinture d'acétate de please, but she will do so." And the pupils of other schools, often come to her. Have I told you of the joy that had of my return the young girl who loves me as I or Miss Z. do for you? The poor child was quite out of her-self of joy; oh! dear Miss Barton, it is a precious thing to be so loved! My only sorry is that I am so poor a thing to be so loved; and I cannot understand why and how it can be so. - I long to show you beings good enough to love your Kitty. - Do you know who? .. I enjoy particularly to make my children happy when I am not; when my heart aches, I enjoy the thought: "Poor things! if I can give some happiness to them, let them have it!" - And when I see their eyes so happy, I am stronger to hide to every body that I am in the darkest moment of all my life, perhaps, except if you did leave for America. - Oh! I cannot even think of that! Promise me that you shall not do that! I shall say not without [*Enclosing one from Miss or Mrs? Margot*] LYON [?] | 2 JUIN 7 LES GROTTEAUX Miss Clara Barton 60 Boulevard de la Villette Chez Monsieur Richard, maire Paris. - having spent with me a long, long, long time at Lyon, and a long, long, long time in Switzerland. - Have you heard of the death of M. de Gasparin? Poor Madame de Gasparin is desolate; she loved fondly her husband. - I have prepared to-day two books of gray and silk paper, to write upon, as we had at home; one is yours; oh! what a happiness when it shall be blotted; the other, is the one of which I write. - I shall arrange so much things in my room like Strasbourg that I am sure you shall think to be still there. Oh! dearly loved Miss Barton! when shall you come? It seems to me that there is more than a month since I escaped from Kehl, after having, thanks God, missed the train. But adieu! When shall you write to your child? It seems sometimes to me, when I open my eyes, in my bed, that I have only dreamed and never known you! It was not a dream? oh! tell me that it is true, that I really know 27, Rue de Vendôme, Lyon; June 18th 1871. So dear, so preciously loved Miss Barton! How can the little girl of Lyons be thankful enough to her so good Sister of Paris for her darling letter of yesterday? - There was a long, long time that no bright Sunray had lighted on her little heart, and sometimes even (she must confess all her bad thoughts) she thought: "Surely She shall no more write to you!" Blessed, blessed, blessed be you, to give so much happiness to your little one! How happy am I to think that you have begun no large work in Paris, and that you have good rooms, and all the sunny gifts of good God, and rest, and peace, and every good thing! - Your little girl enjoys herself to think that you try to rest your poor body so tired, if you know what means: "rest." - I am so, so glad that you have no more puces; particularly now that, after having got a good appetite by walking upon you, they would be obliged to satisfy it in [dining?] of you, as I am no more there. And do you know also? Since the 15 of May, till the 18 of June,PARIS 1 | 22 JUIN 71 BELLEVILLE [......?] 21 JUIN 71 2 I have only seen one puce, and killed him & I had really forgotten that such things were in the world. - (It was in the beginning of June) Dear, dear Miss Barton! How much your little sister thanks you for the manner in which you pour softly some hope in her heart! It seemed to her that she heard your loved voice, so soft, and felt your loved hand on her hair, patting so kindly the desolate head leant against your heart. Oh! Miss Barton!... Better news of Sophie; she thinks to be deadly sick; I hope not, and can only pray for her with all my strength. She has a little less fever and weighs a little less, but does not tell me if she erases always blood or if it were only a little vein broken. - She will go also in the mountains, to have the air of the pines; perhaps it is good. - As for Maman, she is better, without being quite well; she does not seem so pale, and I do so hope that she shall be well; she is very pretty well now. I do not know if "little maman" is for something or not in this; sometimes I really should think yes, for I prevent her to be tired to death by her devotion to the little one; should you think that she, who never did, in other times, take a walk except the Sunday, walked steadily 3 hours each day with 3 Dodo, and if she was tired to death, and could not sleep, what astonishing? Now, I beg her to take her work, and to walk till she is a little tired; then, to sit in some pretty place, and to let the child play around her chair while she works peacefully; after a good while, take another walk, another rest, and go home after the 3 hours of air. - She is well looking and gay, when they return home, and no more deadly pale. - My heart is not heavy now, about her at all; only about Sophie, who coughs since 18 months, and about C. - No, dear Miss Barton, I do not believe that he will hold me more closely when he shall see that he looses me. - He is firmly decided, and though he loves me enough to prefer very much to have me than not, he does not love me enough to be patient till the obstacles that I cannot raise, are gone. - I suffer also by the same causes than him, and however I love him enough to be patient through all. - His letters are full of the persuasion that the battle shall be lost, and that, then, all shall be finished between us; but he is before-hand more and more resignated, and he comforts himself the best he can. - I know also that4 if I would, I could keep him; but I will not. - It seems to me that then I should be unfaithful to the engagements I have taken towards my-self in the very first day of our love, to think "only of him and never of me." When he was weak and I was strong, I did stand firmly by him, telling him that I could love him so, that I could be his wife, by my father's death or consent, and must we wait till our heads are white. - I said so, and knew what I was saying; now he is strong and I am weak; my hand trembles, his is firm and rosy; and now, he tells me: "I am now well or nearly "well and I want to know if or not your "father will give you to [me?]; in the last "[case?], I prefer to let it go and speak of "it no more." - What can I say, but that my weak and cared for child is grown, and does no more want his mama? I let him go, and do just as I had thought before; "when I shall see that I am for him, by "the long waiting of which I suffer as much "as him, more a trial for the present than "a happiness later, and that he realises that, "I shall open the door for him to pass, or let "him open it, and then held it open for him "to pass." - I do that, dear Miss Barton. - In 5 his letters, I feel that he is sad, because I give not to him the hope of papa saying yes to this battle; but, though he has no hope, he prefers to loose coldly all than to wait. - Go, my impatient child; you may learn sadly what it is to be alone. - I shall never marry; I am sure that I shall no more believe in the love of men, nor cared for love; you, dear dear Miss Barton, love me a little, and I shall again be happy! - I suffer of all this much more than if I was kneeled besides the coffin where he should lay cold and dead; and however!.... No, let him go and be happy, and then I shall surely enjoy enough his happiness, if he has, to be more glad for him than happy of his love.- I try not to make him anxious about me, but he is so modest that I think he does not even imagine that I can suffer without him and without his love. - It is better so. - Even to Maman, I do not say that I am suffering, but to you, dear Miss Barton, precious, precious Sister given by God to his spoiled child, I want to speak, otherwise my heart would be too full. - I am not sad and desolate; but grieved to the heart. - But I think that all Mamas are exposed to suffer by their sons. - I love him enough to forgive, oh! so fully! the little I may have to forgive in all this, particularly in this end. - 6 Only, if, later, when he would have been alone without his little one, and would think after a while, that with her love it was still better to wait than to throw away all things, it is possible then that he shall find the door closed behind him and all sort of unhappy people nestled in the heart of his own little one. - It is very possible! ..... Why, beloved Miss Barton, would you have your little girl more selfish? Is not she enough? If you could know how ashamed she is often to think that she is so much! She is sure that now you must think the same thing than her, - and say once more: I am ashamed of you! Oh! no, do not say that,! but rather tell her what to do, how she can forget herself as you are doing, and be good, not as you, but as some body who knows and loves you! Oh! if you could know how much I pity these poor people here who does not know you; they seem to me to be real pagans; but, as I would not give the idea of the sun to the blind children, I would not be the missionary of these pagans, as long as I can not show to them my Sun. June 19th. - Monday. - Now, St Peter; Saturday, at the receipt of your precious letter, I put him on his feet, and looked for my sketches 10 "commandes" to her and in giving work to sew, etc. - I would supply the terrible blank you shall leave in her life, as well as I could, and do every thing for that. - They would never be left alone if they needed friends, but would have here friends upon whom rely; tell her all that, dear Miss Barton and if she thinks it well, let her come; the appartments, in my neighbourhood, as it is not exactly in the town, one pretty cheap, and in good air and so sunny. I think she would be well. - She could also have shop of thread, ribbons, buttons, etc; but it is harder to establish, and does not always succeed. - I should be afraid to risk their money in that. - What do you think of my proposal? - Immediately that the rain shall let me go out, I shall see several persons and see best what can be done; if I may find something better than my idea, I shall immediately tell you. - I would exceedingly like to have her at Lyon, and the work should never want to her, that I can promise. - Poor dear Mme H, who has so much wept after my leaving! I am grateful to her for that; it is so precious to me to know that somebody was sorry for me at Strasbourg; I could not weep, I was too cast down, but I did notice very well how pale she became when I kissed her as my last adieu. - Thank you so much for having spoken to me of her, dear, dear Miss Barton 7 sketches, to begin immediately to paint; but then, I found, with great consternation that my mother has forgotten them in Switzerland; and I do not know what to do - I can so several things, but not a great many, to unhappy St Peter; but he is always energetic, and if he feels badly, it is only because he has denied his Master; - I am glad to be for [soothing?] in his uneasiness. - As to stand on his head, he is used to that, and remembers perfectly that he died of that long before I was borne. I shall nurse him of my best, dear Miss Barton, and paint some scenes of the war and of the French in Switzerland. - As for Mr. Atwater's face, dear Miss Barton, it shall be when you choose; only, let me have while you are in Europe, the happiness of painting this for you, when you shall choose! Madame Hindenach. - I should like exceedingly to have her in the house, instead of our stupid Mary, but Mary does not go on badly enough to be sent back to her family, and then we have enough with one person; and where should be the children to be seen once a week, (as it is so natural for her to wish) if the husband goes out to work also, as it is his duty? That seems to me impossible to arrange; but what is possible and easy, is to have them in8 a little appartment, and give needle-work to Mme while she keeps her household and her children are in baby school from 8 to 4 or five, and the husband out for man's work at day wages. - Only, I should not dare to tell them to come and to begin immediately of this manner. What I would counsel to them would be, to have a small shop of eatables, some eggs, some butter, fruits, and Mme H. would keep it and have her husband to go at the market early (4 or 5, morning), bring home what he has bought, clean the shop, wash the floor, the things too hard for his wife, and go at his service at 12, earning half wages, but sparing a female servant who would be indispensible if Mme were obliged to let go her husband at 6, as is the day of workmen, generally; as the buyers come in these shops in the morning, she could have good moments in the afternoon to sew, and I would give to her work and find work for her from several persons; by and by, she would perhaps let go the shop and only keep her needle work, or have a servant in the shop and sew in the next room, hearing all what happens in the shop. - These shops are cheap to found, and are served 9 by women; the first quality is to have good things to sell, and the second, on engaging, prepossessing women, polite and agreeable, laughing and kind; a crass woman would ruin the business; a charming woman as Mme H. would have buyers from every where. And I do not understand how it is that no matter how many of these shops are here, they all go on well, except those with crass women. - Now, if she prefered to have her husband to earn all his day-wage, and necessarily be out at 6 or 6 1/2, she ought to have a servant for all or half day. But there, she can have the servant to cook eatables for the buyers; it is very much asked, here. - And the servant would cook while she sew, under her direction and her eyes; it is only to [...?] boil and press some greens, a stupid thing as Mary could do that; and then the husband would be free. - They could go in bed as early as they would, as they must get up so early. - I really think that by this manner, they would succeed here. - And I think it is useless to say that I would help them by every mean in my power, either by advancing to her some money to furnish her shop, either by buying from her all our eatables, and making little11 I shall try to do of my best, and would be so glad to have them here. - Wesnesday 21 June. - I knew also by Miss Z. how delighted she is for your precious photo; what can your A. say of what this some photography, but that she lives of it. Oh! why does it never raise it so dear, so smiling cast eyes? But it is not necessary, and Pussy can speak with it, and tell her every thing, and live with, and of, it. - Oh! God is good to have given the photography to the world. - I am glad that no one else love it; it is the letter, and proves then how we know and love you! I am so sorry that I have sent M. Fisch to you, dearest Miss Barton; but I was without letters, knowing that my letters did not come to you, and very afraid of the place in which you were; it was what decided me to send him to you; oh! pray pardon me!.... As to leave Paris and go you do not well know where, dear, so precious Sister, your little one hopes with all her beating heart that you do not forget the two promised visits, one here and one at Vuitteboeuf; chose the moment you please, she will never say a word; but do not tell me as you did sometime with my morning or evening kiss! Do not forget that you have told me we would chose together your silk robe, and perhaps have it made here by one of our12 good dress-makers. - If you could know how much my parents long to see the precious hand who has so well guarded their forlorn little one in the war! And then, Mme H. would perhaps come while you are here, and we would see her arranged in her little nest, if she decides to come here. - Really, I think you would be well, here, precious, tired Angel; you would have a little room, with morning sun, for you alone; mine would be the next, that I should never knock at your door except to tell you that breakfast is ready, and you would be so "tranquille," finding Maman or I when you will. - I paint in the salon, which is a large, fresh room in which you would be well to do whatever you please. - And we would have so pretty rides of every side, to see all the pretty things; Lyon is really pretty to see, I can say. - I would no more awake you with my cough, because I cough less than in S. and we would be not so near than there, with a wall between us. - I would have you to amuse your self and to rest so well! And in Switzerland, you know that you have promised to your Pussy to come also and remain long, very long (how short the longest time would always seem to her!) as long as you would be pleased among us. - - . I have received a dear letter of Miss Golay, 13 so kind, so affectionate; all cannot end between us at this first interview, and we have exchanged promises to visit one another. - I love her very much! What a delightful family they are. - Thank you so much for having sent me to them. - You see that your little sister is always the spoiled child of good God! though she has large and dark clouds on her sky; I have seen that always, with the trials, God sends me as much happiness as he can, to compensate. - And now, dear, dear, so dear, so beloved Miss Barton, I must tell you adieu, and ask your pardon for this letter with so narrow14 lines; my next shall be best written. - My father sends you all his respects, and wishes you so much to come! - Little Dodo is so glad to think that Miss Barton shall come; only, I believe he thinks she is a picture. - Perhaps Maman shall remember you a little of Miss Rausch the aunt, but very pretty, and - a little more calm. - But adieu, adieu, you that I love so inexpressibly! I draw your dear hand close to my heart; and I send to her so long, so fervent, so respectful a kiss! A long kiss also on your hair, on your shoulder, so often my shelter against the storms of life! Adieu! Blessed, Blessed Miss Barton! I would call you: Blessing - For ever, ever, your own Kitty, with her heart full of love. - [*33 Margot*] Lyons June 19th 1871 Dear Miss Barton I know by Antoinette that you think to leave said Paris at the end of this month and I wished to tell you myself and not only by my dear daughter how welcome you would be in our house both in Switzerland and Lyons. - Please dear Miss Barton come, as you promised once to your little friend and be sure that you shall be warmly welcomed in our family. We have not forgotten what a happiness it was for us, in the war, to know that one child was with you, and she always speaks of all your kindness for her. We are at Lyons, till I think, the first days of August, thenwe are in Switzerland till the first days of October and return at Lyons. Now you know where to find us, but what you cannot know, is the happiness you would make to us in coming in the two places, and remaining among us as long as you would find yourself well - My husband and I would be so grateful to you to come Oh! Please, say yes! With all my respectful love, I remain, dear Miss Barton, yours devotedly. Adèle Margot to change of home, it shall not be difficult to find something, and I will go to-day in all the neighborhood, looking where would be well placed her little shop. - It can become a little eating house, by and by; but if her husband is inclined to have only too much [proud?] I should be a little afraid to have him too free of seeing them and drinking a glass with this one and a glass with this other. - Perhaps would it be better to have him as an assistant in a great shop, all day, and let his wife do her work in hers. - But this is in the future; do not let us anticipate so much. - The establishment of the shop I mean as only some planks, some shelves as in the work rooms, to put the eatables, some baskets, large and small, and a big iron thing to boil the greens, and six plates to put these prepared greens till they are sold. - I shall try to arrange the thing, if I find the empty shop, so that the rent [it] should only begin in the middle of July. - If not, it shall only be 15 days lost. - I want also Mme Primou, but I do not know when, and shall be 27 rue de Vendôme, 28 June 1871 My own, so precious, so precious Miss Barton! Oh! You come! you come! God bless you with predilection for this word! I cannot find words to express to Him and to you how happy, how grateful I am; when I did open your precious letter, and saw my dream of happiness transformed in a reality fixed with a date, I bounded to my bed and seazed my pillows in my arms, clasping them and kissing them just where your blessed head would rest, as if indeed my too loved Sister were resting on them. Every moment is good, perfectly good, for us; the season is pretty, the fruits are strongly beginning, and we shall be free as little birds on the tree; just, think that I have no lessons till October, neither to schools, [neither] nor to single persons, nothing serious to do, and [that?] I hope my young girls have not closed my Sunday school last Sunday, as it ought to have been if I had been present (it was raining, and I you? I should be ashamed to say at what an hour I did go to bed, and to close my eyes and be in the dark; I will do that no more; so my so precious Sister, do not scold Kitty! She kisses over and over your dear, dear hands, and sends a long loving, so loving kiss on your dear neck, on your shoulder, my shelter so often, my basket. For ever your own Kitty was prevented by that to go); if they have not closed, I will keep it open till your first Sunday here, and then show your my school, my books, some of my pupils, (I have only 8 or 10 in the summer, but often 60 in the winter,) and every thing, that I may, in future dark days, fancy that I can find my so precious Miss Barton listening what I am saying to my women, or teaching them how to hold their pen in their poor awkward fingers. - And then I shall dismiss them for three months. I have seen Saturday Mrs [Pay?] and Mrs Berry, and I have given to eat to this last little bit of humble-pie which, I saw did a very good effect; she asked me if I had received her answer in time; I replied: "Oh! yes! Miss Barton has sent it to me nearly two weeks after I had left Strasbourg." - And on her expressing wishes that this neglect had not harmed [her] your work, I very instantly said: "Oh! do not trouble your mind about that! It was no matter at all for Miss B. if a letter I had written, (not her at all,) were not answered; she sent a delegate and all was finished." - She wishes exceedingly to see you, if she is not just in bed, for she waits a baby, and is then in bed for months. - I believe you could like her mother. And now, also Mme H. - I think also it is quite better to have her not to know anything, and when I asked you to speak with her of my plan, it was because I thought she knew what you were writing to me. - It is much better to arrange all by ourselves, as you know so well her ideas. - The rent, here, begins only at the St Jean (24 Juin) and so, she should have very little time of it paid and not occupied; she can have, I believe, a small shop with a room, by the month; and I shall arrange the thing of my best, either a little shop with room enough for husband and babies and her to sleep and cook; or a furnished room (if I did find nothing better,) in which she could go while we both would look for more. I would very much be able to propose to take her at home, but as we have Dodo and a servant, we shall have no beds. - As it is just now the moment in which people [need?]knew, to make them burning to see her! I know that, I who was so distressed in Bâle, when I had beg[ged] Mr. Vischer to have me a pass for Strasbourg, (because I had heard that perhaps Miss B. would go there,) when I discovered that Miss B. was just this lady in black, and did not know where she would go! I would have been at St. Petersbourg, to meet her in a street, and perhaps hear her voice. - How strange is the life! Sometimes it seems to me that the life it-self is a dream..... But no! - Have I told you that I have received so delightful a letter from Miss Golay, such an affectionate letter, so good, so good! What it is to be sent by Miss Barton! I have kissed your name on each page of it! - But adieu! adieu! most preciously loved and blessed Miss Barton! I would do as little children at Strasbourg, kiss delicately the folds of your dress! Adieu! adieu, you I love with all my heart's strength. Maman sends you her most respectful love, and is not exceedingly afraid to be so disappointed; oh! when shall you be "hurried like the devil" to do nothing at all? I long to see you lazy; I am so lazy! Do you know that only my bed was pleasant to me, these past months, since I have left so happy to help house these dear persons who know you! particularly Mme H. who loves you so much, and whose life has been saved by you. - Oh! it shall be a breath of home air, when, sometimes, I shall come to her to speak of you!.... I would have here also little [Alsui?], and little Emilie Peter, and Eisenauer. - If you could know, dear, dear Miss Barton, how amused I have been by Mr. Dwight's opinion in regard to my English writing! Why can I not speak? - Now I am writing my Journal in English; it is so sweet for me! Nothing new as to C., except that I have told him next he can write to papa when he will. All moments are equally good, to lose a battle; now, I really do not know if I wish the battle to be gained; my confidence is so broken!.... The hardest moment is passed; it was at Strasbourg, when I first discovered that he wished to finish this statu quo by a definitive no or yes. - Then it was a hard blow; now, the marriage, in the case of papa's consent, would not be a enviable thing to me; however, I would be true to him enoughto keep my word and marry him, and be as good a wife as I could; for me, I do not wish that, oh! no!..... But papa shall say no. But enough of that; it is too sad a subject in so happy a day! - Do you know, that I had just finished a Kitty out of her basket, and looking out of a dark hole, with big frightened yellow eyes! - I often think that it is your Kitty's portrait! But now, she is in the basket, gleaming with hope, purring all day long, and as radiant as a Christmas tree! She tries to blow down some candles, not to be too bright; but always the candles take fire by themselves, and Mary looks at me, puzzled to see me so happy; the poor child had only seen me cheering me to cheer the others, but having no joy in the heart to give me this elastic strength I have since yesterday. I am so patient, now, with Dodo!... Oh! dear Miss Barton! you [shall] will teach me how to teach them Dodo and Blanche or how to eduquate them? I feel so sadly how harsh I am, and I am afraid equally of being too harsh and of being not firm enough. - I know that you will bring this little education in good order; it is in bad order, now; sometimes I feel as if I were Mr Lapp but no matter, since you come! All shall be right, now, and "little Mama" shall have only to open her eyes, and learn how to scold mildly enough and impressively enough a child of three years and a half. I feel my-self so stiff, so impatient, so nervous with him; but since yesterday I am no more nervous, nor impatient, except to be in July. Oh! what is the influence of the Sun on a life! You will teach me to be good, is it not, precious, blessed Miss Barton! Oh! when you shall tell me: "I arrive at .... hour .... day!" I can scarcely think of it! God bless the gare! How long before I shall be in it! - In order that I do not go at another gare than the one you should come, ask your cheks for "Lyon-Perrache," which is the last station here, and the nearest of our house, with the train of Paris. - How glad am I that you have been pleased with my "envoyés"! I do not see that I have impressed them at all; only to say: "Miss Barton is in Paris," was sufficient, I wellBut now, as Martha, Kitty is troubled by another fear (Kitty becomes coward!); she is afraid with the thought of the votes of Sunday; are you in the house of the Maire, only, or if it is also the Mairie, the just house in which these ugly men shall come to vote, and perhaps to fight? - I would be in Paris, this day! oh! how [...?] Take care that they do not take your English for Prussian tongue, they are so stupid, some of them! I would have Mr. Washburn or some other to invite you till monday, - if you are in the Mairie. - How all the prayers of your little one shall crowd around her most loved Miss Barton, all day! - But adieu, dearest, most preciously, respectfully loved Miss Barton! A long, long kiss from your little loving sister Kitty Pussy. - 27, rue de Vendôme ? June 1871 (Sunday) My own, so beloved Miss Barton At last, I am alone, free for one hour and half or perhaps two! I possess your dear, dear lines since an hour, which was very long, as I wanted so much to answer to them. What is between you and I, that you receive not one of my letters? My heart is so sad of that; what must you think of your little girl, if you can suppose she has remain so long without sending a letter to her most beloved? How many I have sent, I really do not know, but in any case, not less than 4; I think you shall get them altogether then, read only my first from Lyons, which relates longly of Geneva, and my first to Paris. - You have these two or three at the Legation. - They were to give on the address of Mr. Fisch, or, rather, two or three addresses in which you can get his. 1: Librarie Meyrueis, 174, rue de Rivoli. - respectful regards - My kind remembrance to Mme Hindenach, the happy one! And to you? .... Oh! all the fondest love of my heart! Pardon me each day, each time you think of me all what I feel you have to forgive! Love me a little; do not forget me! I think of you always, and live of my remembrances. - When shall I have a letter? .. Do not take on your sleep to write it! And sometimes, when you see2: Chapelle protestante, rue de Taitbout 3: " " rue de Madame, 2. If they cannot give these Mr. F's address, ask the address of Mr. de Pressensé; he is as known every-where as late M. de Gasparin, and is the brother in law of Mr. Fisch. I know how glad would be Mr. Fisch if he could do something to help you, if once he had the littlest occasion. - He is a brave, strong, good heart, and speaks beautifully your tongue. - He has been in America, and loves your country as his own. I had written to him in one letter for you; his brother in law, Mr. de Pressensé, is an old friend of Jules Simon, and by them, you could have all the heads. - But by Mr. Washburn you can also, I had forgotten. - I do not like to know that you are in the house of the maire; as I know the French people, I know that it should be the severest place in the case of conflict. But I hope all is perfectly peaceful there for the moment the Pantheon, oh! think of me! I lived very near of it and loved him preciously. - moment. How much your little one does think of you! Oh! if you could hear my thoughts, since you never receive my letters! - My health is always the same thing. Can it improve, when I am without sun? And as for the happiness, do you know what means this: "the clouds return after the rain?" It is my case, and sometimes, I wonder if happy times shall come again. - As you know nothing of me, I must repeat, briefly, what has happen: At Lausanne, I saw C; he is well, strong, active; and I am now the palest of the two. - He wishes to have from papa a yes or a no, and take it for the last word. - If Maman were well enough, I would have spoken to my father; but it shall make a storm, and my poor mother is always the victim of papa's anger; that, I cannot support while she is not strong. (However, since my return she has considerably With a long, long kiss on your loved hands, I remain for ever your little one who loves you inexpressibly. Your own, own Antoinette Kittyconsiderably improved. And then, we wait, in an awkward situation, which takes out all of my ideas to write to him; during this time, we only write twice a month. I sometimes think that my love for him [?] was the motherly love of the strong one for the weak; now, he is strong, he does no more want me, and I can leave him. Only, I look then towards other countries ..... if I can go. - I excuse C. near Maman, who knows that by him-self as much as I can; but I suffer to see this child selfish; once, perhaps, he shall return to me and say: "will you dream again our old dreams?" - but I can no more; I am awaken, awaken by a start, and can no more sleep and dream; if I did give my liberty, it was because I thought I was loved enough to be happy, that I loved with the long, waiting love I had bestowed upon him; now, I know better. - Another tie to Europe is also breaking and, oh! Lord, breaking so cruelly fast! My sister Sophie, my twin sister, is now as sick as poor woman Geyer, and of the same sort of thing; there was a long time she coughed every morning; often, often, I had entreated her to see a good surgeon; and now, she erases blood with abundance, and she feels that her life is near to be finished. She is not pressingly sick, or I should be near her; but you know too well this sickness, you, my beloved Mother, who would save me from it, not to know that, in one year, my pretty, precious, living sister shall be near God. - How I can write these things, I really do not know; sometimes it seems to me that my heart has no more power to suffer. - Now, to Mama; she also is not well, though I see she is coming again to life in finding again her little maman; the doctor says it is an affliction of the heart. I know weakness well enough to know that, I who several timesin these last nights, am obliged to sit on my bed and shake my body strongly not to let my heart remain stopped; I try to fortify her blood by iron and [vin desquina?]; she feels better; when she shall well, if I was right, the heart must be well also. - But her lovely, pretty face is older of ten years since I left her. - You see, my so precious Sister, my Light, that your poor little one has much suffered since you! - And what words can express the homesickness, the heimweh, she resents all day long. - She cannot remain in place and paint; she has back the gray little dress you did give to her; the little jacket to go out is of the same form than your precious black jacket of Brumath Every thing in my room speaks to me of you, and I possess, and have sent to Miss Zimmermann, a delicious photograph, made by the one I have found in Miss Golay's album. It has so well succeeded, and never leaves me. Do you know? It remembers me so well of when you were making decalcomanie? I always seems to me that you shall lift your dear eye-lids and look at me with so radiant, so smiling a look! Oh! how long it is that I have not encountered this look! Each hour here is long, except when I can write to you. - And however, I am glad to be here. - I know that I am needed, and it is so good, so precious to be needed! - St. Peter is always in the same state; they have all the head down and the feet up, as Marie has put them, in her wiseness. I am afraid to stand before this large picture all day long. To morrow, however, I shall begin. Mr. Atwater's portrait shall be here to morrow also, and I long to have the photograph, that I can begin. - May I write to Miss Kupfer to have it? Have you asked for your large trunk to be sent in Paris? Do you know what is Pussy reading? David Copperfield! But "sister Betsey Trotwood" always Note: "Heimweh" is the German word for "homesickness." Note: "Decalcomanie" is French for "decalcomania," the art or process of transferring by tracing an image from one surface to another, such as from specially prepared paper to glass, wood, or china. Note: "Betsey Trotwood" is a fictional character in Dickens' novel, David Copperfield. She is David Copperfield's great aunt who dislikes boys and men. However, she later takes young David into her home and ensures he has a good scholastic education.risks to bring tears in my eyes; it remembers me so much of Strasbourg, of our evenings, of the white lamp, the green table-cloth, the gray carpet, the arm-chair, M. Atwater, Miss Barton, and "what would do sister Betsey." - No, do not tell me how much destroyed Paris is; tell me what you are doing there, who you see, who you love there, where you go, of whom you are the saving angel. Pronounce to me some names, that I can love them; let me live a little of your life, Maman, Beloved; I do so want that, since four death like long weeks I have been without you! Spent a great number "of big I's." - Kitty loves them so much! It is her drop of milk, here, out of her precious basket. - My lessons shall begin only in October. - The Sunday school is delighted that I am here; I am so glad to see them; my old women also; why do they love me? - Oh! when you shall be here, how bright shall all this be! Pardon me this letter, dear, beloved, precious Miss Barton so loved! But all in me was sad, and I could not write otherwise. - Another shall be wiser. - My family sends you their most 27 rue de Vendôme. 6 Julliet 1871. Beloved, so beloved Miss Barton! Two words only, to day, to tell you that I have found a charming shop, in a very good place of the town, not far from our house; there with the shop, is a small kitchen, in the [lower] same stare; and in the kitchen is a staircase, with a charming, healthy room, [at] on the first floor, in a good, sunny situation, and in a rich place of the town; I have seen many shops, but this one seems to me the best. - The rent is of 550 ff. for a year, which would do nearly 46 a month, but the place is rich, and I think that an intelligent person could succeed there; the furniture of the shop would be very small and little expensive. But, for two reasons, I have not settled the thing, and wanted to speak to you of it: 1: because the rent is of 46 f. a month, and the shop to be let only by year, and 2: because the landlord wishes to have the 2 first six months paid before. - Then,I shall want your answer; I have seen several other shops, but they were in so bad condition that I did not know what to do; I think that before they could be inhabitated, they must be so much mended that it would be dearer than this one, which is so clean, so ready, so nice, and in so nice a spot. - The half year they would ask immediately would be of 275 frs. What do you think of it? - I would, if you thought it would be good to secure that, and if they were troubled by this sum, advance to them nearly half of it. - The shop is clear, very clear, and the room also; she could sew in them perfectly well, and the [...porition?] is excellent; if the rent is a little dear, the things also can be sold a little dearer in this place than in other places, and all must be clean, nice, pretty, in these shops. - I think that I would try. - In any case, they must pay a rent for their lodging, and at Strasbourg I believe that they had a rent nearly as [very] high [but] and without the shop. - I will look again if I may find something convenient and cheaper, while I wait for your answer, but I do not think I shall find better than that. - The landlords have promised to wait some days for an answer. - Have I told you, dear, dear Miss Barton, that I have a letter of C. so sad, so bitterly sad that I do not know what to do; oh! if you were here, to give me an advice! I feel so sadly how difficult it is to see the right way! He is half despaired with the thought of making, as a last attempt, one attempt for which success I can give him no hope; he is not so well, these two weeks, because of all his cares and sorrow; what can, what must I do? What are God and C's mother in right to wait from me? - Must I, as I did when he was so sick, cling to him and say for him: "we shall remain as we are, betrothed between us and God, and live, and love, and hope, and write, and work, just as we have done till now;" ormust I let him run as he does now, to a grief which may be stronger than him? I dare not take the responsibility of making him continue this life that, I saw, was now tiresome to him; I know it is a situation which cannot please to a proud man; I know that I do not like decide for him to keep this situation of my lover always loving, but always also rejected by papa; this situation is bad, disagreeable for him, and only a great love could endure it. - At Strasbourg, at Lausanne, I saw that he had enough of it, and would rather renounce to me than to persist. - I did not say a word, then, because, as he was well, it would have been selfish; now that he is so desolate, why can, what must I do? I see that he is afraid and teased by the thought that he may learn, one day, that I am married, when he shall have renounced to me; and however, he persists in his determination I would give my life to do some good, but I think I shall never do but grieving things. Adieu, now, adieu, my own blessed, radiant Angel-Sister, you so loved, so preciously loved, you, my Light, my great blessing! Kitty sends to her Sun all her love! Oh! how can Kitty live without Sun? All was so dark, but now, with the hope, the bright hope, it seems to her that the walls them-selves are glittering; nothing is cold or hard, and to day she can do otherwise than to sleep; is it because you are just writing: I shall come .... day .... hour? - I think so! - A long, long, so long kiss, the tenderest, the most fervent, and loving, and respectful of all! and with it, the most imploring blessings of your own faithfully loving little sister Antoinette Kitty. - When you are just to leave Paris, will you send me a telegramme, to say just the hour, and be it midnight, I shall be at the gare. Oh! what a day, this one! Every body and every thing is so happy only to think of this happiness. My bed is sometimes trembling all over with joy, when I tell it who shall take my place; Oh! Miss Barton! dear, precious, enshrined in all my heart, blessed Miss Barton, shall never your little one realize this glorious thought? Shall she every morning open her eyes with the thought that she has dreamed? Maman sends you her love, very respectfully, and Kitty, in the sunny basket of Hope, would kneel beside you, and press your darling hands against her heart and kiss them over and over! - My kind regards to Mme H.- and a bit of my heart to all those who love you in Paris. - I have received the most charming letter of dear Mr. Fisch; his brother in law, Mr. de Pressensé, has been elected to the Chambre des députés, last Sunday; I am very glad of that. 27 rue de Vendôme, 11 July 1871 My own, beloved Miss Barton! Kitty has received your dear, dearest letter, the most precious little paper in the world, and will send two lines immediately, that you may yet get them at Paris; Ky was very thoughtful and anxious about the pretty shop; she also knows the human nature, and was saddened by your objection; then, she took her hat and went at the house of the Landlord (not the Landlord him-self, but the men charged by him of all the business of his house) and was to speak with these solemn "chargés d'affaires" to see what would be done, and if they would wait till you are there, or rent only for some months, less than a year; but she was little hopeful. - And the shop, so delightful, so just the thing, it was nearly impossible to Ky to let it go! - But God knew well of that, and you know Ky is his Pardon me this hurried letter! It has been written so hastily, because I have been interrupted, once by a visit, and once to whip my boy. - Am I not a "devil"? Oh! how busy you will be to make me good! I feel me so bad! Your own, own Kitty.spoiled child; and then, when Kitty came before these chargés d'affaires, they were [decided?] to rent the shop only by months, for some times, and, when they are sure the tenant would succeed, then, if he will, they will rent by year. - Is not that golden? - When they told me that, I could scarcely prevent me from sitting on a chair and laughing as we did at Strasbourg. Oh! our glorious laughs! .. Then, I have secured the thing; and the shop is ours; it costs 46 f. a month, - and the whole month must be paid the first day of the entrance; but the month shall begin only when she is there. - And now, I will let a bed, some chaises, one or two tables, the most necessary to begin with, and keep them ready in the shops to be brought the day of your arrival; or perhaps shall I open the shop, and have workers to wash it, that Mme H. may find it clean and with one or two things for the first days. - It shall depend of what I shall have to do at home. - But only think of that, to have by the month this delightful little shop and lodging, in so good a section of the town! - There are many english families to whom I will recommend her, both to buy and to give her to sew; and, on the same boulevard (for the shop is on a pretty little boulevard) are many rich protestant families who should be very glad to know her. - It is a rich little section, very aristocratic, english and protestant. - And I do not think that we could find this house again very soon, for the shops are quickly let, when empty; and the one or two shops I had seen on the same boulevard were not so pretty and much dearer. - And now, I must tell you the address of it; it is: Cours Morand, 47. - Now you know the name; oh! how glad is Kitty to have secured it just as you wished, by the4 month! And you come!...and this is my last letter to Paris! and the last apron "isht [gone?], oh! dear, too dear Miss Barton! - But do not too much look Paris, or our poor Lyon shall seem to you so ugly, sunny as I shall find it when my Sun shall lighten it! Mary is nearly sad of seeing me so happy, for she understands that I have suffered before. - I will now have Graham flour, and Graham bread; and do you know what Kitty is making, each evening? An "omelette" just as our omelette of Strasbourg; but, "oh! my God!" what a difference! They were so good, there, and here, I find them so poor! I was afraid that the Graham pudding would be so bad also, here, alone [that] and I have not tried it; it was so sad to have it alone!.... But enough kitchens, though, now that I know you are very soon coming, even the coal seems to be bright. And now, a dark, gloomy subject, but I cannot avoid it longer: it refers to C. 5 He has written to me a so sad letter, so cold, so impertinent, I may say, that I have refused him my self. - In the same time, my father did receive the letter by which he asked me in marriage for the last time, and he also did refuse; so all is finished between us; oh! Miss Barton! how far I was to think, at Strasbourg, that the things could go of His manner! I am sometimes afraid that I have been proud, in refusing him for his crassness; I sometimes think that it was cruel in me, that it was to knock somebody who falls down, that my father's refusal was enough without mine, that I have acted badly towards him, that I have been a bad mother for him in doing that; but I was afraid also to seem to have no dignity, if I could support such impertinences (for it was very near of that), and I wanted him to know that, if I am patient, I am not deaf, and that I have a heart who canbe thrown out of patience. - Oh! I do so want to read to you the letter I have written to him, in order that you scold me if it were bad in me to do that, or that you approve me if I were right. If I were wrong and a cruel Maman for a poor sick child, if you think I ought to have taken patience, I may repair partly my fault, accept my father's decision, but express my sorrow for my bad action; I can at least do all what I can to heal the wound I may have done. - Oh! dear, dear Sister, in whom judgment I am so entirely confident, how do I long to have your light thrown on all these days; in order to do that, I have kept a copy of my lost letters in my journal. Many thanks and regards to Mr. Mou[ad?] and Dwight. Do not they thank me gratefully for having sent them to you? - But adieu! I must go at an invitation, and it is nearly the moment. - Adieu, adieu! au revoir! God bless you, my Light, my Sun! Oh! may He bless you as I love you! Many things from my parents! A long kiss from Ky. It has rained in her basket, and her little heart is wet. - But a Sunbeam shall warm it! Do not forget that I wait you at Lyon-Perrache. - It is the last station in Lyon. - Adieu! your own Kitty. - Vuitteboeuf, 2 Décembre 1880 Mademoiselle R. W. Kupfer à Dansville Livingston County [*Margot*] State of New York North America Mademoiselle Mons fils (Adolphe Margot) qui est fabricant de Chocolat à Baulmes, à une petite heure d'ici, m'envoie votre lettre du 13 Novembre [& à] laquelle je m'empresse de répondre - et d'abord laissez-moi vous dire que j'ai été extrêmement réjoui en recevant des nouvelles de Miss Barton et Surtout en apprenant que sa santé s'est rétablie - Plusieurs fois j'en ai demandé des nouvelles de ma fille, mais elle n'en avait aucune. Sa jeune nièce avait cesse de lui écrire - et elle craignait d'en chercher et d'en approfondir la cause - J'étais de mon côté un peu étonné que des rélations aussi intimes eussent pu ainsi se perdre - Pour répondre à l'objet principal de votre lettre je dois vous dire que je n'ai aucune connaissance du tableau dont vous parlez et ma mémoire ne m'en fourni aucun Souvenir quelconque, je ne l'ai jamais vu et je ne me Souvenir par d'en avoir jamais entendu parler mais j'expédie votre lettre à ma fille à Lyon qui aura certainement un grand plaisir à avoir des nouvelles de son excellente compagne de [ses?] campagnes en 1870 - et qui pourra dire ce qu'est devenu le tableau en question - Pour ma part j'incline à croire que, comme bien d'autres oeuvres, celle-là aussi est restée en chemin - Puisque vous avez connu ma fille et que par Miss Barton vous connaissez une partie de ses circonstances jusqu'à une certaine époque, je vous dirai qu'elle n'est plus none ou novice au Couvent, Arrive au moment de prononcer Ses voeux elle a battu en retraite et quitté le Couvent du Sacre Coeur - Je n'ai jamais Su au juste la vraie cause - Elle nous a écrit, qu'elle aussi bien qu'à la Communauté, on avait reconnu que Son état de Santé ne le permettait pas - Avec ces Cloitres il y a tant de mystères - ! Bref ellea alors loué deux petites chambres indépendantes attenantes à un autre Couvent (chez les Soeurs St. Francois d'Assise) où elle prend pension - puis elle est libre et donne des leçons en ville - Ce qui m'a beaucoup donné, dans le temps c'est que Miss Barton ait pu la féliciter d'avoir embrasse le Catholicisme, du moins c'est qu'Antoinette nous a dit. En tout cas cette pauvre enfant nous fait porter une bien lourde croix - Je ne voudrais pas dire qu'elle est la cause de la mort de sa pauvre mère - mais elle ne peut ignorer qu'elle lui a cause un profond chagrin qu'elle a emporté dans la tombe il y a Six mois - et ce qui paraître bien étrange elle n'a pas compris qu'elle se devait à Sa mère atteinte d'une maladie de Coeur qui depuis plus d'un an ne lui permettait par de compter sur un lendemain. Elle accourait à la nouvelle d'une crise puis repartait à Lyon en voyant la crise conjurée - et ainsi de Suite - mais à la dernière crise elle n'a pu recevoir sa pauvre mère - Si sa conscience S'éclaire elle emportera certainement dans sa tombe un poids de remords - La Santé de ma fille est bien précaire - elle est si délicate! et elle a encore altéré sa constitution au Service du Couvent - et elle continue à se faire du mal par certaines mortifications - Je vous remercie Sincèrement, Mademoiselle, pour tous les détails que vous avez la bonté de me donner I intended to write to Miss Barton to communicate my marriage, but I [h]ad not her address - If you will make her my best compliments and my felicitations for her return to health after long Sufferings you shall oblige me - I would gladly indulge to write Miss Barton but I think it best to let the pleasure to my daughter who will not fail to take "la bâle au bond" and to communicate the requested informations - Agréez Mademoiselle, l'expression de mes Sentiments respectueux Js. Margot de Lyon My Sincere & respectful Salutation to Miss Barton if you please DANSVILLE DEC [10?] N. Y. YVERDON 3 [...?] [*Answered Dec. 1.. 80 to Francois Margot Vuitteboeuf Suisse*] VUITTEBOEUF [Mlle] R. W. Kupfer Dansville Livingston County State of New York North America Address I am writing also to Miss Kupfer. - 17 Rue St. Francois d'Assise Tour Pitrat Lyon (15 December 1880) Most precious Pussy! darlingest Pussy! How can I be thankful enough to God to have granted me this most ardent wish of my heart, and let me know again news of my ever so preciously beloved Miss Barton, Pussy! - I did not answer dear Mamie's letter, some years ago, because I had no time; and when my health did break again, and I was obliged to leave my cloister, and would write again, then I dared not to do it, for fear I could receive awful news, which would be worse to my heart than not to know any thing; it is why I have not written. Now, I am in my own little home, free as a little bird, happy all day long, but sighing after some news of my most dearly cherished and revered Pussy!And now that I have them, and so good, what can I wish more? Oh! I would see again her dear, dear face! Kiss again, as of old, her hands and her feet, and cry all my tears on her laps again. - Oh! shall Pussy write Kitty again? - Her dear hand would be so good to read, to Kitty's heart! Kitty is overhappy to have found Pussy again, happy as in Heaven, I think! - Dear, dear beloved Pussy! I owe you all my actual happiness! For I was a mere child, in an awful situation when I first met you; you nerved my very heart, and made me a woman; many things have happened that could not have been carried through without Pussy's help; without her, I should always be a crushed down little unhappy baby in the fatherly house; I am out of it, and thankful for it! Now I can earn my own bread, and do what seems to me right and good; and if needed, I feel that I can be my own protector. - I shall never marry, and am, for many things, much of the same Kit, but older, calmer, older perhaps in appearance, but really I hope, wiser and stronger; - since I left my dear closter, (which I did by my own will, through delicacy, as my health was giving way and I could be only a burden to my kind Sisters,) - I am giving lessons, and, God be thanked, I have some success as a teacher; I don't paint, now; for I see that my little talent has been crushed in its bloom in my father's home; but I teach painting and all my pupils succeed beautifully, which is a real joy for me. But I am talking of poor, stupid Kitty, and I do so want to know about Puss! What is Pussy doing, now? She lives, I believe, with dear Miss Kupfer, so well remembered; what are they both doing? Oh! do write your little Kitty, dearest Pussy, and tell her all about you! - I don't know anything since five years! - and I am so hungry of hearing from my Pussy! Hannah Zimmermann4 is a wife and a mother, very busy, and quite buried in her household, as I hear but not directly from her; I will write her and Mrs. Dollfus, for they will be so happy to hear of Pussy! - Do give me news of dear little Mamie, my darling little sister that I dearly love! - Where is she? How is she? What is she doing? I do so want one letter of her also; but don't let her write for Pussy, because my heart and my eyes want sorely Pussy's own writing; let each one write for her- self. My poor dear mother died on the 25 April of this year; it has been a great sorrow for Kitty, for, since Kitty left the house, her mother was so very kind to her! She was taken ill so suddenly that my brother, who was sent for immediately, and lives only at one mile and a half from Wuitteboeuf, came too late, and found her dead, as I did also. My father has married again in September, four months after her death. This has been a great sorrow to me. - At 70 years, marry again! ... My brother is sick of it. 5 Oh! Pussy! how happy you would make your little Kitty; if you would write her! She does so want to read you again! How are Py's eyes, and Py's stomach, and Py all over? Oh! do speak to me of her dear self! - Kitty does no more know anything of Mr. and Mrs Sheldon, of whom she often gratefully thinks; of Mr. and Mrs Holmes and Taylor, are they in America, or in England; she would be so very glad to hear of them, and of Py's family, Mr. and Mrs Barton of North Oxford, and their dear children and grand children, and all those that Py loves; do name them to me, to make me love them also. - Where is Dorr, and what is he doing? What also became of Mr Hinton that I saw in London and never forgot? And of Mrs East, or Earl, (I don't remember the name,) the sweet quakeress that I liked so much from what Py used to tell me of her? And so many others! - Shall this letter reach Pussy for Christmas day? I fear that it cannot be, by the long time that Miss K.'s letter took to come to me; but I cannot forget that Christmas is my dearest Py's birthday, and I wantEtats Unis d'Amérique [*copied*] [*Answered Jany 4. 1881 Antoinette Margot No. 1*] [*33*] ... 16 DEC 80 (68) Miss Clara Barton Dansville Livingston County State of New-York North America to send her all Kitty's best wishes and thankfullest kisses, and her very best love! and a little Christmas tree carried by angels; Kitty would be one of them and the one who rings the bell of Pussy's door! Oh! to ring Py's bell! Dear, dear, dear Miss Barton! darling Ma! dearest Puss! - Never, never I shall forget all I owe you! I owe you ever my perfect actual happiness of being a Catholic; for without your strong teaching and your nerving firmly my heart I should never have dared to take the big step I have had to take to follow my convictions, when at last I had convictions to follow; and this step gave me full happiness; and all is peace in my soul and in my heart. - I have sorrows in my life; where is the mortal that has none? - But I feel strong now, and always happy, and one says I smile all day long, and I feel it is true. - I am not under the charm of anybody, though I have good friends; but I live very alone, my friends not wanting me, and being "packed together," and having no kind of need of the solitary stranger. They love me; I love them, but not as I love Py. So, you see, I am not under any charm, and my faith is not their work, to finish with their influence. - But enough for to day, for I long to send this letter, and have my darling little Ma have news of her old, gray furred kitten! - My address is at the first page, - and my name as of old = Ant. Margot. - Thousand kisses all over Pussy's hands. 17 rue St. François d'Assise Tour Pitrat Lyons, the 5, 6, 7 February 1881. Dear, dearest, dearestly beloved my own Pussy! Kitty wanted to write Pussy just as soon as she got her darling, self-like letter, but she could not; to see again this dear, so loved hand-writing of the Beloved One, proved to be too much happiness for Kitty's strength; as soon as she got the dear letter, she felt such a turn in her whole heart and body, that, for many days she has been quite unable to write and her head was quite ill; the delicious, precious photography came then, as a sweet angel, to begin to get her better, and now, she can try to answer these blessed, well beloved pages, dearer to Kitty than ever she can tell! - Pussy's dear likeness is there, standing on her desk, just before her eyes, and nearly at every word must Kitty look at the loved, Kitty has succeeded to find this little photograph of her, on which her adopted son of which she wrote to Mamie had written the "text" of the adress that was preached in the day in which Ky became a Sister, and for this occasion. - Though this picture is old, will Pussy excuse Ky to send it? - Ky wants to be near Pussy by some means; it is always good as likeness, though 7 years old; only Ky is a little thinner now, and her hair very grey - She wears the dress she made with Mamie in Euston Road. -beautiful face and all the dear person whom she so cherishes and treasures in her heart; then she must smile fondly to the likeness, and study it again and again; oh! yes, yes, it is her, her all over, the true, good, kind, earnest, faithful, loving Her who lives in such an loving place of Kitty's [?] Heart, or rather fills her heart. - No, the years have not dealt rudely with this handsome face, she is the same, just as Kitty knew her in Brumath, in Basle, everywhere but in London when she was ill; oh! my heart is overflowing with thankfulness and joy, when I see how well she looks! - And then, my eyes are full with tears, and I wipe them quick, for I cannot loose one minute of the free time in which I can write Pussy or look at her dearest face again! Pussy! Pussy! Oh! if, once, it were given to Kitty to see her again! no more the likeness but the sweet, dear self again, her own self! To be folded again in those arms, to lean again on Pussy's laps Kitty's weary head!... But this cannot be for now; - later, oh! she well hopes it may be, but not now; and Kitty will think of the happiness of writing Pussy, and not of the pain of being far from her. - To write Pussy!.... Ownest Pussy! dearest Pussy!.... Kitty wants not to lose a bit of paper which is to go to Pussy; therefore she begins on the top of the page, but she will try to write big and well, not to tire Pussy's eyes; how are Pussy's eyes, now? How weak they were in Germany!.. Kitty does so hope they are benefitting of the amelioration of Pussy's general health! And it is very probable. - Do tell me it is so!... Oh! if Pussy could know how Kitty treasures in her heart the memory of the days when we were together, at the war, in Strasbourg, in Belfort, Lyons, Paris, Carlsruhe, London! Every one of them, every hour of them is so dearly kept in her heart, and often lived over; every word of these days is recalled; every teaching of this dear time is thought over and over; and how often does Kitty think in one day: "Pussy showed me to do this, in that way." - And she does it as Pussy did, as faithfully as if Pussy looked at her just now. - And to think that Pussy thinks so kindly of poor, little, ignorant Kitty! How Pussy like it is!.... and mother like, too, for mothers love their little ones, no matter how small and ignorant they may be. Oh! Pussy!.... And all the little gifts of Pussy, and all the little relics that Kitty gathered in these years of Germany, France, and England, they are all there, tenderly preserved amongst Kitty's treasures; too dear to be used, but only to be caressed, and looked at, and met at every moment; not a bit of paper has beenlost, not even of wrapping paper, I think, for all is dear, that comes from Pussy; dear, and more than dear, for the word sacred came under Kitty's pen, and it is true to her kind of feeling. - Oh! Pussy, precious as in Brumath, and twenty times more! But now, Kitty wants to thank Pussy ever so much for every thing she did send Kitty, and for the American map, where so many names of town are so known already of Kitty; where she found the little cross and a track made by Pussy's pen, leading Kitty to Dansville; and where she did look this dear word so closely that she thought she could find Pussy her-self in Dansville; and for the three pages of Pussy's addresses!.. so Pussy like, that in translating one of them to one young and sweet lady friend, here, Kitty broke down, and burst in tears; she saw the expression of Pussy's face, in saying this or that; she saw the motion of the dear white hand, so calm, and slow and expressive, and yet so quiet; she heard the voice, so sympathetic, so sweet, so earnest, so thrilling (vibrante) in Kitty's memory; and for one minute it was all there, right before her; and then it was no more there, and Kitty sobbed her heart out. Oh! Pussy! if there are more of them printed, do send them to Kitty!.... How well Kitty can understand, now, Pussy's want of being alone, but not lonely! - When one has something serious to think about, or do, to be alone is a real necessity. - But does Pussy do her household work? - Oh! if Kitty were near her, how she would rush to her, and do it for her, without talking, not to disturb her!... Kitty can never brush a room, or dust a commode with a feather duster, or wring a towel, without thinking of the dear little rooms in Ritter Strasse, where she learned how to do it; all Kitty knows, Pussy taught her; Kitty had some notions, but did not have principles; now, she received principles from Pussy's teaching, and she will tell Pussy, later in this letter, all she did these years with some of the things Pussy did put in Kitty's [ti] mind. - (Does Pussy remind how Kitty did pack trunks, with boxes of coffee all open, and all the coffee running in among the dresses?) Kitty is so happy to know about the dear Catholic organisation in Dansville! and she thanks Pussy for her so kind thought of telling her about it; so Kitty feels at home, in her thoughts about Dansville, and wouldnot lack any thing if ever she went there; and this is so dear to Kitty!.. What is this Faculty, of which Pussy speaks? Here, we call faculty, a part of an University; so the medical faculty; or the faculty of theology, etc. - But it is all for men alone (as nearly every thing is!) - And if Pussy can go there to breakfast, it is quite an other organisation as here, where nobody boards in the Faculties, but only meet there to get lectures. - Yes, my most precious Pussy, Kitty knew from Mamie the immense sorrow of Mrs. Vassall's death!.. and it was not to make Pussy refer to this fearful wound of her poor loving heart, that Kitty, who dared not touch it, so bleeding she felt it to be, wrote to Pussy or to Miss Kupfer, that "up to '75 she knew all"; dear, dear Pussy! - - What can Kitty say, otherwise that to cry over Pussy's heart so full of grief! and to pray for her! - Kitty believes with all her faith that the departed ones are very near [of] us; and this comforts her in her losses; but good Heavens! how the pain remains a pain, an everlasting pain!.... Poor, dearest Pussy! - The news of Mamie, dear Mamie, my pretty little sister always so tenderly loved and remembered, have made Kitty very happy! Pretty little wife and little mother! - How happy Kitty is for her! Are her ears quite well, now? Kitty did not quite understand her dear Pussy's request, which she copies here to answer it of her best: ".... to tell Pussy without the least reserve if "there is any wish of her heart unfulfilled, any "thing she would like to have changed, to have "done, to be, to do, to go, - anything she would "whisper in Pussy's ear, if she could sit by her, "Pussy wants her to write it to her just plain "as if she had been with Pussy all the time. "Will she do it???" - Yes, oh! yes, my ever so precious! Yes! - What could Kitty keep from Pussy, if ever Kitty knows it her-self? "Any wish of her heart unfulfilled." - There was one wish of her heart unfulfilled; oh! what a wish it was!... But it could not be filled, Kitty thought, in this world! and yet, it has been: Pussy is alive!... and found! - Every time Ky thinks this, she feels her heart near to faint again with thankfulness and happiness! - Ah! now Ky does not know any wish unfulfilled in her heart!... except to see Pussy, to hear her, to nestle again in her arms, at her feet! Oh! good Heavens! to think there is no folly in this wish no more, that it can, once, be fulfilled! - "Any thing she would like to have changed." Does Pussy refer, by this, to Kitty's actual situation? - Or to her happiness or unhappinessin her soul and in the great decisions which she has taken? She will answer this dear question in every way, to be sure not to let unanswered [the] its true meaning. - In regard with my abjuration, Ky is perfectly happy to have done what she has done; she is a happy little Catholic and wishes to live and die just so; - as for the other great step which she tried to take, i e the closter life, it was a great wish of her heart, a real yearning; she has tried it; she has been a "Sister", in a Sisterhood, for over 2 years 1/2; she has worn the veil and [bi] cap and long cord, and long sleeves, of the Sisters, and lived among them, and taught young girls, and liked very much this life of piety and activity. But she had not strength to lead such a life, and though she persevered up to the end of her might, yet she could not; and half broken in body, through the too long trial she had undertaken, she felt it was better to renounce and so she did. - It has been a great pain of Ky's life, at first, to leave this good house where she was, and is, so loved; and this busy, active and yet quiet life of silence, prayer and work; but now, it is no more a sorrow, nor a regret, not even a shadow on Ky's heart; she is weak, yet busy; alone, sometimes a little lonely, but generally does not feel lonely; she is useful, and therefore happy. - Her art introduces her in many families, and let her approach many young people; she has all her pupils love and confidence; and she knows, with deep gratitude, that for several of them, her lesson is weekly expected as one hour of peace and merriness, and happiness; she sees real sorrows amongst her pupils, and though she can but guess them, she tries to give some compensation on another side; and she tries to open and nerve[s] these dear, weak, young souls. - She speaks to them of Pussy; all of them know her, love her, admire her nearly as Ky does her self; oh! no, that is impossible! one must have seen Pussy for that; but Pussy is very dear to them! and held in the utmost veneration. All Ky's life is usefully employed, and she happy and does not regret at all not to be in closter; she leads a retired little life; accepts very seldom invitations, though she is invited every where; but she prefers to keep her own independence, now that she has got it. - Once a year she goes in Switzerland, for three or four weeks; this is not a happy time for Kitty; for her father's house is in all ways, so uncongenial to her; all is troubled, restless, quarrelsome there, even affection it self, and Ky hears always reproaches for every hour of her life, to begin when she was 6 weeks old and cried all summer. - But now she does not accept it all so smoothly as she used to do; and last year, she has put some kind of stop to this train of things, if her father will understand. - If he does not, well, no matter; it is only for three or four weeks a year. - To live with him would be awful to Kitty; however she was ready, through dutifulnessto do it, if he would live in one town; but he wanted to marry again, and now Ky has no more duties towards him except to be kind when we meet, and to keep away as much as possible. - There also, she regrets nothing; she wonders how she could live in this atmosphere! But, oh! how uneasy she has been all her life, until Pussy, dear, ever blessed Pussy did widen her horizon, and let open the cage door!... So Kitty is happy! - As for marriage, of course, she regrets nothing. "To have done!" Ah! yes, yes, yes!.... She wants to have been a better child to Pussy, when she was so happy as to live with her! She feels that she did love Pussy selfishly, jealously, violently, and wanted to keep her all for her-self, and this made her often times to suffer; she well knows; she too well remembers it, and that, she wishes, oh! she wishes to her heart to have done! - "To be, to do, to go" = No; no, Darlingest! - Pussy is alive! Pussy is found! Pussy can be written to! Pussy can be gone to! Pussy can come! What else need to be, to do, to go, in Ky's life? Ah! what Ky would whisper in Pussy's ear if she were kneeled besides her, with her both arms around her Darling sweet One, would be to cry again and again: "Oh! Pussy! my ownest Pussy alive!" Now Kitty wants to tell Pussy so many things, but she does not know where to begin; it will all come, mixed up, entangled, but it does not matter how it comes! And what cannot find place in this letter, will take place in the next, which shall be begun to-morrow, as soon as this one is sealed. - Oh! to think that letters can reach Pussy, now!....Ky kissed her bureau, at this thought, as if it did communicate somehow, directly it-self with America! - Does Pussy know that Kitty has become a little sort of a physician? (médecin, she means, in french.) Pussy would have smiled, last year, if she had seen Kitty! - Kitty had there plenty to do! - could never come home without finding people waiting for her, for consultations; they were so many that she was obliged to open waiting rooms; she has had patients of all the best Doctors in town, and even from 10 leagues from here; now, she has put a stop to it, - for, with the french laws, it was really dangerous for her; and she has shut her rooms to the public as soon as her patients have become used to the treatment. - Now and then, she gives a consult, but seldom, and only when it is really necessary. - It came so: Pussy knows how interested Ky was in the ice treatment of Dr Chapman? When she came here, she made an ice bag, and used it on MissColy, this friend of whom Ky wrote to Pussy in her last letters of '73; she was severely ill, and has been saved thus; later an apopletic woman, nearly dying, has also been quite restored through it; but this system it has inconveniences, so Ky let it it go, at last; but it set her to think much about medicine when Ky's Maman was ill, at first, in May 1879, somebody spoke to Ky of another medicine named: electro homeopathia, at Count Mattei; and engaged her, with great difficulty, to read the book; Ky did, as all other hope was lost; she was struck with many things, in it; she studied it, bought the remedies, and tried, very carefully; and then met such success in Switzerland, that when her dear Mamma was well again and could be left, she returned here, and was asked immediately by some friends how to use them; she then made prescriptions, which were mostly successful, and had a depot of remedies, and has it still; these friends sent their friends, and this came to such an extent that on the consulting days, people kept coming from 8 in the morning to 9 in the evening and were waiting by full rooms all the while. Is not Pussy amused to see that crowd of patients around her little kitten? Ah! how often did Ky wish she had known this in London when her ownest Darling was so ill, and could have been cured so easily! in some days? perhaps in some minutes! Ky has cured rheumatics in 1/4 of an hour; and neuralgias also; often have people come, begging to have one neurolgia "pulled", as one would say of one tooth, and sent away quite cured. - If there is, in Pussy's surrounding, some physician in Mattei's remedies, a good honest physician and not a money maker as it is too often the case with these remedies (which are very easy to adulterate) Ky would advise her to take advices of him; without leaving the treatment of Dansville, as water cures, and Mattei's do splendidly, when mixed. Ky has done with these remedies, such marvels, here, that many physicians have been quite surprised; now, several of them begin to pick up this kind of treatment; but some lack of honesty, and falsify the remedies, to make more of them, and thus, may spoil the whole thing; it is why Ky keeps selling still remedies, which she will let go as soon as she is sure of a good successor; she hopes it will be soon, now. - How is Pussy's liver, now? - If it is not better, tell Ky about it, and she will send Pussy some grains in every letter, to help her with it. - Will Pussy do it? But Ky hopes there is some Mattei's physician somewhere around Pussy whereshe can get good advices. - Ky believes she did not yet tell Pussy where she lives! - Does Pussy remember, in Lyons, a little rail road that goes up the hill, to the Croix-Rousse? - Ky is at two minutes, scarcely, from the top station of it; there is on the hill, right before the station, a large "boulevard"; well the street where Kitty lives is the second street in the boulevard, from the station. - She has two small rooms, each one with one window; the front room, where she writes now, has a south window, looking freely on the Saône river, and on Fourvières's hill, and sees an immense bit of sky, and some trees, and the play ground of the little boys taught by the Sisters where Ky boards. - Ky is not one Sister and never shall be; she is free, there, and just as free as in Ritter Strasse. - She lives alone, but goes for her meals, to the house of the Sisters, next to hers; and is not even obliged to be over exact for the hours, though she tries to be, not to disturb uselessly any body, as Pussy used to tell her! Oh! Pussy! Now, this must be posted to-day, and to day also Ky shall continue her letter on the next leaves, which will go as soon as filled; good bye on this leave, darlingest Pussy! The little water-edges are so dear to Ky! They will return, in the next letter, copied, to Pussy, but they could not be ready for this time. So many, many kisses all over Pussy's dear hands, hair, feet, all over Pussy so loved! All love to her of Kitty! [*33 A. Margot*] 17, rue St François d'Assise Tour Pitrat Lyons October 26, 1884. - My darlingest, my beloved Pussy Two letters of you to answer! and two such good, precious letters! - Ky wants to begin, first of all, to say how happy she is to think that her own Darling is better, so much better, says she! - Dear beloved, how miserable your Ky felt at the idea of your being not well, and so tired! - Poor darling Py! Good dear Py, to be better! - Ky is also not well, but without danger; she has had a good touch of rheumatism in the left shoulder, and yesterday it has gone to the heart again, and is there; so now, I am glad I did not accompany Py in Germany, for I could be of very little use, and must lay much on the sofa, and walk slowly, and use very little my arms. - I saw the Doctor yesterday, a very good Doctor, and he says there is no disease of the heart, only a touch of rheumatism gone there, and great general weakness. - He gives me pills with digitalis and jusquiam, to regulate the sometimes extravagant motions of the heart, and some quinine in wine of Bordeaux. - Dear Dr MacLaren also writes me to day, and sends prescriptions for the general health, as she does not yet know the little accident of yesterday. - Pussy must not have the smallest anxiety about Ky; there is no danger and to-morrow Ky shall go to her lessons, but shall be careful and walk slowly like a good reasonable Ky she is. - She shall write Dr McLaren to day, and tell her, so that she can advise me how to deal with this stupid rheumatism. - The weather is excellent, dry, sunny, warm; I have my window open in writing you, and very little fire. - How delighted Ky is, to think of this splendid pin of the G.D.! She did not see it, but would know it every where from the description description! - It must be splendid! - Now a good little chain ought to be fixed to it, so that Py cannot lose it; Paris or London would be a good place for it, better I think than Carlsruhe, though they do good work sometimes in Carlsruhe. - How glad Ky is that Pussy's hair is not falling so much now; it is well that it stopps before the cold weather. - I hope Py has also good nice weather, for all her errands and visits, and I bless every sun ray, when I think it falls on her "breakfast table." - Oh! dear Py, how I would send you all my sunshine!... No, the pens are not of the same fabrik as mine, and only a poor imitation; I do hope Py will succeed to find them; did she go to Leichtlin? - But it now comes to my mind that I bought them perhaps at Döring's and not at Leichtlin; do try Döring, I believe now it is there! - (in Carlsruhe always.) - The little bird who was so ill, died; Ky has nursed him of her best, but he was already to low when I came, poor little one; the others are well, and send full their hearts of love to Py; they sing or talk all day long, and are a great interest in Ky's life. - Ky has seen some of her poor, who discovered that she had come back; but she manages them quite otherwise, and has told to the abusive woman that she must do as she does when I am away. - She lets me breathe, now Miss Mare Laren, who was very kind to her when she was here, writes me also to let that women without help, that she abuses of every one; so, with so many good advices, and that of any good Father Perra and of Father Planus, I am much more easy about that woman. - I have still two women, old and German, but those are a real joy to me; they are old and unable of work, but so clean, so nice; every thing one does for them is useful to them; they wash, they mend, they sew what I give in old clothes, and are always nice; but the other is always dirty on and around her. - I tell Pussy about my leaving that family, because she wanted me to do so, and will be glad to know I did. - When I am better, I shall try to find Mary Hindenach, but shall not undertake to help her materially, because poor Mary is of those who are impossible to help, for whom every thing must be done and not many things or something. - Dr. MacLaren, the sweet dear little lady, lectures me in her last letter, received a moment ago, about my doing too much, and I see I am wrong, and I pauperise and degrade my poor, instead of raising them by personal efforts. - My two old women cannot work, really cannot, or too little to earn any thing worth the matter; but how economically they live! - I am often obliged to insist, when they are ill, to give them something better to eat; they are, one of them especially, always afraid I am doing too much for them. - How happy Ky is that her so dearly beloved Pussy likes the little scarf, and wears it at the Court! - Every time when you wear it, do think that your little child loves you so dear, so dear!... Ky is reading Py's dear book: History of the Red Cross, and it is so full of interest to her! - She has a great mind to send one to Miss M. Laren, less for the Red Cross than to show them Pussy in it and her share in this immense political and international work. - It will be so interesting for these ladies, who work for women franchise, to see the work, the immense political work of one woman. - The book shall not come back, but I have mine, and still two others to circulate, and not many persons who can read it in english. - Ky reads it in bed, every night; in day time she has little time to read, and so she does not advance very fast. - She will soon begin to write leaflets, which later shall become book, about Pussy; her remembrances on a great many things, quotations or anecdotes; she takes notes and will write on separate leaves, and without order, just as separate chapters; she will make it her winter work, - and shall work to the picture every time she can, more likely next spring, for more light.- Monday morning. - I must at once finish this long letter and post it, so that it may perhaps still reach Py in Carlsruhe. - Ky feels nervous to day, and poorly; still she thinks her heart is better, as the rheumatism has partly come back to the shoulder. - But it is not yet finished, and she has more than ever a wish to cut her hair, not to raise up her arms so long to do it. - She has announced it as a determination to two friends, and will likely do it very soon now. How glad she will be, then! Ky is very thankful to Dr. Hubell and Mr Southmayd for their kindness to her, and "shall esteem it a great pleasure to meet them" as says so kindly of me Mr Southmayd; - oh! yes, once, I do hope to meet them! Good bye, my so tenderly beloved One, my Pride and my Love. God bless you ever and ever as your child loves you and prays for you! - I send such fond kisses to both hands, and all over dear precious You so dear. For ever your own Kitty. - [*[33] Antoinette Margot*] [*20 Geneva Convention*] 17 rue St François d'Assise Tour Pitrat Lyons, October 31. 1884 My so preciously dear Pussy Shall these lines reach you in London, or shall they miss you as did my last letter in Carlsruhe? - I do so hope they will reach my belovedest before she sails, and tell her again how her child of the continent loves her dear and dear!... I feel my heart so full, so half breaking when I think she is going away again, so far, so far from me!... Shall I ever see her again! - I hope so; I hope I shall once see her America, that I already love so much! - I could not go now; it would not have been right, and kind, and just in me, either for my employers, or for my pupils, or for my friends; now, we all together study this question and I would come to such a clear-sight and friendly understanding, that theyall tell me what some of them already say: go. - Then I should go so much more easily, with only the grief of leaving them, but without any self-reproach or trouble in my mind or heart. I am giving english lessons to two Sisters, young, bright, splendid girls; it is all pleasure; they can already begin to speak, with the some words they know. I have also found a lady who speaks beautifully in english, and who was sorry not to have some one with whom to speak; we are very glad both, to have discovered each other, so that we shall speak together, and never in french of course. - She comes often to Ky's little warm room, and will perhaps become her pupil for drawing lessons. - Ky received two or three days ago, from Dr Hubell, two news-papers, in which my letter to Miss Blackwell, of the Woman's journal, of Boston, was translated and published in entenso; I did not send one to Pussy, because of course the dear Doctor will have sent one himself; I kept one for me, not to repeat any thing of what I have said, if I write some other letter about Pussy; and sent one to Miss Mac Laren [from] for her friends editors; I don't know if they shall use it. How I love to make Pussy loved every where, where I can reach! I am nearly through with my back correspondance, and when I am clear, and have only the active daily writing, I shall begin my little anecdotes and little chapters about Pussy, which shall stay "inédits" (unknown and unpublished) until Py herself has seen them. - Ky has such a head ache to day, that she has made lots of mistakes in this letter; she writes, goes to the canopy, write again, returns to the sofa again, and feels miserable. - This rheumatism to the heart is not yet gone, and not even better; - not dangerous a bit, but disagreable, and make me feel every changeof weather. - Don't my beloved Darling be anxious; I only tell her because I tell her every thing, and to excuse the mistakes and bad writing. Oh! when I think of my Darling going so far away!... But I will be courageous, I promised it to her, and must be faithful to my word! Which day, and by what boat does she leave? By the City of Chester, I hope, as she was well on this boat; she will be cold in going; can one have a fire in the cabins? I fear it cannot be; and in the saloon? - Happily she has her warm things in London, and will wrapp herself well. - She will write me a line as soon as she has reached New-York, to tell that she is safely arrived on shore? - Ky will pray all the time, to keep her from all danger, and from taking cold. - Is Py through with her puces? Ky has only had two since she is here I do not know what became of the others. I must stop, to post this letter, and take a little trip to stop that head-ache. - Such love, and all Ky's heart with Pussy; God bless her as I love her!... For ever her own Kitty. - [*33 Antoinette Margot*] 17 rue St François d'Assise Tour Pitrat Lyons, November 6, 1884. My ownest, darlingest Pussy Two days already that your dear letter from London is here, and to think that it has not been possible to me to answer it!... I have been very, very busy, and not well, obliged several times to lay on the sofa very still, instead of writing, and to go to bed quite early, always on account of that miserable little heart which requires such care, or it will go in a fit, (and I with it, likely!) The Doctor says it is not dangerous at all, as for now, but that I must be very careful, walk slowly, etc. - I do every thing that he or Miss Mc Laren wish me to do, and I hope that in some weeks I shall be better; only I see that, as it is the second time this accident happens to me since 13 months, it is likely to happen me periodically at every fall or spring; this time it is better than the first; had it been worse, I should be gone now, and I may be struck at any time. - I am not afraid, because I know also how good is the Good dear "Father in Heaven", and I should see again the dear departed Ones. - But this time I hope I shall be spared, and live again to tell of it "as a bad time in the past." - As I could not without great fatigue take a decent care of my hair, I have cut it two days ago, not quite short, but a little longer than Dr Clisby; I wear it in a net; it does not change me a bit, for I do it just the same in front; the Sisters, with whom I take every meal, have not yet realized it, and they see me several times a day, at least five times. Kitty is so sorry that her dearest Darling has taken that bad cold in her head! She does hope with all her heart that she is better now; the weather is so splendid here that I hope Py has some of itto benefit her before sailing; to day the sun is so hot that I could not bear it without hat; it really burned my head as in mid summer. - Still, I have some fire, for the mornings are evenings are cold. - How after I thought, in seeing the beautiful blue sky where no clouds were seen since I came back, of the good it would do to my darling Pussy, to walk in this splendour of light and warm air! - I do wish I could send it all to London until she leaves it. I cannot understand why people do not use stoves instead of grates in houses, especially in Northern places as London; they are not so nice to look at, but they do know their little business so well! and they heat a room in some minutes. - I light my smaller stove 20 minutes before my bath, and those 20 minutes make my room quite hot, and my stove quite red; I bathe near the stove, and so I enjoy my bath as in summer. My feet are no more swollen since that damp bed. - How often I have thought of Mamie, since Pussy spoke to me about her, and especially since her last letter; I am so sad on her account, for I loved her, and I know what was Py's love for her, so dear, so tender, so motherly! I feel so well that my Darling is sore all over her heart about Mamie, and I can understand her feelings and her resolution not to go to Mamie; but I hope Mamie will come to Pussy, like a good, respectful child who understands that she has grieved the heart who loved her the best, and cannot eat or sleep until she has done all she could do to repair her fault; then, as I know my Py, she would forgive, and again give advice to Mamie. - But Mamie ought to come herself; oh! if I could tell her! Later, same day. - I had to leave Py for a lesson, and here I am back again; it is 4 1/2, and my birdies are going to bed; my window is full open to let in the warm and good air, and I have, as says Miss Mc Laren, "only the pretence of a fire," but it is so mild that I often travel outside of the tramway to have more air and sunshine. - I have sent Miss M. Laren a copy of the little notice on Pussy that we arranged with the book of Mrs Goegg; it interested her so much that she sent it to her friend the editor of the English woman's review, a monthly review devoted to the franchise of women; and with the notice she sent also extracts of my letter to Miss M.L. in which I also spoke of Pussy; I don't remember what I said, but I know that I did write it in the thought of its being partly published. I don't know what the editor will publish of it. - I believe that my letter was speaking of Geneva and the Convention, or Strasbourg. - I am so happy Py thinks I write a bit well! it gives me the courage to do it which, without her so kind appreciation, I would not have had. - Once or another time, I shall try to send to some french journal, if I find some way, a little article about women doctors. - I shall write it as being a husband, and not caring for my wife being treated by men; - I know that many husbands refuse medical attendance to their wives, only through jealousy. - Oh! how I do love women Doctors! - I think with such pleasure of Dr Celisby! - If ever Py meets her again, will she remind Ky to her, and tell how envious I am of her profession! - About Py's biography, I thought that if Py had any thing like time, the best would be an auto, of course! - and if she liked it, she might insert in it quotations from remembrances of friends, Ky and others, anecdotes, appreciations, which sometimes would be difficult for herself to give, speaking of her ownself. - Pussy ought to try, and when she has time (but when has she time!... I never saw her having time!) to throw page after page, as they come, without chronology, to have some written documents on which to work. - Many persons, if suggested, would be happy to pen some of their remembrances; I wouldask it of Dorr, for Andersonville; of Miss Clayborne, of that other lady whose name I have forgotten and who calls Py "my Queen," and accompanied Py on the flood, of Dr Hubbell, of Dr Austin, of Elisa Golay, and two or three others unknown to me, 8 or 10 in all; every one could bring his little tribute, and the painful part of it would get done by " "; - letters quoted, articles of news-papers with indication of title and date, all this would help Py if she could get the time to put all these documents together, which would be already no small work. - Ky will do all the share of it she can, and will do it of her best; and will not do it "when she ought to rest," she promises it to Pussy; and she will be so happy to do this dear work! - Oh! Pussy, dear beloved Pussy! dear, respected, venerated Pussy, so dear and so venerated, because in you it seems that I see so great a likeness with so many features of God! He seems to have printed His Fatherly ressemblance with such special love on you, Darling, that I can never see you without thinking with more love and gratitude of Him, who made you so kind, so noble, so good, and helped you to do so many good and grand things! - I love your doings, but in them it is you that I love, the way in which you made them, the look, the smile or the tear which accompanied them. - I love you, I do respect and honour you more than I can ever tell!... and I often think that you are my only pride in this world. - Yes, dear Pussy, Ky has done, one morning, a little too much exertion about household matters, and must have taken a little cold the first night when she arrived here; it was very cold, and she got a rheumatism in her shoulder, and it went away from there to go right to the heart. But the danger was the moment of the changing from the shoulder to the heart; then I thought I should die immediately, and I sprang to the door, not to be alone; but it passed gradually and it is now settled there; all danger, I hope, it passed for this time, but it may return if I brush a room or shake a carpet, or lift any thing a little heavy. - The good of it is that my hair is cut; I am half mad of joy about it; by and by I shall shorten it, when every body shall know it to be short; and then I shall have it as I like it, very little longer than Dr Mc Laren, and much shorter than Dr Celisby, and shall I not be glad then? Oh! glorious!... And the sea was ugly again to Pussy! I am so sorry of it! - This channel is always so rough! The last time I crossed it, I was sick also, and was sick many days after; what a miserable indisposition it is!.. I had always thought it must be much like indigestion, but it is so different and so much worse! Happily it is not dangerous, and even it is said to be very good when rightly gone through. - I hope she will have a good, quiet sea to return as she had to come, and perhaps not be sick at all. - So many thanks for the kind word to the good Fathers; Ky will tell it to them, and they will be so thankful to Py for it! - How often they have heard Py's name! I know they love her quite as if they knew her; every one of Ky's friends knows and love her; I could not love dearly somebody who would not love my own Beloved. - Ky must finish for to-day, and must send this to London, and to-morrow send some lines to Washington, to be there before my Py, or immediately after her. I cannot be long without sending something to my so, so, so dear Pussy! - I hope this will reach her in London. - Are the rooms warm on the boat? How I shall wish news, when Py is arrived in Washington, or even in New York. - Who is President? The same paper said Mr Cleveland and in the following page, said Mr Blaine, - so I don't know. Angleterre Miss Clara Barton Care of Mrs Waddington 13, Beacon Hill, - Camden Road Islington London If this letter comes too late, please send it to: American Association of the Red Cross Washington D.C. U.S.A LYON .. | .. NOV [84?] LA CRU LYON 2E | 7 NOV. 84 ... .... I long to learn that, on the boat Py was warm; cold is my only fear, for sea sickness is no real evil; does she cough now? I am afraid she does! - Has she glycerine lozenges like Ky's? - Good bye, dear, most precious Darling, you so loved! - God bless you as I love you! I cannot tell how precious this month of September is to me, to keep in my dearest remembrances! - It was so good, so good in "the good Father" to grant it to me, that I wonder how I can express my gratitude to Him, and to you, Beloved! - But I must finish, though it seems to me that I cannot; I have letters to write, and many things to do to morrow and this evening; so, with the longest and tenderest kiss of my heart, I remain for ever and ever childlikely Py's own Ky. - [*20 Gen Conv 84 Margot*] 17 rue St François d'Assise Tour Pitrat Lyons, November 14, 1884 My Darling, darlingest Pussy! Ky's letter runs after you as fast as it can, to welcome you home! Welcome, welcome! how many hearts, hands, eyes, mouths, must say that dear little word! - And how many people must be happy, to know that you are coming back to them! - I would that I am on the other side of the sea, waiting for you as I did in Geneva! Dear, so precious Pussy!... Ky's health is perhaps a bit better, she is not certain about it; any way it is not worse; the heart has been again examined wednesday, and no harm was found in it; the Doctor seems to think the nervous centers are suffering; he seems now to be pretty sure of the way in which to treat me, and he agrees with dear little Dr Agnes Mac Laren on every point but one: she wishes me to take turkish baths, and he says that if she saw me now she would not order them; I was afraid also of these baths, as heat does trouble me so much. - But, any way, I am not ill as I was last year, - and I hope to be soon nearly well. - I take great care not to take cold; I light a good fire 20 or 30 minutes before my bath, and am as hot as a toast after it; the feet are no more swelling at all. - I take iron, which saved my life last year when I was so ill, and I treat me sometimes also with my dear little Mattei's remedies. One of them is splendid against nervousness; when I tremble, inside or outside, as I did once or twice in Geneva, 5 granulas of [Cauceraro?] 5 quiet my nerves in some minutes, and then I may sleep. - Now the cold weather comes, and when it shall be there, I expect I shall be well. - I am no more feverish. - I entreat my Darling Mama not to be anxious; I feel she is; and, with the rheumatism on the heart, the dangerous moment is when it touches the heart.LONDON L L NOV 8 84 THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF [IMAGE: RED CROSS] THE RED CROSS PARIS A CALAIS 8 NOV. A When it is settled there, as long as one keeps quiet, and avoids all motions of the arms, and all quick motion or any effort, and takes precautions, and remedies, and cordials if necessary, one can get along. - I do my work just the same, give my lessons, come and go; but I do it slowly, carefully, resting any where rather than take a step more than I feel the strength, and I hope I can get out of it. - I rest much on the sofa, pretending to read, but I get asleep, and the book falls on the floor, and sometimes I sleep for hours thus, well wrapped in the green shall Py saw in Geneva. - Ky is so happy to feel Py going under such good care as the care of the Captain himself! - So she will have all what is possible to have comfortable about her, for certain; I only wish to know about fire in the cabins; I am so anxious about her taking cold, or even only her being chilly and cheerless through cold and damp sensation, in dressing and undressing, and in reading or writing. - I have no idea of boats for long journeys, knowing only our Swiss boat on the lake, and those for England in summer time; but it is now cold, cold enough for snow to fall if it chose to fall; and I suffer for Pussy, my ownest and so precious one on the water. Saturday morning, 15 November. - About Mr Blaine, Ky is so sorry for him, and for Pussy! - But is not afraid at all for the dear "Baby." - This work is too good to be endangered by any change of government; only it may be more or less helped. - Kitty has read and over, the history of the Red Cross, and it has been so interesting to her! She has appreciated so much Py's addresses, and the strength of her arguments; what speaker Py is! and how much I would hear a real address of her; I keep such a remembrance of her at the tribune, in Geneva! - Yes, the work is in the good and powerful Father's hands, and we need not fear it. What a lot of pens Py bought! Ky was nearly breathless when she read 18 boxes! - Ky is so glad that Py did find them at last! Every body in Py's house will like those pens, I am sure. - Which letter is a little softer and less sharp than M.? - Mine are M, and I like them when they are old, because they soften. - Ky sends many, many kind regards to Dr Hubbell, and to Mrs Taylor, and to all the dear ones Py shall see; I love all those who love her, and who make her life a little easy and happy. - I am really getting better, though I shall still have some bad days when the weather changes. - How unable I should be to pack if I were to go with Py this fall!... I long to know how Dr Hall will like her brooch of Rhine-stones; Py must tell me. - How I already long to hear of Py, from N.Y.! I do so hope she is not sea-sick, as I think she must be on the sea, now; poor dear Py, I shall always remember how sick she used to be on the Channel! - Dear, beloved Py, I shall be so happy to feel she is at home again, under the care of good Dr Hubbell, in her warm rooms, with her usual food and hours; I do so hope she will rest well and not be the worst for her long journey! - Ky cannot tell how touched she was for her Darling finding hard to leave her weak and sick. Dear Darling You, beloved and blessed! 12 o'clock. - I am just interrupted by the postman bringing me the last European letter of my precious traveller; how happy Ky is of the details about the State room! and how less [ill] sick Py will be there, if she is sick at all; she was, in crossing to Ireland, but the Channels are always rougher than the sea, and I do so hope she will have a good sea and a pleasant travel. - Dear, dear, dear Py, all my heart is with you! - Ky is much better "fined" this year than last year; there is a new Superior, and she is very friendly to Ky; and Ky teaches two young Sisters to speak english and to draw, and is not paid for it, so they do all is possible for her, as a compensation; the food is quite good, now;Ky spoke to the Doctor, several times, and he got the Superior to take care of it on account of the general health; and so, orders were given to the kitchen, and without expending more, we are now wholesomely fed. - So Py may think her little kitten quite well "fined" for this year; - she will see one of the "Fathers" next month, and we will consider together about papa and some other duties, and think about "next year." - Ky received a so good postal card of Dr Appia; she had written him to ask about news papers sent by Dr Mac Laren, and that I did not receive, in Geneva; and I told him that I am suffering now, and what from. - His advice is just agreeing with my Dr. - He orders also frictions on the chest; I shall add them to my treatment. - You see, Dearest, how, for the sake of you, he is good to your little weak one! - I must close this letter there, and prepare for my lesson; I have one in the "Brotteaux" very near the place where we lived, when Pussy was at home, and an other this evening in my room. This one is a very lazy young lady, my pupil in English and drawing; I cannot succeed to stimulate her. - She pinches her waist so much! - I think it takes vitality away from her, and with it all mental power. - Good, good bye, so long and so tender good bye to my beloved One! - And all her Ky's heart in her kiss, all over Py.! - How long it will be before I have a letter, now!.... Nearly one month, I fear. - It will be a long, long month for me!... God bless my Darling, I do love her so!.... so much! - Her own fond Ky. - Note: "Les Brotteaux" is a neighborhood in Lyon. [*33 A Margot*] 17 rue François d'Assise Tour Pitrat Lyons, November 22, 1884. My precious, darlingest Pussy Are you safely landed in New York, by this time? I do hope so, with all my heart! - We had two days ago a long west wind storm, coming right from the Ocean, and which must have met you a little farther than half way, perhaps even two thirds or 3/4 of the way home; I suffered to hear that wicked wind; it seemed to me that it spoke of a vessel, carrying my Darling love, and rocking in every direction, making her so sea sick! - It is all still, now, but I do no more care, for you must be landed now. - I care for those who may be on the sea, but of course, I cannot feel anxious about them as I was about my dearly beloved One! - How happy Dr Hubbell and Miss Elliott must be, now! - I am so happy for their joy, had I can understand more than any one else loving you as I love you, dear precious One! - I miss you so much! - When you were still in Europe, I did not feel so lonely about you; I also felt that you were within reach, after all; but now, Py seems so, so far away, and Ky's heart grows weak about it, often times --- But Py will be better in America for the winter, and the warm rooms, and sunny sky, and the food; and this thought makes Ky happy that Py is gone. - We have now snow, dampness, chilliness, grey sky, fog, a real November weather and I am thankful that Py has it not, for I hope she [?] a dry, clear cold, if cold at all. - What is the temperature of Washington in winter, generally? It is the latitude of south Spain, more in the South than Madrid; but is it as warm as that in winter? -Ky is getting better ; she dreaded the first apparition of the snow but now it is fallen, and she feels well. - But she is very prudent and uses her arms as little and as carefully as possible, and so she has very little palpitations, and nearly no more coming from the heart, but generally from much lower than the heart, from the "aorta," I think. - I like that better. - The Dr thinks all the trouble comes from nervous affection; and I think Miss M. L. thinks also, for they have put me to iron, and she adds "belladonna" to it. - Now Ky wants to make of her winter the very best use she can; she hopes that once she shall join Pussy in America; and when she does that, she will try to become a Doctor; but she wants to prepare for examinations, so [?] when she comes she may be sooner prepared; she has time to study, here, and wants to do her best about it. - Would Py be so kind as to send her a programme of the examinations, I mean a list of the subjects on which one may be interrogated before being admitted to an Academy. - When I know that programme I shall prepare directly for it; and, before I know it, I shall study physic and chemistry, and physiology. - A young man, son of one of my friends, who is studying for medicine, will tell me what books to get, on these three branches, and then I shall begin. - And in the meanwhile, I am writing my "remembrances" and "anecdotes", as nicely as I can. - I am glad of all this work for this winter! I do so love work, good, useful work! - Sunday, 23 November. - Is my Pussy in Washington, now? Or is the she stopping some days in New York, to get well again from sea-sickness before going home? - I do so long to have news of her long journey Tuesday, 25 November. - Had not time these days, with severallessons and several cares. - I had today a letter of papa, the first since I left Py! - He is well, but complains of the absence of rain for the gardens. Ky is well also, getting better and better every day; to day she was able to walk quite quick, and even some after an omnibus for about 100 steps, and had only a palpitation of small importance two hours after. - I received also, day before yesterday, or yesterday a paper from good Dr Hubbell, with a so nice article of Mrs Gracey about my beloved Pussy; and today a paper from Miss M. Laren; her friend has printed every line I gave them about You, Darling, and Miss Mac Laren has scraped all in pieces a private letter I wrote her, and in which I spoke of Pussy, and sent all the scraps to her friend, who printed them. - It was on Py in the Conference, and some words on Strasbourg. - I am so thankful to Dr Hubbell for having send me this newspaper; Will Py be my interpret? - Received also, some times ago a very kind letter of Mr Hepke to thank for Py's notice, and a postal card of Dr Appia with all his affectionate respect to Py. - How I do long to hear from your arrival in New York and Washington!... All these days without news are so, so long to me!... I enjoy Dr Hubbell's and Miss Elliott's happiness, and so I am happy with them; how happy I was, three months ago, of the same happiness they have now: the expectation I shall never forget this happy time in the station, and how I came at every train without even feeling or seeing the pouring rain, so full of sunshine was my heart! Ky must close her letter here, with so many kind regards to Dr Hubbell, and to Mrs Taylor; and for my beloved Pussy, the whole heart of Ky, full of love! God bless my Darling as much and as tenderly as I love her! - Such a loving, fond kiss to her from her Kitty who loves her more than she can ever tell! - My Dearest Pussy's own Kitty.now, and, as I have so little time this week, I cannot hope to finish it before Saturday; I mean only the bones of the skull. - Every particle of it is described; and as my Doctor says: "When you "shall know thoroughly all that book, "you shall have a splendid foundation." I must now stop, and go back to the skull for half an hour before supper. - Good bye, my beloved Darling Pussy, so tenderly and preciously loved. Do not be anxious about your Kitty, she is now much better, and perhaps all right, able to work very fast, and with such joy and such life! - She sends her own most precious One a long, so fond kiss! - So many thanks for the newspapers; they will be sent and [read?]! - I shall write again very soon and I do so hope that my letters will reach you quite safely, now. Good bye again and again, so lovingly from my Pussy's Kitten. 17 rue St François d'Assise Tour Pitrat Lyons, December 15th 1884 My ownest, darlingest Pussy I have received today your dear letter of 28 November, from Washington, saying you have been suffering and in bed ; darling beloved One! how sorry I was in reading this, not to be near you and taking care of you! ... You are better now, you say so, and I do so hope it is really so! - I am so sorry also to think that you did not find any letter from me waiting for your arrival; I have sent several, at least three, perhaps four, but only addressed: "Miss Clara Barton, President of the American Association of the Red Cross, Washington D.C. Etats unis d'Amérique," without indication of Street, and without "U.S.A" in english; can they have got lost? I am afraid that they may have sent back to you [in] to Geneva from the post office at Washington, if no orders havebeen given no more to send your things - But if so, you might have lost other things. The letters do not matter much, but what does matter to me is your anxiety about me, and I am afraid you may also miss my letter of this morning and perhaps this one. But on this one I shall put the street, number, U.S.A and every thing - I cannot think without a shudder of pain at Mrs Gage! - Oh! what it must have been to you! - Poor beloved One! - I shall not tell much to you about this deep grief, because I know you do not like to speak when you suffer, but I suffer with you, and I wish more than ever that I could kneel by you, with both arms around you, and pressing you to my heart [........................................?] [?] deep [.........................................?] What you tell me of the new work of the Red Cross does interest me exceedingly; no doubt the whole nation will be happy to know that the red Cross is there on the field - Your Baby, your blessed Baby will behave bravely there as it does everywhere, only I wonder what can be done? Medicine can be sent, vegetables, lin seed, all sorts of soothing, but I do not see how it is to be done; but my Pussy's head is so clear and good that she will find a way! - I am writing you from a course of anatomy and physiology that I am following this winter, and as I came early to have a good place, I brought this letter to write until the professor comes. - I could not finish my letter there, because some pupils of mine came, and seeing me, surrounded me directly, so I was no more free. - It is a cours founded by the Société des Dames françaises of whom Dr Duchaussoy spoke in the Conference of Geneva, to help for the wounded though they are not of the Red Cross. - I did not aggregate to them, because I prefer the Red Cross, and would work under their banner in case of war, but [... ...?] may be followed by anybody and I follow it with great interest. - Until now I did not learn there any thing new to me, but I hope I shall. I am studying a big book of anatomy and there I learn if not exactly new things, at least all kinds of particulars unknown to me. - I study the skull, Note: Dr. Auguste Duchaussoy, a professor at the Paris Faculty of Medicine, gave up his university career to offer training courses for nurses in anatomy, physiology, pathologies, therapeutics and hygiene, administered through the Association des Dames françaises beginning in 1881. [*R May 22 Antoinette*] [*Better write*] Form 10. Postal Telegraph and Cable Co. Miss Barton 947 C St Red Cross Assn. No. 4 [n?] Charges, Pd Form 2. POSTAL TELEGRAPH AND CABLE CO. ________________________ This Company TRANSMITS and DELIVERS messages only on conditions limiting its liability, which have been assented to by the sender of the following message. Errors can be guarded against only by repeating a message back to the sending station for comparison, and the Company will not hold itself liable for errors or delays in transmission or delivery of Unrepeated Messages, beyond the amount of tolls paid thereon, nor in any case where the claim is not presented in writing within sixty days after sending the message. This is an UNREPEATED MESSAGE, and is delivered by request of the sender, under the conditions named above. JOHN W. MACKAY, Prest. HENRY CUMINS, Gen'l Manager. GEORGE R. WILLIAMSON, Sec'y. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ NUMBER SENT BY REC'D BY CHECK. 4 [n?] Z Jo 5 Paid _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dated Lyons Rec'd at 1.10 PM To Miss Barton May 23rd 1885 ___________________________ ________________________________ Red Cross Assn 947 C.T. St So anxious - health crave news Kitty READ THE NOTICE AT THE TOP. Rate 25 cents for 20 words and 10 cents for each additional 10 words or less. [*Antoinette Margot*] 1235. Pa. Ave. Washington June the 8th 88 My dearest Pussy I have received a letter from Mme de Mentzingen, addressed to me, and very really meant for me, which kind attention has given me a very great pleasure. In this letter, already many days old, I received it just as you had left for Boston, she expresses very kind interest for your health, wishing you would take better care of it; she gives news of the health of Emperor Frederick, expecting his death at every moment; but by the telegraph we know her sad previsions to be, at least momentarily, upset. - And finally she speaks of the package of paper, saying: "Please, tell Miss Barton that I have paid 11 Mar. 95 to the paper merchant; and that what she has had to disburse, was for transportation and custom house. It remained Note: Frederick III (1831-1888), German Emperor and King of Prussia for only ninety-nine days in 1888, died June 15, 1888.Head Office, 49 Broadway, New York. [*May 22 Kitty -*] RATE 25 cents for 20 words, and 10 cents for each additional 10 words, or less. "with me 8 Marks that I have given to "the house of Deaconesses for a poor sick "family; I hope to have acted accordingly "to her intention. Tell her also a thousand "affectionate things for me; tell her that "every body here thinks of her and wants "to be recalled to her remembrance. - "My love too excellent Dr. Hubbell and Miss "Lucy Hall." - I send Pussy these lines at T St, not knowing if she is back from her travel or not, and scarcely thinking it probable; any how, there is no hurry about the reply. Ky hopes her darling Pussy is enjoying every much her stay with Mamie, and is visting many friends, and perhaps Dr. Jackson? - Has Mamie received the letter I began to write her from T st. in March, or Feb., and I could never find it again to finish it. - I hope she has. - I must now post these lines right away, with great love for my ownest Pussy, first, then for my darling Mamie, her dear little ones; without forgetting the Dr and Mr. Johnny. - A long, affectionate kiss from Pussy's Ky. - Please excuse my dirty envelopp; I have no other.16, rue du Conseil Général Genève, 3 Mars 1889 Miss Clara Barton I hope you will excuse the liberty I take to address you and beg of you to be so kind as to tell me what has become of my daughter Antoinette. You will understand how perplexed I am when I tell you that the last letter I receive from her was written on board the Bretagne on the 1st December and posted at Washington on the 12th December. I answered on the 24th of the same month; Receiving no answer I wrote her again on the 1st February and to this day I have not heard a word from her. It seems impossible that she could remains more than three months without writing to her old father had not some dreadful event occurred! Where can she be? lost amongst the red skins? I feel confident that you will be so good as to tell me what you know about her as soon as you possibly can. I remain Dear Miss Barton Yours very respectfully J Margot[*R March 17 89 Monsieur Margot " " asks news of Antoinette.*] WASHINGTON . REC'D MAR 15 10 PM 89 3 GENEVE 3.III.89 EXP. LET. Miss Cla. Barton President of the Society of the Red Cross Washington D.C. Etats Unis d'Amérique