1875.11.08 English

THE ROYAL INSTITUTEFOR THE DEAF AND DUMB

                                                                                  NOVEMBER 8, 1875

            DEAREST BROTHER JÖRGEN – AND DEAREST BROTHER JOHAN:

IT IS PROBABLY HARD FOR YOU TO IMAGINE HOW VERY MUCH MY DEAR CÄTHE AND I APPRECIATE SUCH A WONDERFUL CRATE OF GOODIES FROM YOUR KITCHEN GARDEN. WARMEST THANKS TO BOTH OF YOU DEARS. POTATOES, ONIONS, CABBAGES AND CAULIFLOWERS, ROOTS,  EVERYTHING IS FIRST GRADE WORTHY A MEDAL AT AN EXHIBITION, AND APPLES + NUTS MERITING A SPECIAL PRIZE; BUT ALAS! WOE BETIDE ME, BECAUSE I MYSELF CANNOT YET RELISH THESE SPLENDID THINGS, SINCE MY MOUTH IS STILL NOT WELL. THE PAIN AND THE SWELLING IS GONE, BUT THE JAWBONE JOINT HASN’T REGAINED IT’S COMPLETE MOBILITY. OTHERWISE, I AM DOING QUITE WELL WITH SPOON FOOD, BUT HOPEFULLY SOON IT WILL BE REPLACED BY MORE SOLID FOOD.

THANK YOU DEAR BROTHER JÖRGEN FOR YOUR LETTER THAT ARRIVED YESTERDAY. IN PARTICULAR LITTLE EMMA IS VERY HAPPY TO LEARN THAT DEAR GRANDMOTHER HAS INDEED RECEIVED HER WORK AND THAT SHE ALSO INTENDS TO USE IT.    I WOULD VERY MUCH HAVE LIKED TO HAVE JOINED YOUR CELEBRATION ON THE OCCASION OF YOUR CERTIFICATE OF COMPLETED APPRENTICESHIP, DEAR BROTHER, I AM CERTAIN YOU WILL BECOME A MASTER IN THIS AREA AS WELL.

WARMEST GREETINGS TO BOTH OF YOU AND TO DEAR MOTHER FROM ALL OF US; AND MAY DEAR MOTHER’S HEALTH IMPROVE THIS WINTER. PLEASE MOTHER, DON’T LET THE COUGHING PREVENT YOU FROM USING THE ROBORANT[1]. I SHALL NOT AGAIN VENTURE INTO PULLING TEETH. I AM SALIVATING  BY THE VERY THOUGHT OF POTATOES AND ONION BUTTER, NOT TO MENTION THE LOVELY APPLES.

YOUR DEEPLY DEVOTED BROTHER

Signed by hand:                                 R. Malling Hansen