1884.07.07 English

C O P E N H A G E N   JULY 7, 1884

MY DEAR  E N G E L K E[1]

OH YES, WE WOULD BE DELIGHTED TO SEE OUR LITTLE, DEAR, TALL ENGELKE OVER HERE DURING YOUR HOLIDAY, THAT IS IF SHE HAS GRACIOUSLY BEEN GRANTED PERMISSION FROM HER MASTER AND MISTRESS TO GO ON HOLIDAY. THANKS FOR THE HUG, BY THE WAY VERY POORLY CONVEYED BY YOUR EMISSIONARY, WHO APPARENTLY DOES NOT POSSESS YOUR PHYSICAL STRENGTH. OTHERWISE, THIS LETTER SERVES PRIMARILY TO SATISFY A WISH THAT YOU HAVE STATED MANY TIMES IN VAIN TO THE UNRELIABLE LETTER-WRITERS HERE, THAT IS THE POSTAL ADDRESS OF MISS RÖNNE: IT IS: HAARSLEV NR FUGLEBJERG.

JULIANE IS STILL IN FREDERICIA AND IT SEEMS SHE WILL STAY FOR ANOTHER 10-12 DAYS.

TODAY THE ENTIRE TEACHING STAFF LEFT /EXCEPT FOR THE TWO DEAF-MUTE[2] / BY STEAMSHIP FOR CHRISTIANIA[3] FOR THE SPECIAL EDUCATION MEETING; AUNT ELISABETH AND MISS EGEDE INCLUDED. WARMEST REGARDS FROM ALL OF US TO YOU AND YOUR DEAR UNCLE AND AUNT. I AM LOOKING VERY MUCH FORWARD TO YOUR TEACHING CONDUCT CERTIFICATE.

                                                                       YOUR DEVOTED FATHER

                        (by hand):                                           R. MALLING-HANSEN