1884.12.18 English

Handwritten letter on preprinted note paper

THE ROYAL

INSTITUTE FOR THE DEAF-MUTE

IN COPENHAGEN.

18/12 84

My dear sweet Engelke

At long last a letter from your father! hopefully he will behave better in future. However – when he hasn’t written, yet his thoughts have been with you each day, and you are always in his prayers.  –

Mother tells me to give you 14 kroner – and here it is (by postal order) – and then I owe you lots of hugs, they have always been very much welcome and agreeable to me. I will no longer send you news from home, since you are likely to get them from all the other people here that your are corresponding with. My time has become very scarce since I was put under a new director; but hopefully he is well intended; and then also I presume he may be useful for the cause of the deaf-mute.

I have great success and good fortune with the research work on measuring & weighing, surpassing my expectations; shortly a part of the results will appear in the press.

God’s love and blessing on you, my beloved child, and may you grow inside as one of God’s children and be able to help the small children to grow and develop their  qualities. That is life, the growth inside (?).

Mother says that the small sewing box is for Gerda, but itside there is something for you. By the way: [1] The box must not be opened before Christmas eve under the tree. You hear me! Good girl, nice girl!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Kisses and hugs from your deeply devoted father.

                                                                                  R. Malling-Hansen

(In the margin: Very best greetings to dear brother-in-law and dear sister-in-law)