Page:The life and writings of Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) (IA lifewritingsofal00spurrich).pdf/142

 through: in short, rely on me me to cherish mother and child.

"Au revoir, ma petite cherie; embrace for me the Donna Mica—lla, who is no bigger than one's thumb, so Madame de C. writes. I will answer hers by the next mail, as well as your mother's, whom I embrace. A toi et à l'enfant.

"."

"To think that I have only got thy letter to-day (the 1st), and that thou wilt not get this, perhaps, before the 16th!

"Je t'aime!"

The second letter is to the baby:—

",—As thy good grandmother—whom thou must love dearly, as well as thy little mother—writes me that you have need of money, I send thee 150 francs for thy new year's gift.

"I shall try to send thee also a little hamper of good things.

"There will be nothing to pay to the messenger who brings it.

"I embrace thee very tenderly.—Thy father who loves thee,

"."

(We make no apology for adding here three letters which have no strict historical value, so far as our subject is concerned, but are too characteristic of their author, with his large-heartedness, his ir-