Letter from Elvina to her brother... (1899)

NRA-L-000148 / 1899

Letter from Elvina to her brother Paul Bernard concerning her child's illness and their brother Émile's happiness, July 29, 1899

Elvina writes to her brother Paul Bernard about her anxiety over her young child's unexplained stiff left leg, the doctor's uncertain diagnosis and a possible journey to Paris for medical advice. She also reflects on the happiness of their brother Émile and Guite and expresses her hope that Paul will find comparable happiness.

Neruda Archives
NRA-L-000148

NRA-L-000148 image 1 showing the addressed envelope to Paul Bernard, captain in the 21st Line Regiment at Pontarlier, with postage stamp, circular postmark, creases and upper-edge damage. — **Image 1**Address panel and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000148 image 2 showing the reverse of the envelope with a circular Pontarlier postal mark, manuscript docketing, folded flaps, creases and upper-edge damage. — **Image 2**Envelope reverse and postal evidence.

NRA-L-000148 image 3 showing the opening French manuscript page dated Saturday evening, 29 July 1899, addressed affectionately to Paul and crossed by a horizontal fold. — **Image 3**Opening page of the letter.

NRA-L-000148 image 4 showing two facing pages of continuous French family correspondence written across a folded sheet. — **Image 4**Letter text across two facing pages.

NRA-L-000148 image 5 showing a continuation page of the French family letter with dense cursive writing and horizontal and vertical folds. — **Image 5**Continuation of the letter.

NRA-L-000148 image 6 showing a further continuation page of the French family letter with cursive writing and a horizontal fold. — **Image 6**Continuation of the letter.

NRA-L-000148 image 7 showing the closing page of the French family letter, affectionate final lines, signature and horizontal fold. — **Image 7**Closing page and signature.

Archive Record

Identifier: NRA-L-000148
Date: 1899-07-29
Original date: Samedi soir 29 juil. 99; repris le 2 août
Type: Family correspondence
Language: French / fr
Sender: Elvina
Recipient: Paul Bernard
Places: Cérilly, France / Pontarlier, France
Extent: 7 documentary sides: Address panel and postal evidence; Envelope reverse and postal evidence; Opening page of the letter; Two facing pages of continuous letter text; Continuation of the letter; Further continuation of the letter; Closing page and signature; 7 digital images.
Signature: Elvina
Citation: Neruda Archives, NRA-L-000148.

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Transcript and English translation

working scholarly aid

Address panel

Original transcript

Monsieur Paul Bernard
Capitaine au 21e de ligne
Pontarlier
Doubs

Address panel

English translation

Mr Paul Bernard
Captain in the 21st Infantry Regiment
Pontarlier
Doubs

Opening page of the letter

Original transcript

Samedi soir 29 juil. 99

Mon cher petit Paul
Je suis toute seule à
la maison au milieu de
tous mes bébés endormis,
et je viens causer avec toi,
et te raconter mes inquiétudes.
2 aout
Faut-il t'envoyer ce petit
mot, il te prouvera que
j'ai eu bien des fois le
désir de t'écrire, mon
petit frère, et que je n'ai
pu trouver le temps de
le faire. Ce soir-là,
le bébé qui me donne
encore de l'inquiétude,
mon petit Loue a interrompu

Opening page of the letter

English translation

Saturday evening 29 Jul. 99
My dear little Paul
I am all alone at home amidst all my sleeping babies, and I come to chat with you, and tell you my worries.
2 August
Should I send you this little note, it will prove to you that I have had many times the desire to write to you, my little brother, and that I have not been able to find the time to do it.
That evening, the baby who still gives me worry, my little Loue interrupted my letter and left me no more leisure.

Two facing pages of continuous letter text

Original transcript

ma lettre et ne m'a plus
laissé de loisirs. Figure-toi
que ce pauvre bébé a la
petite jambe gauche très
raide, il marche comme
un petit infirme, et
extérieurement on ne
voit absolument rien,
il n'accuse aucune
douleur ni au genou, ni
à la hanche ; il va très
bien, il a très bonne mine
et ne se plaint de rien.
Le Docteur prétend que
ce doit être occasionné
par la croissance, mais
il n'a pas l'air très sûr
de son dire, et moi
je n'ai guère confiance.
Cela a commencé Vendredi,
et comme je ne vois aucun
progrès, j'ai écrit hier au
docteur qui le soigne à
Paris, et d'après sa réponse
ou je me rassurerai,
ou je lui conduirai mon
bébé. La pensée que
c'est peut être grave et
qu'il peut devenir infirme
me fait passer des heures
terribles.
Je crois bien qu'Emile
t'a écrit ces jours-ci, mais
il est si absorbé par sa
petite Guite et son bonheur,
qu'il n'a pas dû te parler
de mon pauvre bébé.
Il est bien heureux, notre
petit frère, et ils font
en effet plaisir à

Two facing pages of continuous letter text

English translation

Imagine that this poor baby has his little left leg very stiff, he walks like a little invalid, and externally one sees absolutely nothing, he complains of no pain either in the knee, or in the hip; he is doing very well, he looks very well and complains of nothing.
The Doctor claims that this must be caused by growing, but he does not seem very sure of what he says, and I have hardly any confidence.
This started on Friday, and as I see no progress, I wrote yesterday to the doctor who treats him in Paris, and according to his answer either I will be reassured, or I will take my baby to him.
The thought that it might be serious and that he might become disabled makes me spend terrible hours.
I do believe that Emile wrote to you these days, but he is so absorbed by his little Guite and his happiness, that he must not have spoken to you about my poor baby.

Continuation of the letter

Original transcript

contempler tous les deux,
c'est une image qui
repose, qui fait du bien,
on sent tant d'amour
entre eux et par suite
tant de bonheur. Seulement
on ne les voit guère, ils
sont si absorbés l'un par
l'autre, qu'ils ne rêvent
que se trouver tout seuls.
Je les entends rire et
s'amuser de ma chambre
avec une gaîté qui fait
plaisir, si je n'avais peur
de les arrêter, j'irais en
prendre ma part. Ils
vont te porter de la
gaîté et du bonheur, mon
petit Paul, tu ne saurais
croire combien je jouis
de la pensée du bon moment
que tu vas passer avec eux.

Continuation of the letter

English translation

He is very happy, our little brother, and they are indeed a pleasure to contemplate both of them, it is a restful image that does one good, one feels so much love between them and consequently so much happiness.
Only one hardly sees them, they are so absorbed by one another, that they only dream of being all alone.
I hear them laughing and having fun from my room with a cheerfulness that gives pleasure, if I were not afraid of stopping them, I would go take my part in it.
They will bring you cheerfulness and happiness, my little Paul, you would not believe how much I rejoice at the thought of the good time that you are going to spend with them.

Further continuation of the letter

Original transcript

Et pourtant parfois au
fond du cœur, je me demande
pourquoi il y a sur terre
des êtres faits pour être
heureux, des êtres pour
lesquels sont réservées de
si douces heures ; tandis
que d'autres ne semblent
guère devoir trouver sur
leur chemin que des heures
tristes ou des gaîtés d'un
moment qui laissent
toujours au cœur un
certain vide. Pourquoi
toi, mon Paul, si
digne d'être heureux, si
bien fait pour jouir
d'une vie comme celle
d'Emile n'as-tu trouvé
sur ton chemin que des

Further continuation of the letter

English translation

And yet sometimes at the bottom of my heart, I wonder why there are on earth beings made to be happy, beings for whom are reserved such sweet hours; while others hardly seem to have to find on their path anything but sad hours or momentary cheerfulness that always leaves in the heart a certain emptiness.
Why you, my Paul, so worthy of being happy, so well made to enjoy a life like that of Emile have you found on your path only disappointing hours?

Closing page and signature

Original transcript

heures décevantes ? Toi
que j'aime tant, toi
que je voudrais tant
voir heureux, auras-tu
jamais des heures comme
celles-là ? Heureusement
je te sais une nature
bien plus généreuse que
la mienne, tu sauras
jouir sans retours
égoïstes.
Je crois que je t'écris
des bêtises et que je ferais
mieux d'aller retrouver
mon pauvre petit Loue
que je dois constamment
empêcher de remuer.
Je t'aime de tout tout
mon cœur
Elvina

Closing page and signature

English translation

You whom I love so much, you whom I would so much like to see happy, will you ever have hours like those?
Fortunately I know you have a nature much more generous than mine, you will know how to enjoy without selfish afterthoughts.
I think I am writing you nonsense and that I would do better to go back to my poor little Loue whom I must constantly prevent from moving.
I love you with all all my heart
Elvina

Discovery Terms

Family correspondence
Children
Health
Medical care
Siblings
Marriage
Paul Bernard
Elvina
Émile
Guite
Cérilly
Pontarlier
Paris

Transcriptions and English translations are provided as working scholarly aids, not as replacements for the images of the original documents. Some readings may remain uncertain, especially where handwriting, spelling, damage, abbreviations, names or places are difficult.

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