Dear Theo,
According to my promise I am writing you again, now that the
doctor has been here again. The first night has been very
quiet, and seeing that much depends on quiet, the doctor was
very satisfied.
We asked him again to tell us plainly what it was, and it is
a fact that the thighbone is broken right beneath the
joint.
You know that I was just going to pay off some debts with
the money you sent. But as there will be many extra expenses,
of course I told Father he was welcome to use it; the other
things can wait, and it was only by chance that I had not yet
sent it off. I am afraid it will be a long time before Mother
recovers.
With a handshake in thought,
Yours sincerely, Vincent
Saturday morning.
I can tell you that this night has also passed quietly, and
Mother has slept pretty well. She sends you her love. But it
will last some time, brother, before everything is all right
again.
Theo, think it over well, if you cannot find some way or
other for me to earn something. Money will be needed, and we
must also consider once more the chances of selling my work. If
it were only possible for me to pay my working expenses myself,
so that you could give Mother what you would otherwise give
me.
I told you already that I am doing watercolours of the
weavers here. I shall try to finish some. But I cannot give all
my time to them, and I must be at home as much as possible, at
least these first days. Well, as soon as the doctor has come
again today, I shall send you a postcard. Goodbye.
At this time, Vincent was 30 year oldSource: Vincent van Gogh. Letter to Theo van Gogh. Written 18 and 19 January 1884 in Nuenen. Translated by Mrs. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, edited by Robert Harrison, number 353. URL: https://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/14/353.htm.
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