Dapitan
He reports on María’s son, Moris.
* * *
Dapitan, 12 March 1896
MRS. MARÍA RIZAL
MY DEAR SISTER:
Enclosed is Moris’ letter who is just beginning to learn how to write. He is stout and dark and he knows how to swim a little. Only he is too lively and playful, always running and overturning the bottles in our house, which is shaky. He is bright and beats the two of Osio and Tan in memorizing, but Tan beats him in arithmetic and English. In slow reckoning Osio beats them all.
Miss J. made him a long cañamo[1] shirt because he tears his clothes fast. Send him a broad-brimmed hat so that he would not get so dark. Miss J. takes good care of the three. She loves them and it is she they always call. They call her Auntie. Moris wears only a shirt because he often throws water. He is good in Spanish, but it is difficult for him to drop many vulgar expressions he had learned in Manila.
This is all. Miss J greets you. Command your brother.
JOSÉ RIZAL
02-893 [Blumentritt V.2]
[1] Textile made of hemp and sturdy.