25 September 1895

Dapitan

Comments on the items he ordered through her — A list of new orders — He buys nothing from the Chinese — Sent a number of his boys away — They made a kiosk with a view of the whole town — Found a big durian tree — Built a jumping board above the pond — No news if his father will still come to Dapitan — Household work Josephine Bracken is able to do — News of friends and family — Killed a large lizard and a deer up in the mountain.

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Dapitan, September 25, 1895

Miss Trinidad Rizal

My dear sister Trining:

I received your letter and I feel happy that you are going along well there. The shoes have also arrived here, but they seem to be too good for me. I would have liked them to be simpler. However, I have to wear them. The slippers are very good. You do not tell me how much the cloth iron costs. I ordered a bolt of dimity to make clothes for myself and I have not received it. Let us see if Mother can give you money to buy these orders of mine:

A bolt of black dimity for my clothing

tea

sugar

3 cavans of rice

2 small packages of small nails

I do not buy anything from the Chinese, not even needles; my clothes are made and washed at home, etc. I make wooden shoes, repair slippers and shoes, etc.

I have sent away Adolf and Filo; Adolf because he committed mischief in the town, and Filo for escaping to follow his mother. Tom, the cook, has left also. Our pond is very deep now, and the water comes through a stone canal, and even overflows the pond. Up there where I was thinking of building a house, the boys made a small kiosk, very cool and pretty, from where the whole town and the port can be seen. We hold classes and study there. We found a big durian tree, with many fruits, here on my land. In the next mail, God willing, I can send you lanzones, durian, etc. On top of the rocks, above the pond we made a jumping board, a sight which inspires fear.

You do not tell me anything if my Father is thinking of coming still, or not. I am always waiting. Miss B. is thanking you for your remembrance and sends you hers. She cooks, washes, sews, takes care of the chickens and the house. In the absence of miki for making pancit, she made a kind of long macaroni noodles out of flour and eggs, which serves the purpose. If you could [send] me a little ankak,[1] I would be grateful to you, for she makes bagoong; she makes also chili miso[2] but it would seem to me that what we have will last us for 10 years.

The two pieces of board for the cabinet will remain here: these serve us in making bread.

If our mother likes Meisik, I too like what pleases her.

It is good that Mate and Tom will come.

The mother of Lucas has not been able to pay even a cent of what she owes and for the shoes. The mother of Adolf could pay 2 reales.

Martina, the sister of Romulo, died on August 12 in Sindangan. Romulo is here with me and is now a young man.

I send my regards to friends, and give my thanks to the one who repaired my boots.

Fiscal Genio got married day before yesterday.

We caught the big lizard from the mountain; it was very hungry and during the siesta it came even under the house to catch the chickens in the enclosure. The third time he came, Joe killed him. Joe is now one of my best pupils. The best month for brooding is August, I believe; a hen which hatched thirteen eggs, was able to [keep] them alive, and now the thirteen of them are already big. They killed the deer up there, but when he was wounded he disappeared from sight, and only the bones were found afterwards.

Antonio Miranda has been very seriously ill for drinking too much wine. I cured him and now he does not take even a drop. They say that Susan is going away next month. Naria has also improved much.

Your brother who likes you,

JOSE RIZAL

01-866 [Family]