01-078 [Family]
1883.05.14 Calamba
From: Lucía Mercado
To: José Rizal
She asks Rizal for prescription for the itch — News about town acquaintances and relatives.
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[Calamba, 14 May 1883]
DEAR JOSÉ,
We received your letter and we read your news and your good advice. At the same time I’m grateful to you for your efforts for our well-being, I inform you that Aunt Geña, Lieutenant Bunaque, and Leoncia Albares died. Here many are dying of the itch and almost all of us are attacked by this disease so that send us a good prescription. Marcosa is sending you regards and all of them are thankful to you because you don’t forget them, Marcosa became seriously ill, Antonio and Delfin often quarrel over you, each one claiming you.
Many regards of this sister of yours who does not forget you,
LUCÍA MERCADO
I did not write you about the seriousness of José’s sickness. When he became very grave, Coya Aben would not treat him anymore. I’m not going to tell you any more what came into my mind. I said to myself that if he did not want to go to Spain, he was going to heaven. Perhaps, because he was really going there, he suddenly improved.
Perhaps I shall not suffer what Father did when you left because right now I’m trying to accustom myself little by little, especially since José is every day looking more and more like a man and it seems that he will not let anyone take advantage of him.
THE SAME