27 February 1886

Calamba

Calamba, 27 February 1886

MR. JOSÉ RIZAL

Paris

MY DEAR BROTHER,

My laziness in writing you started when my letter to you and that of our beloved Mother were lost, but never have I lacked the will nor have I forgotten you. No, my brother, not everything you say in your letter is true. You know well how your sisters and also our brothers are. What I’m sorry about is the loss of that letter that our Mother sent you, written with her own hand, giving you some salutary advice, for you know the concern and duty of a good mother, who is solicitous about the eternal happiness of her children, and imagine the trouble she took to finish that letter with her eyesight as it is. The news that I can give you is that the health of our parents is better these days. In the past months our Mother suffered from stomach pain. We too, your nephews and nieces and their parents, are well; in short, the whole family.

I suppose you don’t know yet that I’m now the mother of six children. In this letter you will see the names of the three older ones written by themselves, and of the last ones, the older was Isabel, the deceased one; and the two, one girl and one boy, are called Consolación and Leoncio López, who is as fat as a melon. The children of Sra. Neneng are three: They are called Alfredo, Adela, and Abelardo. Olimpia’s shortly will be three, like Sra. Neneng’s. The two who are not here are called Aristeo and Cesario; the older one called Aristeo, what a lively boy he is! His godfather is Sr. Paciano. He will be a useful boy when he gets older. At the age of two, he already knows a great deal. He is the only consolation of our parents, I tell you, because when you see this child, even if you are angry, you will be obliged to laugh, so funny is he.

The delay of this letter is due to an eye ailment that we call singao[1] from which I was suffering when I received your letter. If you meet María Lecaroz, greet her in my behalf and give her a thousand regards from me, in case she still remembers me.

May you fare well and I wish you to be a master oculist or second to your Professor Wecker.

Your sister who esteems you,

NARCISA RIZAL

EMILIO LOPEZ ANGELICA LOPEZ ANTONINO LOPEZ

I expect this letter to have many mistakes and perhaps you that I’m having a time with Spanish. But following your example and the saying that “he who does not take a risk will not reach Spain”. Dandoy is sending you regards and is asking if one can buy an electric pin there. According to Zamora, physician, he bought his there. Let us know.

THE SAME

03-146 [Reformists]