May 1896

or 06 Dapitan

Nobody arrived for her ring – Received food items – Josephine on her way to Manila with paho, lard, and coconut oil – An issue with the shoes – Will send money – Difficulty of sending her items regularly – Naria is ill – Ferne will go and stay as a boarder at their house.

* * *

Dapitan, May or, June, 1896]

Miss Trinidad Rizal

My dear sister Trining:

I received your letter and I understood it. Thank you for your solicitude; I am again in good health. Excuse me if I was not able to send your ring which you mentioned in your letter; but nobody came here, neither an unknown person nor a trustworthy one who should bring a letter of yours. As you know, I do not entrust a valuable object except to a known person, but nobody has come.

I received the butter, the locusts, the ham and the tea. Thank you very much. Miss Bracken is taking there paho, lard and coconut oil, which she expressly had made for you. I am very sorry that on the question of the shoes you have not been able to please me. Shoes for Pasia have arrived, but for her, no. But we should have patience. I am going to see if I can send you money in this mail; if not, surely it will be in the next mail, to pay for my orders. I am afraid that if you could not send the shoes I asked for her, it might have been due solely to lack of funds. I am going to see if every month I can send you coconut oil. I would like always to send you oil, lard, etc. hut the difficulty of transporting terrifies me.

Your letter was sent to Naria; they say that she is gravely ill. Ferne is not going on this trip, but they say that he will go on the next, and he will stay as a boarder in the house. I am very much afraid that he will cause you trouble, but do what you think best. If you ask my opinion, it seems to me difficult for you, women, to look after this boy. In short, you know what is convenient to you.

Without anything more, command your brother who loves you.

JOSE RIZAL

Dapitan, 3 June 1896

Rizal

To Teodora Alonso.

Not published. Sold Leon Auction March 2022

01-899 [Family]

1896(?) Dapitan

From: Jose Rizal

To: Lucía Rizal

His nieces are sick — The nephews are advancing in their studies — Now they write to their mother without dictation — They are studying fractions and they speak English — Osio can swim until 30 braces — Tanis dives like an eel and can lift up a twenty-five pound weight – Send them flannel clothes for the cold.

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No date. (Dapitan 1896)

MRS. LUCÍA RIZAL

MY DEAR SISTER SRA. LUCÍA

I have received your letter and we are very sorry for what is happening to you there.

Delfina[1] should take good care of her bronchitis because, badly treated, it can produce another illness. She must be very careful.

I cannot explain Concha’s illness.

We received here the pot of biscuits and four jars of jelly. Very many thanks.

Your two sons are getting along well in their studies. Now they send you their letters written by themselves alone without dictation. They are studying fractions. They swim a great deal and Osio can swim until 30 braces, though slowly. Tanis dives very well and he is nimble like a fish, but he tires quickly. Tanis is going to be a strong lad, he now lifts up twenty-five pounds over his head; I believe he is stronger than Uncle Nengoy.[2] I am sorry I have no horse or a bicycle to teach them how to ride. They already speak English.

With nothing more, command your brother.

JOSÉ RIZAL

Send your children shoes and flannel clothes for it is cold.

Moris is also very much advanced, but the poor one cannot write yet like Tanis. He needs also flannel clothes.

Sra. Sisa and Icang are here and I’m very glad, because here they will get over their ailment.

04-900 [Misc.]