1872.09.06 English

C O P E N H A G E N  SEPTEMBER 6, 1872

                                               MY DEAR BROTHER  !

MANY THANKS TO YOU AND DEAR SWEET MOTHER AND TO DEAR BROTHER JOHN FOR YOUR CONGRATULATIONS AND MOST WELCOME LETTERS. WELL, FROM YOU DEAR BROTHERS I NOW HAVE AS MANY AS 4 LETTERS TO REPLY TO. FIRST AND FOREMOST ALL OF US WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR KIND VISIT – ALTHOUGH SHORT – AND PLEASE TELL GRANDMOTHER THAT WE ARE ARE LOOKING VERY MUCH FORWARD TO SEE HER RESOLUTION  - TO VISIT US NEXT YEAR – COME THROUGH.

NOT LATER THAN THE NINTH, DEAR SWEET MOTHER WILL GET HER OWN LETTER FROM HER OLD MOUSE[1]. GRANDMOTHER EMMA SENDS HER WARM REGARDS AND THANKS FOR THE CONGRATULATIONS.

THE WHOLE FAMILY WAS UNITED AT GRANDMOTHER’S PLACE ON THE 4RTH AND THEN AGAIN ON THE 5TH AT MY HOUSE. THE DOCTOR HAS BEEN IN TOWN FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS AFTER HIS RETURN FROM THE HUNTING IN SWEDEN, FROM WHICH HE SENT US SOME DELICIOUS BLACK GROUSE.

BY NOW HE IS BACK AGAIN IN HIS DAILY DRUDGERY.

I HAVE HAD THE PLEASURE OF AN EVENING VISIT FROM MY OLD FRIEND MADS KRÖLL, WHO APPEARED HAPPY AND CONTENT. AUNT BODIL AND HER HUSBAND HAVE ALSO BEEN HERE FOR LUNCH, AND TODAY WE WILL HAVE COUSIN PER FOR DINNER.

_ _ ALSO THE GIRLS KEEP YOU DEAR BROTHERS FONDLY IN THEIR MEMORY AND OFTEN TALK ABOUT THE TWO OF YOU; BUT IN PARTICULARLY WHEN THEY ARE USING THE TOYS.

SWEET EMMA ALSO SENDS HER THANKS FOR THE CONGRATULATIONS, SHE APPROPRIATED BOTH MY BIRTHDAY AND THAT OF MOTHER-IN-LAW AND USED THEM AS HER OWN.

WE ARE ALL WELL, JUST THAT THE UNUSUAL HEAT IS VERY OPPRESSIVE.

                        LOTS OF GREETINGS TO ALL OF YOU DEARS FROM ALL OF US

                                                           YOUR DEEPLY DEVOTED

                                                           R. Malling Hansen  (by hand)