1879.09.08 English

C O P E N H A G E N  SEPTEMBER 8, 1879

DEAREST M O T H E R!

WARMEST AND MOST HEARTFELT CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU, DEAR SWEET MOTHER, ON YOUR BIRTHDAY TOMORROW. MAY GOD BLESS YOU AND REWARD YOU FOR ALL YOUR LOVE. SO, YOU HAVE NOW REACHED 70 YEARS, AND YOUR SONS ARE ALREADY OLD BOYS, WHO WILL THANK AND BLESS YOU FOR EVER. – MAY GOD LET US LIVE TOGETHER FOR A VERY LONG TIME TO COME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE CONGRATULATIONS FROM YOU AND MY DEAR BROTHER ON THE OCCASION OF MY BIRTHDAY. I ENCLOSE SOME LETTERS FROM THE TODDLERS; THOSE THAT ARE MISSING I WILL SEND BY  NEXT MAIL. THE WHOOPING COUGH CONTINUES TO BE SUBSIDING AND IS NO LONGER A NUISANCE; IT APPEARS WE GOT OFF VERY LIGHTLY.

WARMEST REGARDS TO YOU AND TO DEAR BROTHER

                        YOUR DEEPLY DEVOTED SON

                        R. MALLING HANSEN