Letter 090 Dordrecht, late March 1877
Dear Theo,
Thanks for the letter which I received yesterday; having some spare time, I answer it today.
I remembered that when we were at the Van der Hoop museum we spoke about the book by Burger, so I am sending it to you by post. You will find in it another wood engraving after Doré, Judith and Holophernes, and one after Brion for your collection. Keep up your collection, and you will have a fine one in time. Please accept my small contribution to it, I am so anxious to keep in touch with you through these little things �whenever I enter my little room the prints on the walls remind me of you. It is an old truth that the love between brothers is a strong support through life: let us seek that support. May experience strengthen the bond between us, let us be true and outspoken toward each other, and let us not have any secrets �just as it is now.
Thanks for your last letter. “It is not over yet,�you say. No, it could not be over yet. Your heart will feel the need for confidence in itself and for unburdening itself - you will be hesitating between two roads: she or my father. As far as I am concerned, I believe that Father loves you more than she does �that his love is more valuable; it is pure gold:
The child puts his faith in his father,
The father is worthy of faith,
For who is nearer than the father,
In the kingdom of God or on Earth.
[Dutch hymn]
Do go there, whenever it becomes too much for you.
This week I received a letter from Uncle Vincent, who wrote that he did not think that carrying on the correspondence served any purpose, because in this case he could not be of any assistance to me at all…There was also a letter from Mr. Gladwell about Harry, who must have suffered agonies and have been sorely tried to have acted as he did.
Today Mr. Görlitz went to Etten to speak to Father about the teaching vacancy at De Leur 1. I hope with all my heart he will get it. I went to morning service today; the sermon was very beautiful, about Jesus appearing to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias (John 21).
Enclosed are a few poems by Uhland which struck me.
Write to me soon, my boy; kind regards to Roos, a handshake from Your loving brother, Vincent
Enclosed are some flowers Görlitz brought from Etten.
1. Little village near Etten.