© Copyright 2001 R. G. Harrison Letter 353 Nuenen, 18 & 19 January 1884
Dear Theo,
According to my promise I am writing you again, now that the doctor has been here again. The first night has been very quiet, and seeing that much depends on quiet, the doctor was very satisfied.
We asked him again to tell us plainly what it was, and it is a fact that the thighbone is broken right beneath the joint.
You know that I was just going to pay off some debts with the money you sent. But as there will be many extra expenses, of course I told Father he was welcome to use it; the other things can wait, and it was only by chance that I had not yet sent it off. I am afraid it will be a long time before Mother recovers.
With a handshake in thought,
Yours sincerely, Vincent
Saturday morning.
I can tell you that this night has also passed quietly, and Mother has slept pretty well. She sends you her love. But it will last some time, brother, before everything is all right again.
Theo, think it over well, if you cannot find some way or other for me to earn something. Money will be needed, and we must also consider once more the chances of selling my work. If it were only possible for me to pay my working expenses myself, so that you could give Mother what you would otherwise give me.
I told you already that I am doing watercolours of the weavers here. I shall try to finish some. But I cannot give all my time to them, and I must be at home as much as possible, at least these first days. Well, as soon as the doctor has come again today, I shall send you a postcard. Goodbye.