V. I.

Lenin

139

To:   HIS MOTHER

May 8, 1902

Mother dearest, A few days ago I received a postcard with a view of the
Volga and with congratulations from Manyasha. Many thanks for it. I do not know whether you have been receiving
my letters regularly lately. I have had nothing from you
except that postcard for quite a while.

Do you correspond with Y.V. who is now in St. Petersburg
and does not seem to like it very much and is thinking of coming back?

I am hoping to see you soon, my dear. [1] I hope the journey will not tire you too greatly. You absolutely must
choose day trains and spend the nights in hotels. Hotels
abroad are not expensive and you can spend a comfortable
night in one. It is quite impossible to travel for several
days without a rest because of the speed of the trains here
and of the short stops.

I am anxiously awaiting news of your departure. Perhaps
you will send a telegram from Russia, or from somewhere
abroad, when you board the train that will actually bring
you here. That would be much more convenient.

I wanted to ask you to bring some of the clothes I left
behind, but now I think it is not worth while; the things
I left behind must have come in handy for Mitya and it is
not worth the trouble of buying new things in Russia and
bringing them here. If there is anything left that is of no
use to anyone else, you could bring it (not much, of course,
so as not to overburden you).

I advise you to take express trains in Germany and
Austria (the extra fare in the third class is small but the time
gained is tremendous), and buy Hendschel’s Telegraph and
draw up a timetable before you leave home. Manyasha, for
instance, is probably familiar with that directory.

I embrace you fondly, my dear; best regards to all.

Yours,

V. U.

---
Notes:
[1]
In the summer of 1902, Lenin’s mother went abroad to visit her
son. From the end of June to July 25, Lenin lived with his mother
and his elder sister, Anna, in Loguivy (north coast of France).