Manchester, 4 February 1869 

Dear Emil, 

I have just received from Mother the sad news that our dear 
Marie Bartels died of scarlet fever on Monday* evening. The news 
moved and shocked me deeply. I had watched her, and all your 
children, growing up from the start more than the children of my 
other brothers and sisters, accordingly my attachment to her was 
livelier and warmer; I saw her last at her wedding, when she was 
so extremely happy and could look forward to a long succession of 
happy years; and now all this has come to an end. What must be 
the feelings of you and Marien,” of poor Robert‘ with his two 
small children! For twenty years you and Marie have been so 
blessed by happiness, have had so little opportunity to taste the 
tragic face of life, that such a stroke out of a clear sky must hit 
you doubly hard. In such cases words of consolation are no help; 
one must weep oneself dry like a child, till time heals the wounds. 
I am not writing to console you, but only because I know that it is 
a comfort to receive expressions of sympathy from those from 
whom one may expect them. And this sympathy and_ this 
compassion I send you, please believe me, with all my heart. 

Greet Marie, poor Robert, and all your children most heartily 
from me. 

From my heart 

Your 
Friedrich