[Postcard] 
London, 10 December 1881 

Dear Friend, 

You may have already learned from the papers of my wife’s death 
(she breathed her last on 2 December), You will find it natural 
enough that, during the first days following upon this irreplaceable 
loss, I should have been in no state to write letters; in fact, apart from 
her brother, Edgar von Westphalen, in Berlin you are the only one 
whom I have so far informed in person; other friends and acquain- 
tances have been notified by my youngest daughter.° 

To the last my wife remained your loyal friend and was rightly in- 
censed by the party’s failure to help you—a man who has, for so 
many years, been a staunch and heroic standard bearer-—— and your 
loyal spouse‘ in your struggle for existence. 

I myself am still an invalid, but on the road to recovery; so serious 
a grip had pleurisy combined with bronchitis gained over me that for 
a time, i.e. several days, the doctors doubted whether I would pull 
through. 

Farewell, dear friend. Regards to your wife. 

K. M. 

4 The last two paragraphs were added by Marx at the beginning of the letter. -° Elea- 
nor Marx -° Elisabeth Becker 

[On the side reserved for the address] 

M.J. Ph. Becker, Chemin des Vollandes, Eaux Vives. 
Genéve (Switzerland)