Letter to Anna Ulyanova, August 9, 1898

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August 9, 1898

It gave Volodya great satisfaction to read out to me all the reproaches that you have written about me. Well, I admit that I am guilty but deserving of leniency.

Today Volodya finished his markets”,[Lenin’s book The Development of Capitalism in Russia—Editor] now he has only to cut it down and the job is done. In a few days, too, Webb will come safely to an end. Less than a half is left to be checked. I think the translation turned out all right in the cud.

Another box of books for Volodya—among them Adam Smith, philosophy and two books of yours by Ado Negri—has arrived addressed to Madame Friedmann She looked like raising a real storm but the outcome is that the books have been received, put on the shelves and catalogued. Volodya from time to time looks lovingly at the philosophy and dreams of the time when he will be able to wallow in it.

I received a letter from Lirochka yesterday, such a cheerful one, describing her life at Kazachinskoye. There are ten exiles there, most of whom live in a commune; they have their own vegetable garden, a cow and a meadow and live in one big house. Lii’a says she enjoys her freedom, goes picking berries and haymaking, does some housekeeping and never looks at a book. She proposes spending the summer in this way and then leaving the commune in autumn and settling down to work. It was a long and lively letter and I am very glad for her sake, she is at least getting a rest.

Life here goes on as usual and there is no news of any kind. Voiodya has been busy all the time, although occasionally he has been snipe shooting. They had intended going somewhere after snipe today but the wind has been howling mercilessly for several days, day and night. There is no rain but just this raging wind.

We are [eating] . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . bottling rasp[berries]…[The dotted line indicates part of the letter cut out together with names on the other side of the page. The last syllable of the verb in the Russian has been cut away, so the sense might have been “we are [going] …,”—Editor] in spirit, salting cucumbers—everything is as it should be, just as in Russia. We once bought some water melons but, as was to be expected, theyi turned out absolutely white without the faintest suggestion of red flesh. We have also tried cedar nuts. Volodya is thinking of going into the taiga for a couple of days; he wants to see what the taiga is like, gather berries and cones and shoot hazel grouse. There has been a lot of talk about the taiga, and it is much more interesting than the talk about ducks.

That, I think, is all there is to tell about us.

When is Manya leaving for Brussels? I am glad for her sake. I have written a letter to [Anna Ivanovna Meshcheryakova (the former [Chechurina l]),[The names in square brackets were cut out for secrecy.—Editor] our schoolteacher and my very good friend. She will be living in Lidge—the only thing I am afraid of is that she has left already and my letter will be too late.

And so good—bye; many kisses for you, Manya and Maria Alexandrovna. Regards to MT. Mother sends regards to all—she has been feeling poorly lately. All the best.

Nadya