9, rue de la régence,
As I know this must be a time of very hard work for you, I flatter myself that it is on that account I have not had the great pleasure of hearing from you. I must however write to wish you a very happy New Year and not wait until ’68 is too old. You know me now well enough & know how sincerely from my heart I wish you everything that can make you happy here and hereafter. I do not know how to faire des phrases though I was so long in la belle France,[1] but perhaps my wishes are not the less sincere for being expressed in plainp2Irish English. I hope you have been quite well ever since. I fear too much worked. Do take care of yourself and do not look too wretched when next I see you which I hope to be very soon. Madame has promised me that if nothing very unforeseen occurs she will let me spend tomorrow week in Bruges. I shall leave this on Saturday evening – so I shall sleep at home, and probably honor your Reverence with a visit on Sunday.
I am well, and I hope now that matters will go smooth as regards my being here. I have suffered of course a great deal – all changes in my life I have remarked have brought a season of intense suffering – and I had latterly un très mauvais moment – but I hope it is past and gone. Will you pray that it may not come back. I often think of, perhaps, the last advice you gave me – to take all my troubles & sufferingsp3in penance for my sins. I try to do so – the thought that every sorrow every suffering borne patiently will be accepted as an expiation is a great help to me. I often wonder latterly am I really going to be good – am I sufficiently taught yet that there is no use in struggling against the yoke. – But I cannot go on romancing it is very late, so good night. I must try to pay Père Clément a visit tomorrow morning. I was too lazy on New Year’s day. How I wish you were here.
Will you tell your sister I wish her a great deal of health and happiness during the coming year – is she stronger? It certainly is not the heat at present that would make any one weak. Here it is bitterly cold – however the house is well warmed.
Give me your blessing on my New Year when you get this & think of me sometimes especiallyp1at Mass & Benediction.