Wednesday

May 31, 1873

Reverend van Gogh to Theo

[…]

We have had a nice letter from Vincent. He is living in the outskirts of London and in the mornings, at 8:30 he goes into the city in a little steamer, which takes him an hour, he dines in town and comes home at seven. His lodgings are quite expensive, but he doesn't yet know what his salary will be. So far he likes it very well, and Uncle Cent has seen to it that he met some people.

[…]

[Mother] …Let that be your greatest joy and care, then you will become clever and reliable and make yourself indispensable, and this way you will have chosen the best way to be spared from temptations that you will certainly meet just like any other boy, and you remain our crown and our honour and our joy, just like Vincent, who had great satisfaction. Aren't you glad he does so well; he had so much pleasure in Paris, he had dinner with the Cailloux family, and he found the interior of the gallery splendid. Who knows if you may not work there too, some time in the future.

[…]

Our Vincent wrote that he had bought a top hat; you cannot be in London without one.

Tuesday

May 9, 1873

The Hague

Dear Theo,

Monday morning I leave Helvoirt for Paris, and shall pass Brussels at 2.07 P. M. Come to the station if you can, I should be so glad to see you.

I must not forget to tell you that I showed your photograph to Mrs. Tersteeg, and she would like very much to have one. Is there a chance of your having another and sending it to me? If not now, maybe another time.

Theo, you have no idea how kind everybody here is to me, and you can imagine how sorry I am to have to leave so many friends.

Adieu, boy. Compliments to Uncle and Aunt, hope to see you soon.

Vincent.

Inquire if you have to be at the north or the south station.

Friday

May 5, 1873

The Hague.

Dear Theo,

You must forgive me for having forgotten your birthday. My best wishes. I hope this year will be a happy one for you, and that you will like your work more and more.

My time here is almost up. Next Saturday I go home to say goodbye, and then on to Paris on Sunday. I fear, however, that it will be Monday before I can start, and that I shall have to stay over in Helvoirt on Sunday. I hope that I shall be able to write you when I'll be passing through Brussels in time. I may not be able to, as I do not know for sure when I have to be in Paris.

How are Uncle and Aunt - have they moved already? You must write me about this soon, my address is below. I am writing in a hurry; as you can imagine, I am very busy. Adieu, best wishes. Compliments to Uncle, Aunt, Mr. Schmidt and Eduard.

Always your loving Vincent.

V. W. van Gogh

C/o Messrs. Goupil & Co.,

17 Southampton Street, Strand, London

Don't forget to write V. W. van Gogh; otherwise it might be confused with Uncle Vincent's mail, he is only called V., you know.