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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario in January 1940
Vierville Wednesday, January 3, 1940(EXTRACTS)
......we're the ones (speaks of partying)
they spent quite calmly, a little melancholy, even our big boys who feel the gravity of the current situation. They took advantage of these few days of relaxation and the great air to take long walks, they even organized snacks on the grass... by lighting fire, making chocolate! or even hot wine! and this in the company of comrades of their age (boys and girls) also came for the day of the year to join mothers and sisters stayed here in the villas. Among other things, there are 2 young people at Than Manor – 16 and 19 – very well raised and whom I can see with pleasure getting closer to our boys.
...no news these days from our corporal; I hope he will announce his arrival here shortly. I see all those who have gone like him come back here, but his 2 gallons (whom he is the only one to have caught so quickly) hold him in the task, it's the ransom of I'm in the spotlight. !
The whole dear gang left yesterday after lunch to join Coutances and take over the necklace. They all looked good, except Simon who had lost 6 kilos since September. The poor girl has her hands and feet filled with dingles, they are cold in Coutances, despite the wood stoves...... Lehoux (on leave) whom I called, found nothing abnormal, and gave him a strong diet. He told me that his wife had lost 7 kilos, and that he could quote me other examples of the same kind. .... Your elder holds on with her good health.... Their old mom.. ..but it was better to take some strength (it was long at my age!), every day my dear girls took me on a ride, it changed horizon; we were seeing some old manors and even discovered some others in high roads, turned into farms and badly maintained! But some nice details, a port, windows, everything shows the prosperity of the past. And it rested from all this restlessness....
....But we must expect tax increases, levies on rents, etc.. I have given in Pommier the papers necessary to recover the 16400F that still owes me the legacy of Robert (Robert Gervais, his brother-in-law, or Tonton Robert). He saw the representative of the Coutot house (he is mobilized) who had the toupet to propose a transaction to him. Pomier now has proof that the sum due is well in their hands, he refused naturally to this transaction which has no reason to be, we now demand a new authorization from Thibaut who has already given it to them, but it is quite obvious that we are dealing with otherwise with crooks at least .... to men called d'affaires what is almost the same thing. I wrote to Thibaut again to send them the so-called authorization by registered letter, but we must expect further delays from them.
Leterrier and Dubois came to bring their rents faithfully, ( ?), but I still have a lot of trouble with Blinqui hasn't paid me yet for the June rent. I'm going to have him ask to come see me. Don't forget, Jean, to make me follow the maté, and thank you in advance. ...
....A long letter from Robert Collard full of melancholy philosophy. There is something to do, because it is a great embarrassment in them. His daughter leaves the castle of her husband's aunt and will come with the little girl, a beautiful 15-month-old baby settles at her father's, whom she will help in her drawings; Robert has a little work. Tantine goes on her 87 years and finds that the cold helps, it is very boring to stay, as she has just done, for 15 days without going out. Martha is quite in trouble, with a threat to the spine; and Robert says to me: "She was very disappointed by the Russians! Finally, everyone sends you affections, memories, respect.
....Our parish priest said a mass for your Yo last Friday, except for Old Nan who read her Mass in her bed, the whole house was even assisting the brave Jeanne. These last prayers will help your little one's peace....
Jean C. had to write and send your parents' address to a doctor who didn't know where to send some memories about him, and who by chance met Jean's captain on a train! as he was leaving on leave...... I can't find "Set" that I told you about, I don't hope to get there.
... I assure you that the Cordelles are nicely pleased to have savings in front of them. They wouldn't otherwise be able to close their budget. Do you imagine that a short time ago to put on a big shoe for the 4 boys, the sisters left 875F at the shoe dealer's house for a All of this increases and we pay the 16F butter and the 18.50 F eggs a dozen, and we're not at the end, that's for sure.
... And your work as soldiers, what are you going to do when you leave the Riachuelo? Have you collected a lot of money yet? Your elders are still working hard especially for soldiers without families and unfortunately there are too many... I keep knitting for our old people who are to be complained about... we forget them, everything is for soldiers or children.
Meanwhile you're too hot, my darling children, you should pass us a little, the lawns are all white of frost. L-uncle Jean writes that all the kids in the east use their sleds..
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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario
Vierville 9 January 1940(EXTRACTS)
.......Moreover, I am waiting for your sisters this afternoon, they want to be at the service that will be done for Dr. Parmentier taken away in 4 days by an infectious anaemia. He was perfectly well on 31 December since he spoke nicely to your sisters when he left the Mass, he had to catch cold, was not ill tired, but he was 80!I imagine the distress.......I immediately wrote to Germaine because it can't be said that I climb the stairs leading to the villa, putting my whole house at their disposal. I then saw Emile who seemed very moved with my offer....Ms. Parmentier is, I can say, more unhappy than I was, with her two divorced children, Emile unmarried; I had my dear children so much support and tenderness near you; and I do not forget all that my John was then for his old mother that he did not leave. ...
....... Jean C. is still in the East where he tastes – without cold – 15 to 20° of cold... operations always take place in his corner and although without much activity, one thinks with anxiety that it is enough to bring the worst. May God keep him, he never complains.
Not yet seen our Phil, it seems that we forgot, but it's still his turn to come, we are very anxious to see him again. Suzon promised that she would go to Bayeux and bring him to lunch here before leaving for Coutances....
....... new mail this week, and I've been answering in part...
..a map of Odette Bligny telling me about rhythm of the seasons and their charm In the countryside, not a word from her husband who is in the East. I could not stop him from saying that the rhythm of the seasons was losing its charm when one thinks of the youth whose fate is so tragically again questioned...
... Finally this morning a letter from Collières who has just arrived on leave and finds his Gerald transformed into Pilot Sergeant He quickly won his stripes, he's still in Etampes for a few months. Denise leads the house to Orsay.
.... We had a cold and it unleashed a catastrophe in the attic, where the water pipe died, flooding the bishop's room and the small living room below. The first bedding, the baldaquin, had to be removed, the nailed carpet lifted, the one from the corridor removed, we had to remove part of the paintings from the small living room, and we made fire with the open windows to try to dry all this! but this is not a small matter! especially at this moment when the sun shines so rarely. I'd like to have the taps shut down at the entrance and exit before we run the engine, so that we can get water anywhere else, especially in the small corner of the house that I live by avoiding this crossing of the attic that has always been a mess, what do you think? We'd have to raise the water to 2atm instead of 3, it should be enough. It's a miracle that Martha noticed the disaster at 4 o'clock in the evening, it's almost dark, and at that point we never go into this part of the house. The engine could have been completely emptyed in the house until the end.
We're setting up the phone right now, portable device in my living room, double ringing (one in the kitchen) it will be convenient, although since the war, it's forbidden to phone to dept. to dept. (I think that at the time we were always going through an operator in our campaigns; the automatic was certainly in Paris.Observations by François: "Before the war, and even after, when I was at the PTT, the automatic phone existed only in the big cities, and of course not for the inter-urban")The English who are masters of the department are fierce on this, in any case it will allow for the races in Trevières, Bayeux, etc.; for once the sisters are gone I am absolutely on foot. It is not however that all our brave people in the village are not ready to do me a favor but you know me enough, Jean, to know that I am not thinking of abuse, almost not even to use it.
Wednesday, 10 January 1940
Our Suzon arrived yesterday at about 3h1/2, her younger woman having a sore throat, it was more prudent that she stay warm. I had great pleasure to see your elder again....She saw Mrs. Parmentier who has a lot of courage....This morning at 9h1/2, after the service, the body will leave immediately for St. Mandé. It had been said that we could not make this poor body travel. Transportation through this wartime is regulated and rare. I then offered to put the Dr. in our vault while waiting; it seemed to touch them infinitely. Fortunately, everything has been arranged, not without difficulty, and at what cost, it seems!
Our Suzon leaves me after lunch and I dare to hold her because his Phil will arrive at any moment in a train of permissions that will lead him to Coutances. I will see him then and it will be my pleasure. He will only have 8 days perm.
.... I'm sure I'm going through a better time, I'm much less tired and Suzon wants to make me happy by finding me more full cheeks. In cha Allah! I hope it lasts!
...I'm glad you marked a white stone on Christmas evening, my little Maine, I'm sure your parents will have done so for all the little ones around them. Did you receive my books? Yet more than a month ago they were sent, but the boat mails must be getting worse and worse. I hope my letter will find you at Riachuelo, at least you, Maine, it will do you good and the little ones will enjoy a cooler temperature....
... all my compliments for the results of your garden, little Maine, mine is well asleep now, only the vegetable garden leaves some cabbages, or leek leaves resisting white frosts. When will we see the sun again?....
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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario
Vierville 16 January 1940(EXTRACTS)
My Jean, Suzon and Phil who had arrived yesterday at 4am for dinner, bed and lunch with me, have just left for Coutances by a storm of terrible wind and snow. I would like to know them. Our Corporal arrived at Coutances last Thursday without shouting at the station, around 6am and filling the house with joyful cries that found echo. He is there until Sunday, and I am very touched that they took on their good family reunion to come to me here, because it cannot be said that I am going to Coutances in the time he has. I am sorry that the great George will not be able to see his son! He still has nothing fixed on the School of Engineering which he passed the examination, if he is not admitted, it will be the front in March! He returned to us with a superb mine, having grown up, martial air and more assured, an excellent morale, the uniform goes very well to him and his 2 galons are the pleasure to all; he is the first to have them of all those whom we know who have left. May God keep him dear little and bring him back as soon as possible.
Jean C., whose good news is always in Lorraine by a cold of –15° and fortunately well. It is strongly question that his division be brought back in the near future; I think then Simon could go to see her husband. She is better our Simon after having been tired; Lehoux ordered him I don't know what did him good....
All children are well, but JP claims to be emptied, unable to continue such an effort and completely discouraged for the May exam. Moreover, it would be a strong question to call his class as soon as spring and not September, which would prevent them from making any contests. These poor young people are well to complain of going through such a period of chaos at the time when their future will set themselves.
Good news of George who has little fun at Bizerte, the work is working well and it is being discussed to do with others, but I don't know where or what. Suzon received a letter from Mrs. Bénézeth who has the mischievousness to say "that it would never be at war, that it is not seen" Agree for her whose husband is there and who has neither child nor close relative at the front.
Our Bison knits a layette for a small Alsatian evacuated in the midday. We expect it in the 5000 that must be born incessantly; after working for the soldiers, all the women are requisitioned for these little ones whose parents were evacuated in what is called the "no mans land" between the Siegfried and Maginot lines. These unfortunate people have been in a few hours by military decision and we know too much that in such a hasty departure there can be little to take! Jean C. visited several of these villages not sufficiently respected, he told me, by our troops. The rooms are as ready to be rehab, how sad and as I feel these unfortunate ones.
To end the health, I learned with pain that Gaby on his doctor's formal injunction was leaving for the mountain for X time (it meant he was suffering from tuberculosis, which was not well treated except by rest in the mountains, his first wife Suzannette Cordelle died in 1930) He was very affected and his wife seemed afraid in her letter to Mrs Cordelle told me Suzon. She was leaving with him, leaving her 4 children to her mother. I understand, both for her husband whom she cherished tenderly, and for the future. She passed through the poor woman who had been forced to work to raise her eldest daughter. There are those who burned the candle by both ends, Gaby made a lot of money, but also spent a lot, too much, I'm sure that the future is nothing less than insured, and there are three very small ones whose senior is five years old. What a lesson!
...I got your good letter, my John, written on the boat that took you to Buenos Aires. Since we were told that a wave of intense heat is hitting Argentina. I am very happy that Maine and the little ones are fresh and I hope you will not suffer too much, but I would not swear because Rosario is painful in summer....
... I finally got the phone set up and my first conversation was with Pommier, who was responsible for recovering the 16000 francs due to Robert's estate, the liquidator who had the sum in hand to get me back, looking for a blackmail and would like me to give him a part of it. I absolutely refuse it; according to his next answer I may be pursuing it, but it will surely lose and the costs will be on him. This may make him think. Since we are talking about business, I received this morning notice that my mate arrived, thank you, Jean.
My farmers all paid, the agricultural products sold themselves very well, to a sale of animals the least cow was worth 4 to 5000F, a horse without it being a purebred 10 to 11,000F, a lame and 28 year old mare made 6000F. I had news from Pohier of the journey that we made to our poor bourins when they were requisitioned, he drove them. 1 haystack each for a 2-day trip without being watered, I am not surprised that many of them are out of service. What a gabegie, what an incuracy! Finally I finished this list by selling my 25 shares of Sidi Bou Aouane, to 248F. I immediately had 11 coupons taken from 1000F to 1 year. I had paid them 500F these shares.
Wednesday, 17 January .
I'm afraid this letter doesn't go to Paris tonight,... we woke up this morning in a snow landscape, we wouldn't see the top of the lawns anymore, that's to say if there were any. I bless the sky that it didn't happen yesterday, Suzon and Phil would have been blocked, I would have regretted... for them, because for me, it got a few hours more, but it's better that they be back with the family for the few days left in Phil to spend in perm. The brave little one has spent here the house and the commons reviewing, he loves it very much! When would I have the strength to have all of you gathered around me?
In front of the beautiful white carpet I think of your two little ones who would probably give it, and they would build a guy with his broom and his blowjob, do you remember? Meanwhile they get grilled in the sun.....
I have instructed Aunt Suzon to find out (!!!) a book and send it for your youngest 6 years, but definitely Coutances, nor Bayeux have very little resources, in Paris most suppliers have closed shop, there is not even the resource to write to them; it must be satisfied with what is found, and it is quite obvious that stocks are decreasing, everything is devoted, with reason to the army.
I had a visit to .... . . Guillemette de Pierres armed for the countryside like me for the North Pole. She had at the feet of suede shoes with extra fine soles and discovered up to the fingers of feet, I am not surprised that she is cold; the marquises glelottes in thin peels, while here I see all Parisians remained for winter warmly dressed in woollen, almost all women with trousers of pajamas or skis tight at the ankle on huge shoes with strong soles, on the head a small cap of wool or waxed canvas according to time. J-a made many of these to old women in our village who are delighted to be warm in the head. That all this must seem far away and abnormal with your beautiful sun. The most to complain about is our soldiers who...
.....Simply attached a small paper from Simon who asks that you send it to him unobtainable in France. I am very afraid that it is not bad!
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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario
Vierville Tuesday, 23 January 1940(EXTRACTS)
... we've been stuck in the snow since I wrote to you last week. The mail arrives when it can and goes the same way, the buses have been stopped for 2 days, it is said that the snow has nearly a meter high on the road to Bayeux, and this hardly surprises us to judge because we have been deprived of electricity and almost led to famine if our personal reserves had not allowed us to feed our table.... The landscape was sinister on the side of the sea violently shaken by a strong wind of NE.... No way to tear a salad or leek, and our cuttings, despite the fire maintained night and day, almost spent a bad 1⁄4 hour in the greenhouse that could no longer open the door sealed by the frost....we had –9°.
In the occupied rooms, we were able to maintain a sufficient temperature thanks to the tons of wood that is bake and the salamander that eats my anthracite. I had a wood stove placed in the room of Tatou...
.....thinking of our little soldiers who are on guard with –25 and –28° cold. That's what Jean C. is accused of fortunately supporting this without any discomfort. It looks quite like winter 1917 that looked like the 1870.....
......Our corporal left on Sunday for Vernouillet....complaint to fight with the trio of snowball comrades. Happy age! I guess he found there a near Siberian temperature...he is fortunately in excellent health, strong and strong.
.... Dautry is less generous at Armament and Gaby, despite his poor condition, has barely got 15 days to go to the mountain, which is very insufficient for him! I knew all this yesterday by phone, because I was reading the phone, it has already done me service my faith! And then what joy of hearing the sisters. .... not even cold and the Simon that her big sister requires to rest is catching up a few grams on the lost 6kg. As soon as he will do better and the roads can be used to come here with me for 2 or 3 days; it will rest her mind at least; Because the House of Coutances is animated with all these great gay and excited guys. Francis is perhaps the most angry, mimicing his screams with great gestures, the little asticotant brothers and cousin, and never so happy that when one of these people descends to roll on the floor and simulate a fight... Jean C. m的 said by returning to the front "I will find some peace" (it is good to add, m的 said Suzon, that he does not shake a finger to silence this vagrancy). As for the young Key, as the corporal calls it irreverently, she gave up hope of finding the three little angels who were around her in Rosario.
... I hope that next year we can do the same. (Going back to Paris, as many Parisians are doing right now)The hard blow is said for next spring, but as the spiritual Dorin said the other day at the TSF "there are good and bad pipes... but all are false"
.......I make small caps in series that look terribly like what our good women were wearing 50 years ago, it was a fashion thing, even in the country, but our old men are delighted to "mouch" their ears behind my knitting.I feel stronger every day and whenever time allows the butcher to face the roads, a 1⁄2 bowl of fresh beef blood that seems to be better than many drugs. Appetite is better and I can not get tired of getting busy in the house, but it is impossible to put my nose out and my military steps are just going into the house. The end of my big room is Siberian and I adopted to go the hood of my good women.
....To my two little ones, it must be said that a pretty little red-brown is, from the very cold, the host of Tatou, he hits the windows to enter, feeds himself on some crumbs, which he will even need to puncture in the bread cabinet, perches on pans, pipes of the stove, etc.
....I have not seen anyone from the Parmentier who must be even more blocked than I am at sea.
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Nany to Jean and Germaine Hausermann in Rosario
Vierville 30 January 1940Tuesday (EXTRACTS)
...I'm waiting for your two sisters to have lunch (Tomorrow).... J-Wait Simon for a few days, and then she called yesterday saying that she was waiting for a week, that this little joint getaway would do good to your elder whose morale is low enough. She received from Colonel Marchand the news that Phil was not received at the Engineering School, and that it was no wonder because there were 800 candidates for 80, we don't know when there will be another contest. ... we lack NCOs, Phil only has to do what we can to be sergeant (whom he already does) this will improve his situation immediately. The beginning for these poor kids was pretty hard and he's been lying in the straw for a long time on cement, and currently there's no sheets and only one blanket. Everything is reserved for the front, and it's natural. Suzon has completed this with another blanket and a sleeping bag.
With this Georges found himself ill after having had lunch (a little too much doubtless), he wrote immediately to Suzon; and as a great storm prevented the airmail from leaving for 3 days, she already saw him sick, alone, in the hospital, what do I know! Then the mail recovered, Georges did not feel anything, it had been nothing. He had said too much or not enough, Simon told me. So I wait for the sisters tomorrow.
... Finally, two days ago Beautiful! snow (failed)I really enjoyed having a salamander in the little dining room, without it we were not stratified. So we watched the rain with satisfaction, your sisters despite their 4 stoves and the stove couldn't feel a little bit warm, and poor Suzon had her fingers swollen with dingles. Simon felt very well about the diet and drugs recommended by Lehoux. She was preparing to go to see her husband on Sunday for 24 hours, but he is not sure that his division has completely left the front. It takes no less than 3 days to do this, Jean for his part travels with 60 cars, at night and without any lights, so it is only very easy and since he has full responsibility for it, his nights are white, because he must make sure that no one leaves on the way. Jean does not know where he is yet going, it is in the back and that is enough; after receiving instructions to take classes in Nancy, this was ordered. These allowed him to come from time to time to Paris for 24 hours and to bring his wife there.
I wish our Suzon could do the same, but the trip to Bizerte is horribly long, and not without some administrative difficulties. Georges writes to Suzon that he is waiting for Marcel (Hersent)
These days.
This one, Unoccupied For four months in a post at the back where the least sergeant would do it, managed to get placed on a special assignment for Bizerte, where the work that Heiche is leading went very badly, so he comes to take care of this (if he is capable of it!) his presence will go up Georges who only pulls out scraps of letters from the White where one seems to fall asleep – does that surprise, Jean?
....This is where our life is going again; mail, butcher, fish, suppliers and buses are working......it was a problem to make a menu; our vegetables under 30cm of snow do not seem to have suffered too much, but hungry hares are throwing themselves on our salads.
... I had sent a note to Mrs Godard that I always knew in her her hermitage – which you know – in the middle of the woods. She replied that they had to feed themselves for several days with pasta, potatoes and onions, which she fortunately had some reserves; everything went well at her home, including one of her son-in-law who had not left the front since September. Louis is at her sugar shop, and hopes to be able to go to Megève to pick up his daughter who has been there for some time. Pierre is still in Le Mans. The old Mrs. Le François feels bad about this Finnish temperature, it affects the old people a lot, and while I write to you the old mother's wine Prudence that we bury today; it's the 5th.nd of our old men for some time; Martha told me that our priest seemed to have a lot of trouble saying his mass on Sunday and that he had not preachedThat's the height of everything.
....I wrote to Thibaut about the Coutot case which seems to put a little oil in its wheels and wrote to Pommier that he would be quick to repay me as soon as he had the permission of Thibault, but this one has already given him it. He apologizes to Pommier saying that he would be sorry if he believed in his bad faith, and how he believes in it! Only he threatened him with the lightnings of justice, and that is all the explanation. I will not be angry when I have touched this!
....so our She makes a whole layette for one of the little evacuees, and that with great care, her mother tells me. The four boys work very well, but JP grinds black all day long....
....I saw Guillemette who came to take a fire, a cup of chocolate and pick a few pounds, time seems long in her house far from everything and near her mother..
The Parmentier have not yet returned from Paris, it is likely that they will notify in the most urgent fashion. ....
Wednesday, 31 January 1940
I come to finish my letter early. She must carry a thousand very tender wishes for my Titi, who will have to receive a book that I had instructed the sisters to send to Coutances for her. Can he read? and does the reading interest him? Dear little one, already 6 years! I think he sees him again, aged 12 to 14 months, bad as a monkey and knowing to make himself understand without it need to speak....
.... Letter from Tantine whose 86 years resist, she knits, she makes music (not to sting me, I believe her easily) ....
The rain continues to fall this morning, I definitely like it better than the cold. I've started to clear and cut, the flea hedges become too tall and tufted, the foot was deprived of leaves. It's partly done, and if you saw that you would raise your arms screaming at looting, but it had to come to this, if we don't want to find ourselves in front of well-defiled hedges. It's for 2 or 3 years before it gets pretty again, you'll see it beautiful when you come back.
Yesterday at the TSF I came across a German post which was broadcasting a speech which I knew to be Hitler's: a true dementer calling his minced speech It seems that it was all the usual insults that we heard this morning; it ended with Heil! If they could only be guided by a master of ceremonies. He continued endlessly without silence and I turned the button to not hear these screams that broke my heart. When one thinks of the effort, the sacrifice of all the French to defeat this wild devil, one wonders if God will not have mercy on us by getting rid of the clique that surrounds it.
I am always very quiet with our people, I have made use of Leon for various repairs in the house, he excels in it and it must be recognized that at this moment when all our craftsmen joined the army, it is very practical. He has put back in place, re-sealed the carpet of the bishop's bedroom which had finally dried, the evil is repaired, but I have been warm. I have not yet made to place the taps of stop which I had spoken at the entrance and at the exit of the attic, always cause all the harm. The antifreeze fluid you're talking about would be very difficult to apply, admitting that it's really effective, since we drink water from the engine. Do you think there's an absolute opposition to doing what I'm saying? Does the water go to the laundry room, to the toilets of my toilet and to those at the bottom, not come by a buried pipe all along the house? And who provides the water tap placed near the fruit tree? Don't forget to answer me. Do you know a plan of this water installation?
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