26 April, 1869.My dear little Quoquo,

You must really excuse my long silence.Marx’ Töchter Jenny und Eleanor besuchten die Lafargues in Paris am 26. März. Jenny kehrte am 14. April zurück, Eleanors Besuch dauerte bis zum 19. Mai 1869. (Siehe MECW 43 (1988), S. 616 Anm. 332. I am just head over heels immersed in work.

Now first as to your animals. Sambo has become almost inseparable from me, to make some way or other up for the absence of his supreme master. Blacky behaves always like a gentleman, but a very dull one, too. Tommy has again done everything in her power to prove the truth of the Malthus theory. Helen will to-day, I suppose, murder the new offspring of that old hag. Whiskey, that great and good personage, was at first like Calypso a Nxxxxx, not to be consoled, desperate at your departure. He declined the finest bones, never left your bedroom, and altogether exhibited all the symptoms of the deep sufferings of a “schöne Seele”. Still, when your name is uttered, he gets into a fit.—Dicky has turned out a very fine singer, and we both encourage our respective musical talents by mutual “exercises”. Sometimes, however, when I commence whistling, treats Dicky treats me as Luther treated the devil—he turns his——upon me. Jocko has come out again, but its temper is as bad as possible. Having ascertained that you are absent, it gave vent to every sort of spleen and baffled all Helen’s attempts at coaxing xx Another source of annoyance for Jocko, was the arrangement of the little garden— its a world Jocko considered justly as its own station and domain—by the gardener. Jocko misses its little hills, caves, rents, and all that lively disorder it delighted in.

As to the other “animals”—as they belong not to the dumb sort, but are rather of a most talkative kind, and perfectly able to account for their own doings—I shall just now not lose one syllable upon them.

On Friday evening, I was at dinner at Beesley’s. Besides myself, there was Crompton, a barrister, and Jung and Dupont. Jung related his own doings. He told them what “happy (literal!) speeches” he made here, and what “cutting hits” he made there. In this world of “Weltschmerz”, discontent, and restlessness, it gladdens your heart to be acquainted with an individual that is “happy” and, moreover, possesses not only one shirt, but Sarah and other good things into the bargain.

“Irishman” I send you to morrow.

Many thanks to Cacadou for her letterDer Brief von Laura Lafargue an Marx, geschrieben vor dem 26. April 1869 (L. Lafargue an Marx, vor 26.4.1869) ist nicht überliefert. .

Many kisses to Fouschtra.

And compliments to the AfricanPaul Lafargue. Siehe auch Siehe MECW 43. S. 617 Anm. 340.. It will give him great pleasure to hear—if he has not already seen from the French papers, that the first “black” ambassador of the United States has been appointed by GrantSiehe MECW 43. S. 617 Anm. 341.. Adio my little Quoquo

Yours Old Nick