(Translated from Bengali)
To Shri Haripada Mitra
SRINAGAR, KASHMIR,.
17th September, 1898.
DEAR HARIPADA,.
I got all news from your letter and wire. That you may easily pa.s.s your examination in Sindhi is my prayer to the Lord. Recently my health was very bad, and so I have been delayed, otherwise I had intended to leave for the Punjab this week. The doctor had advised me not to go to the plains at the present time, as it is very hot there. Perhaps I may reach Karachi by about the last week of October. Now I am doing somewhat well. There is n.o.body else with me now excepting two American friends - ladies. Probably I shall part from them at Lah.o.r.e. They will wait for me in Calcutta or in Rajputana. I shall probably visit Cutch, Bhuj, Junagad, Bhavnagar, Limbdi, and Baroda and then proceed to Calcutta. My present plan is to go to America via China and j.a.pan in November or December, but it is all in the hands of the Lord. The above-mentioned American friends bear all my expenses, and I shall take from them all my expenses including railway fare up to Karachi. But if it is convenient to you, send me Rs. 50/- by wire C/o Rishibar Mukhopadhyaya, Chief Justice, Kashmir State, Srinagar. It will be a great help to me, for I have incurred much extra expense of late owing to illness, and I feel a little ashamed to have to depend always on my foreign devotees. With best wishes,
Yours affectionately,
Cx.x.xIV.
(Translated from Bengali)
To Shri Haripada Mitra
LAh.o.r.e,.
16th October, 1898.
MY DEAR HARIPADA, In Kashmir my health has completely broken down, and I have not witnessed the Durga-Puja for the last nine years; so I am starting for Calcutta. I have for the present given up the plan of going to America. I think I shall have plenty of time to go to Karachi during the winter.
My brother-disciple Saradananda will send Rs. 50/- from Lah.o.r.e to Karachi. Don"t yield to sorrow - everything is in G.o.d"s hands. Certainly I won"t go anywhere this year without meeting all of you. My blessings to all.
Yours affectionately,
Cx.x.xV.
To Miss Josephine MacLeod
57 RAM KANTA BOSE STREET, CALCUTTA,.
12th November, 1898.
MY DEAR JOE,.
I have invited a few friends to dinner tomorrow, Sunday. . . .
We expect you at tea. Everything will be ready then. Shri Mother is going this morning to see the new Math. I am also going there. Today at 6 p.m. Nivedita is going to preside. If you feel like it, and Mrs. Bull strong, do come.
Ever yours in the Lord,
Cx.x.xVI.
To Miss Mary Hale
MATH, BELUR, HOWRAH DISTRICT,.
16th March, 1899.
MY DEAR MARY, Thanks to Mrs. Adams; she roused you naughty girls to a letter at last. "Out of sight out of mind" - as true in India as in America. And the other young lady, who just left her love as she flitted by, deserves a ducking I suppose.
Well, I have been in a sort of merry-go-round with my body which has been trying to convince me for months that it too much exists. However, no fear, with four mental-healing sisters as I have, no sinking just now. Give me a strong pull and a long pull, will you, all together, and then I am up!
Why do you talk so much about me in your one-letter-a-year and so little about the four witches mumbling Mantras over the boiling pot in a corner of Chicago?
Did you come across Max Mller"s new book, Ramakrishna: His Life and Sayings? If you have not, do, and let Mother see it. How is Mother? Growing grey? And Father Pope? Who have been our last visitors from America do you suppose? "Brother, love is a drawing card" and "Misses Meel"; they have been doing splendid in Australia and elsewhere; the same old "fellies", little changed if any. I wish you could come to visit India - that will be some day in the future. By the by, Mary, I heard a few months ago, when I was rather worrying over your long silence, that you were just hooking a "w.i.l.l.y", and so busy with your dances and parties; that explained of course your inability to write. But "w.i.l.l.y" or no "w.i.l.l.y", I must have my money, don"t forget. Harriet is discreetly silent since she got her boy; but where is my money, please? Remind her and her husband of it. If she is Woolley, I am greasy Bengali, as the English call us here - Lord, where is my money?
I have got a monastery on the Ganga now, after all, thanks to American and English friends. Tell Mother to look sharp. I am going to deluge your Yankee land with idolatrous missionaries.
Tell Mr. Woolley he got the sister but has not paid the brother yet. Moreover, it was the fat black queerly dressed apparition smoking in the parlour that frightened many a temptation away, and that was one of the causes which secured Harriet to Mr. Woolley; therefore, I want to be paid for my great share in the work etc., etc. Plead strong, will you?
I do so wish I could come over to America with Joe for this summer; but man proposes and who disposes? Not G.o.d surely always. Well, let things slide as they will. Here is Abhayananda, Marie Louse you know, and she has been very well received in Bombay and Madras. She will be in Calcutta tomorrow, and we are going to give her a good reception too.
My love to Miss Howe, Mrs. Adams, to Mother Church, and Father Pope and all the rest of my friends across the seven oceans. We believe in seven oceans - one of milk, one of honey, one of curd, one wine, one sugar-cane juice, one salt, one I forget what. To you four sisters I waft my love across the ocean of honey. . . .
Ever sincerely, your brother,
VIVEKANANDA.
PS. Write when you find time between dances.
V.