Chapter (অধ্যায়): EPISTLES PAGE-160Page: 160 of 537
Now, old "laidy"-so you have been dreaming away in Florence and the Italian lakes. Good; your poet objects to its being empty though.
Well, devoted sister, how about myself? I came to India last fall, suffered all through winter, and went this summer touring through Eastern Bengal and Assam-through a land of giant rivers and hills and malaria-and after hard work of two months had a collapse, and am now back to Calcutta slowly recovering from the effects of it.
The Raja of Khetri died from a fall a few months ago. So you see things are all gloomy with me just now, and my own health is wretched. Yet I am sure to bob up soon and am waiting for the next turn.
I wish I were in Europe, just to have a long chat with you, and then return as quick to India; for, after all, I feel a sort of quiet nowadays, and have done with three-fourths of my restlessness.
My love to Harriet Woolley, to Isabel, to Harriet McKindley; and to mother my eternal love and gratitude. Tell mother, the subtle Hindu's gratitude runs through generations.
Ever yours in the Lord,
Vivekananda
PS. Write a line when you feel like it.
V.
CIV
Math, Belur,
Dist., Howrah,
3rd June, 1901
{original in Bengali}
My dear Shashi {Swami Ramakrishnananda},
Reading your letter I felt like laughing, and also rather sorry. The cause of the laughter is that you had a