Sources:
Letters of the Tsaritsa to the Tsar, 1914-1916, published by Duckworth & Co., 1923
The letter:
No. 77.
May 8-th 1915
My beloved One,
Artsimovitch will meet you at Dvinsk to-morrow, and has proposed to bring you a letter. But I have the feeling that if the news continue not being good, that you will probably be remaining on still at the Headquarters. Such splendid weather & all quite green, a great difference after Tsarskoje. — So far all has gone beautifully & we are having three hours rest, wh. is splendid, as my back aches a lot. — We went to the Cathedral, a Te Deum of 5 minutes, the Bishop Cyrill seemed ramoli, I must say. Then went to four hospitals, the sisters of my Krestovozdvijensky Community work in one since August — in another, sisters & Drs. from Tashkent — everywhere good air, clean & nice; & not fussy. A group was taken of us with masses of wounded in a garden. Masses of Jews, & trains arrive with them from Curland — painful sight with all their packages & wee children.
The town is pretty when one crosses the river. The Children had the Governor & Mezentzev to luncheon & then the latter came & sat with me — such a nice man & works well one sees.
Now we shall be going to one of his stores & to three hospitals & to the Palace where the Gov. lives as there is a store under my protection there. We leave again at 7. I did not sleep very well. Wonder what news, feel so anxious far from you. — Now my Lovy, Goodbye & God bless you.
I kiss you from the depths of my loving heart
Ever yr. very own old
Wify.
The girls kiss you. —
I got your wire, that you have put off yr. journey, wh. is more than comprehensible — easier to be nearer these trying days — would to God that that "ray of light" might brighten into sunshine — one yearns for success — & now Essen's death, the one that the German's feared has died! Ah, what trials God sends — whom do you name in his place I wonder, who has the same energy as he for the time of war? I hate not being near you, knowing your suffering. But God Almighty will help, all our losses wont be in vain, all our prayers must be heard, no matter how hard it is now — but being far away, with scarce news is trying & yet you cannot get nearer. Sweet one, I know yr. faith & trust in God. — St. Nicholas feast to-morrow may that holy Saint intercede for our brave, struggling troops. — I had my wish & saw a sanitary train wh. brought fresh wounded of four days ago, of the sixth infantry division the Muromtzevsky and Nizovski. There were no very severe cases, thank God, tho' bad wounds, to many I said I should tell you I had seen them & their faces lit up. — We went over my store of the red cross wh. Mesentzev has, still 3 hospitals & the stores in the Governor's palace & took a cup of coffee wh. gave one new strength. My back hurts awfully — kidneys, I think crystals again wh. always cause pain. The pavement vile, glad, had our motors. Ortipo climb onto my lap, have sent her off several times without success — so yet more difficult writing on the top of her back in a shaking train. All the convalescent stood near the station when we returned, & schoolchildren.
Glorious sunset — quite summer — such dust. Shall finish this at Tsarskoe to-morrow.
May 9-th. We got here alright, the Pavlovsk line, as near Gatchina their had been an explosion on the train going with ammunitions — such a horror — 12 waggons they managed to save — one sees it was done on purpose; just what one so soreley needs, it does seem cruel. — The little ones met us at the station. Worked as usual in the hospital, was at Ania's, placed candles in Church.
After lunch received Apraxin, Hartman the Com. of the Erivantzi & a wounded officer. —
Yr. Taube lies still at Lomzha & one was obliged, alas, to amputate his leg above the knee. Now I have got Ania coming, Sonia lunched with us — one says news a wee bit better? —
The a. d. c. of the blue curassiers brought us flowers — they love Arseniev & highly appreciate him. —
The wife of one of the Georgian officers is coming to me as its their feast — & later I want to take flowers to Grabovoy's grave. —
God bless you my Sunshine I cover yr. sweet face with kisses —
Ever yr. very own
Sunny.
I have got hold of a rotten pen.
Hope to go to Church — sad to-morrow's great feast not together. —
Bow to all yr. people.
Nicholas's telegrams:
Telegram. Stavka. 8 May, 1915.
Thanks for letter and telegram. I hope that you were not very tired. To-day there was a ray of light in the news. I think it will be better for me to stay here several days more, till matters clear up. I am sure you will understand. It is warm but dull. I kiss and embrace you tenderly, also O[lga] and T[atiana].
Nicky.
...
Telegram. Stavka. 9 May, 1915.
I am glad to hear that you have returned. Hearty thanks for news. The situation has improved slightly. The weather has at last become lovely. Please thank the three younger ones for their letters. I embrace you tenderly.
NICOLAI
Above: Nicholas and Alexandra. Photo courtesy of Ilya Grigoryev at lastromanovs on VK.
Note: ramoli = exhausted.
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