Tonning1 25th Ap. 1841.
Dear Ferdinand
...2
About Bertha's Confirmation.
The Friday before there was examination.
I am sending verses that will be sung — return them — The psalms will be sung by the Choir — and will be sung again at High Festival — Easter, and Pentecost, and so on — It was beautiful we all sung the verses together. In the morning Bertha received from Mrs. Consul in Lescon,3 a pretty bouquet, which she took to Church, Aunt a golden ring with a forget-me-not of garnets, from Uncle a pressed hymn book similar to mine but in brown leather.
My silk has been dyed and given to her a new shawl and one lace shawl. She was the 2nd. Doris Peers the 1st, Hedwig Schumacher the 3rd, Gertrude Koch 4th, with boys Edward Dan the 1st, Christian Feusler etc.
On Sat. Uncle went to Hamburg by coach. We should get a letter tomorrow.
On Sunday we are all going to have coloured dresses as year well over.4 ...5 Bertha also received from Doris Gai a very pretty bag. It was lovely weather. At night we took a walk to the Cemetery.
With love from Bertha[,]6 the Mertens,
and your Sister
Iwanne.
Tönning.
Passage indicated as omitted by translator.
Lexow.
Their mother Louise Müller died 15 April 1840, and they had been wearing mourning since then.
Passage indicated as omitted by translator.
editorial addition.
Letter not found. The text given here was 'Translated in Sydney from the German', and placed in Louise Wehl's scrapbook.
Please cite as “FVM-41-04-25,” in Correspondence of Ferdinand von Mueller, edited by R.W. Home, Thomas A. Darragh, A.M. Lucas, Sara Maroske, D.M. Sinkora†, J.H. Voigt† and Monika Wells accessed on