L E T T E R S

455Letter Nr. 104Paris, July 15, 1837My dear Louis!First of all, please accept my sincere thanks for your letter, from which Isee that your kindness and your friendship for me have not changed. I held it tomy he... with great delight and true gratitude. As I read it, I comfort myself withgood thoughts, and feel myself fortified for the constant struggle with the worldand the misery of our temporal life; for my strength - multiplied by your kindnessand your prayers for me. God may bless you abundantly for this.Unfortunately, even with such sentiments in my heart, and treasuring yourcorrespondence so highly, I have treated you shabbily once again. You wanted tohave my response by the end of June. It is already July, and only now am Isending it to you. I am humbled by my weakness. I will not resort to idle excusesto hide it from you. Believe me, I did not do so through ill-will. My will is good,but still weak. In this, as in other things, how weak it is. 476Daily problems and anxieties touch me to the quick. Occupations of lesserimportance, but still urgent, occupied me, and, in spite of my good will, I fell.Moreover, wishing to write the kind of letter you requested (―on a large halfsheet,in small letters, omitting no detail in my reply‖), the kind I am beginningnow, I needed a mind that was at ease, and free time.Unfortunately, I found this impossible to achieve until just now.(Without omitting any details, I reply) 477 . However, I resolve strongly toavoid any similar neglect in the future, and to attain finally to the radicalamendment on my habitual fault: laziness when it comes to writing letters.Sacred and secular writings present examples of profound teaching by wayof dreams. I am reflecting on your dreams (about which you wrote) 478 , (prompted476 The words in parentheses are deleted in the autograph.477 The words in parentheses are deleted in the autograph.478 The words in parentheses are deleted in the autograph.