Letter from Anton Peschka to Gertrude Peschka, née Schiele, 2nd Feb. 1915

Transcription:

Dear Gerti!
I was released for 2 days! Can’t swallow! – Sending you 16 Kronen, as I sold an etching! Probably won’t come before Sunday, because animals on the day of the Lord usually work in the morning now! Yesterday somebody sent a child to our shop asking for me to come to the corner where a girl was waiting for me! The child went to fulfill its mission. Father was thinking of you, he was uncomfortable to tell the boy that I was not home. But soon after that, I came home! I ran very hoarse and feverish to the train station, thinking that the little one had become sick and that you, unfortunately, [were] ready to depart without telling my people. I couldn’t find you anywhere! -When I come home a policeman is in the store
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and relates that a girl had just stolen a purse from a boy, on the pretext that she needed to get someone out of our store. Tableau! I went to bed calling upon God and the angels to witness my love for you, that I would protect you though deadly sick, and you? – You don’t love me anymore!

Farewell
Forever your
Teddy Bear

Thursday in February 1916. [erroneously dated 1916, instead of 1915]

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[List of dates and days of the week between December 27, 1914 and February 1, 1915]

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Sunday February 21, 1915
I. P.

[Envelope:]
Honorable Mrs.
Gertrude Peschka
c/o – Marie Schiele Vienna
XIX Hietzinger Hauptstr. 132
Door 2
Urgent

Sender Ant. [Anton ]Peschka Vienna
XII. 3. Breitenfurterstr. – 109.