The Additional Letter from Margaret Vail

“Chateau de Launay
Sigournais
Vendee
France

“November 6, 1956

“My dear Mrs. Rinard,

“Your letter of April 9 was received, and read with such great pleasure. I have been prevented, from many things from answering as soon as I should like to have done, but have not been prevented from thinking of you and your family, so far away.

“As a matter of fact, you were not as far away as this during the first three months if this year—for I was in the United States! I paid a long-hoped for, long deferred visit to my native land, leaving here just before Christmas, returning on Easter Sunday. I had not been home for seven years so you can imagine my joy at seeing my country again, and family and friends there. I went and returned by boat, disliking airplane travel intensely. This got me home a few days late for Rose-Helene’s eighteenth birthday but we celebrated that and Easter, at the same time, she being at home then for her holidays. She would have been in school, in any case, had I returned for March 22.

“Now she is in Switzerland, studying at the Interpreters’ School of the Geneva University. My husband and I drove her to Geneva early in October, spent a few days with her there, to get her happily and comfortably settled. Her letters tell us of her interest in her work—which, however, is very difficult—of her pleasures in the Swiss way of life, her fondness for the Swiss people she has met. She is continuing her studies of the three languages she already knows, but must learn a fourth before she can get a diploma from the Interpreters’ School. She may choose Russian, the most useful language to know today, she has been advised. Whether the world is at war (which we pray it will not be) or at peace, theirs is the language to know if one wants to find an interesting and useful situation. It is such a difficult language, I do not know whether if Rose-Helene could master it, but believe she will try; failing that, she will probably study German.

“Little John Lindsley Rinard has had his first birthday. Now there will be first teeth, first words, first steps to look forward to. How often I think of families without children—which are not families at all. Two people alone, a husband and wife, cannot constitute a family. What a void must be in their hearts, as well as in their lives. We learn much of life’s purpose and meaning through our children, through them comes to us much of life’s joy. They can bring sorrow, too, but knowing and facing trouble is part of understanding the meaning of life, Isn’t it? So far my only child has brought us only joy, and pride, but that may not always be so. If, one day, we should be disappointed in her, I hope I shall remember that, for eighteen years, she was all that we could hope for a daughter to be.

“But tell me about small John, and Susan; I didn’t mean to veer away from the subject of your children. I enjoyed so much hearing about your lives, knowing you and your husband through what you tell me of your daily routine. Today, you are voting, as I wish I could do—it is at times like this that I regret living so far from the country which is so near and so dear to my heart. From where I am, as I view the situation, it would seem that President Eisenhower will be re-elected. If this should be, let us hope his health will stand the strain of another four years in office. They promise to be hard years—the heart-breaking and dramatic events of the past ten days presage that. Oh, if only good could come out of all this turmoil and trouble; if only it could lead to better understanding between countries, between peoples. We must pray that those in whose hands our own small destinies lie, are given wisdom, strength, courage. At the moment, things look so very dark for us all.

“Your husband wanted to know what crops were gown on our farms. Wheat mostly; winter wheat only, no spring planting is done. Beets and cabbage are grown for fodder and food—Vendiens eat a great deal of cabbage. The farmers use oxen for plowing, there are only a few tractors in the whole Department; they talk to their beasts as they work, and give them names like ‘Springtime’ and ‘Rose Garden.’

“I had quite forgotten that I promised to send you a chapter of my new ms. I left for America soon after having written you. I can still send it, if it interests you. Write again, won’t you, when you have time, I enjoy this new acquaintance with you. Kindest thoughts and best wishes to you all.”

[Vail’s name here ]