Bologna, Sept. 29, 1770.

IN order to fill up papa's letter, I intend to add a few words. I
grieve deeply to hear of Jungfrau Marthe's long-continued
illness, which the poor girl bears, too, with such patience. I
hope, please God, she may still recover. If not, we must not
grieve too much, for the will of God is always best, and God
certainly knows better than we do whether it is most for our good
to be in this world or in the next. But it will cheer her to
enjoy this fine weather once more after all the rain.



24.

Bologna, Oct. 6, 1770.

I AM heartily glad that you have been so gay; I only wish I had
been with you. I hope Jungfrau Marthe is better. To-day I played
the organ at the Dominicans. Congratulate the .... from me, and
say that I sincerely wish they may live to see the fiftieth
anniversary of Father Dominikus's saying mass, and that we may
all once more have a happy meeting.

[Footnote: Jahn observes that he probably alludes to their
intimate friends, the merchant Hagenauer's family, with whom old
Mozart had many pecuniary transactions for the purpose of his
travels, and whose son entered the church in 1764.]

My best wishes to all Thereserls, and compliments to all my