He is risen indeed!
My dear Mashka, darling. We were so terribly glad to receive news, we kept on sharing our impressions! Forgive me for writing so crookedly, I'm just being stupid. Alexei is so sweet when he tries to do his best to eat (remember when you were there on the bench). We take turns to have breakfast with him and make him eat, although there are days when he does so without prompting. I am always with you dears in my thoughts. It's so terribly sad and lonely, I just don't know what to do.
The Lord helps and will help.
We decorated the iconostasis terribly well for Easter, all in pine and flowers as is the custom here. We took our photograph, I hope it will come out. I continue to draw, they say rather well which is pleasing.
We played on the swing, that was when I roared with laughter, the fall was so wonderful! Indeed! I told the sisters about it so many times yesterday that they got quite fed up, but I could go on telling it masses of times, only there's no one left. In fact, I have loads of things to tell you. My Jim has a cold and a cough, so he is staying at home and greeting everyone. What weather we've had! One could simply shout with joy.
Strangely enough I got more sunburnt than the others, like a real Arab! These last days I've been boring and ugly. It's cold and this morning we froze, although we did not of course return home.
I'm so sorry for forgetting to send You all, my dears, my congratulations for Easter, I kiss you not three, but masses of times. Everyone thanks you, darling, for the letters. We also had demonstrations, but feeble. At the moment we are sitting together as always, but you are missing from the room.
I'm sorry of course for such a clumsy letter, you will understand that my thoughts keep racing ahead and I can't write everything down, I just grasp at whatever enters my noodle. We are going for a walk soon, summer hasn't come and nothing is out, it's all very behind.
I want to see you so much it's depressing. I went out for a walk, but now I've come back, I'm sad and walking doesn't help. I played on the swing. The sun has come out but it's cold an my hand can barely write.
Christ be with you, my golden ones. I embrace you all and kiss you.
Anastasia.
Thanks heaps for the postcard which has just come. For now we are, thanks be to God, alive and in good health. We are always so glad when we get news from you. How is Grandma's health? We often reminisce and talk about you all. These days it's almost always sunny here and it's getting warm quite pleasant! So we do our best to get out in the fresh air more. We can't slide down the mountain anymore (though it's still standing) as they've wrecked it and put a drainage ditch through it and so we can't ride down it. Well, they seem to have calmed down about it now because it was an eyesore for many for some time. It's truly dumb and pathetic.
Well, we've found new things to do. We saw, chop and split firewood and this is a useful and enjoyable task. We're already quite good at it. By doing this we help many and for us it is a pastime. We clean the paths and the porch we've become doormen!
I've not yet turned into an elephant, though I might yet very soon. I really don't know all of a sudden maybe it's too little movement, though I don't know.
Please forgive my shocking handwriting my hand moves something dreadful. We're all fasting this week and sing (the hymns) ourselves at home. Finally we were able to go to Church! And we can have Communion there. Well, how are you all, and how are you all getting on? Nothing in particular has happened with us that I need write. I must finish now as we're going to our yard to work etc. We all hug you tightly, and I do too, and so do all the rest of us!
Goodbye, darling Aunty!
God save you! All thank you very much for your greetings and they pass on their regards to you too.
Your loving A.
Thank you tenderly for your little gift. It was so nice to have it, reminding me especially of you. We remember and speak of you often, and in our prayers we are always together. The little dog you gave is always with us and is very nice. We have arranged our rooms comfortably and all four live together. We often sit in the windows looking at the people passing, and this gives us distraction. . . . We have acted little plays for amusement. We walk in the garden behind high planks...
God bless you.
AN.
We arrived here safely. For now we are living on the steamer as the house isn't ready. As I write it is wet with rain. M is lying down as she'd caught a cold, but she's already better now. Pass on our greetings to sister and Evg. Aleks.
I hope you are all well. All the best. We kiss you. Don't forget us. Excuse the smudges.
Anastasia.
My dear, sweet, darling Papa!
I am sitting on the sofa next to Alexei having dinner with M. Gilliard, while Maria is running round like a feind. I am already allowed to go to the infirmaries again, but the weather is so foul and cold that I am not going out.
Ostrogorsky (doctor) came to see me this morning, but Maria and I were still in bed, so Maria hid under the blanket when he came to examine me, and when he had finished I quietly drew back the blanket and Maria had to crawl out, which made her very embarrassed. But as soon as he shut the door I was tipped out onto the floor. We haven't done anything very interesting during the day.
May the Lord be with you. I kiss you 10000000000 times. Your loving and truly devoted daughter.
Caspian Nastaska.
My darling Mama dear,
I hope you are not too tired, we will try not to quarrel, argue or fight, so sleep well.
May God keep you.
Your loving daughter,
Anastasia.
My dear darling golden Papa!
I thank you so much for letting us use your bath. We bathed in it yesterday, it was such a delight. I went first, there was lots of water. I was able to swim round it and then jumped in from the side, it was lovely. Fantastic! Then I splashed around some more with Maria, then it was unfortunately time for me to get out. Ortino was there barking the whole time. Then Olga and Tatiana had their bath and really enjoyed themselves!!! It was awfully good.
I am waiting for you! 1000000000000 big kisses. Your loving and truly devoted daughter.
May God keep you.
Nastanka.
Artichokes, 'artechokes' and 'elmond'-trees and 'elmond'-trees. Never grow on the nose never grow on the nose I wish they did I wish they did (thrice and more).
My golden, good, darling Papa!
We have just finished dinner. So I am sending you my nice card. I'm sure you will be pleased. Today I sat with our soldier and helped him to read, which I enjoyed very much. He has begun to learn to read and write here. Two more poor things died, we sat with them only yesterday.
Olga is hitting Maria, and Maria is shouting like an idiot. A Dragoon and a big idiot. Olga sends you another big kiss. I have already washed and must now go to bed. Tomorrow I will finish this letter.
Greetings Your Imperial Majesty! Good morning! I am going to have my tea. I slept well, without Mama and my sisters. I have my Russian lesson now. Pytor Vasilievich is reading Turgenev's, "Hunter's Notebook". Its very interesting.
I wish you all the best. 1,000,000 big kisses. Your devoted and truly loving daughter, 13-year-old servant of God.
Nastasia.
May God protect you.
I am writing again, while Shura brushes my hair for the night. Olga is having a meeting, Tatiana is also there. Anya had dinner with us, now she is on the couch, Marie is writing to you, and Mama went to see Alexei. Today we studied, then all four of us went to the store, we worked a lot plus it was rather jolly.
I don't want to go to bed, bah! I want to be there with you, wherever you are, as I don't know where it is. Alexei is better, he's in bed and in very good spirits. Pyotr Vasilievich and M. Gilliard read to him and play various games. I'm so sorry I'm writing so badly, but my hand won't write.
I have to go to sleep. I kiss you 1,000,000 times, your hands and feet. I salute you.
Your devoted 13-year-old lass called Nastasia.
Sleep sweetly and see me in your dreams, and I shall dream of you, which means we'll be quits.
How much I should like to see you again. You appeared to me today in a dream. I am always asking Mama when you will come, and I am happy then to be able to send you my greetings. I send you my warmest wishes for the New Year, and hope it will bring you health and happiness.
I think of you always my dear, because you are so good to me. I have not seen you for such a long time, but no evening passes without my thinking of you.
I wish you the best in every way. Mama has promised that when you are here again, I shall see you at Ania's. This thought already brings happiness to "your Anastasia".
I want to see you so much. I have just finished my arithmetic lesson, I think I did quite well. We are going to nurses' school. I am very glad. Today it is rainy and very damp. I am in Tatiana's room, Tatiana and Olga are here. When you see Boba, tell him that my hands are itching.
I'm trying very hard to breed worms, but Olga says I stink, which isn't true. When you come I am going to bathe in your bath. I hope you haven't forgotten the story I told you during our walk.
I am sitting picking my nose with my left hand. Olga wanted to biff me one, but I escaped her swinish hand. When you come I will meet you at the station. Be happy and healthy.
A big squeeze to your hand and face. Thinking of you. Love you always, everywhere.
Anastasia.
I am writing you such a long letter before dinner on purpose. I want to talk to you on the telephone after dinner, may I? I really want to... I hope that when we come you will be already feeling better. Mama, I won't make jokes with the officers. I will try to be gay and not show that I was crying. Tell me when you are going to have dinner? Sleep well and be healthy, take care of yourself. Loving you with all my heart and soul.
Anastasia.
