Letter 066 Ramsgate, 12 May 1876 拉姆斯盖特 1876年5月12日

Dear Theo, Thanks for your letter; I am also fond of "Tell me the old, old story." I heard it sung for the first time one evening in Paris, in a little church where I often went. Number 12 is also very beautiful. I am sorry indeed that I did not hear Moody and Sankey when they were in London. There is such a longing for religion 宗教 among the people in the large cities. Many a worker in a factory or shop has had a strange, beautiful and pious youth 虔诚的青年时期 . But city life sometimes removes "the early dew 露 of morning." Even so, the longing for "the old, old story" remains. What is at the bottom of the heart stays at the bottom of the heart. In one of his [sic] 原文如此 books Elliot [George Eliot] describes the life of factory workers, etc., who have formed a little community 团体 and hold religious services in a chapel 小礼拜堂 in Lantern Yard, and he says of it, "It is the kingdom of God on earth, no more and no less." It is touching 让人感动的 to see the thousands of people listening to the evangelists 福音传道士. Your plan of giving Father and Mother "The Farewell" by Sadée is good, so that is settled. Willemien 凡高的妹妹 will be there on May 21. From your letter I see you also intend to go. By all means do so, boy, if it is possible. There is sometimes a special blessing in such an act. What a surprise it would be for them! Mother' s last letter had a melancholy tone 忧郁的语调 ; in a word or two she touched upon 简单涉及 the necessity of our being so far from home, and her eyes too are giving her trouble. Come, boy, brighten them once more by your presence 到来 on that day. This afternoon Mr. Reid sent me a catalogue 目录 of the exhibition in London. A firm handshake and congratulations on the birthdays of Lies and Cor and also on May 21. Kind regards to Roos, in haste, Your loving brother, Vincent

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