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Dear Theo,
Thanks for your letter, be strong and He will strengthen
your heart. Today I received a long letter from home, in which
Father asked me if we could arrange to go together to Amsterdam
next Sunday, to visit Uncle Cor. If you agree I will arrive at
The Hague Saturday night at eleven o'clock, and we can go on to
Amsterdam by the first train the next morning.
I think we had better do so, Father seems to have set his
heart upon it, and it will be nice to spend another Sunday
together. Can I stay over night with you - otherwise I could go
to a hotel. Write me a postcard if it is all right, let us keep
close together.
It is already late, this afternoon I took a long walk,
because I felt I needed it, first around the Great Church, then
past the New Church, and then along the dyke, where the mills
are that one sees in the distance as one walks near the
station. There is so much expressed in this peculiar landscape
and surrounding, it seems to say: “Be of good courage,
fear not.”
Oh might I be shown the way to devote my life more
completely to the service of God and the Gospel. I keep praying
for it and I think I shall be heard, I say it in all humility.
Humanly speaking, one would say it cannot happen, but when I
think seriously about it and penetrate under the surface of
what is impossible to man, then my soul is in communion with
God, for it is possible to Him, who speaks and it is done; who
commands and it stands fast.
Oh! Theo, Theo boy, if I might only succeed in this,
A handshake and kind regards to Roos,
Ever your loving brother, Vincent
At this time, Vincent was 23 year oldSource: Vincent van Gogh. Letter to Theo van Gogh. Written 7 March 1877 in Dordrecht. Translated by Mrs. Johanna van Gogh-Bonger, edited by Robert Harrison, number 092. URL: https://www.webexhibits.org/vangogh/letter/5/092.htm.
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