Keep heart

Vincent van Gogh to Theo van Gogh, from The Hague, January 1873

I know so well how strange you must feel in the beginning, but don't lose courage, you'll get on all right. . . .

What happy days we spent together at Christmas! I think of them so often. . . . Don't forget to tell me what pictures you see and which you like best. . . .

My New Year began well; they have granted me an increase of ten guilders (I therefore earn fifty guilders per month), and they have given me a bonus of fifty guilders as a present. Isn't that splendid? I hope to be able to shift for myself now.

I am very happy that you work in the same firm. It is such a splendid house; the more one works there, the more ambition it gives you.

The beginning is perhaps more difficult than anything else, but keep heart, it will turn out all right.

Letter 3
Translation courtesy of Robert Harrison.
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