Olga Nikolaevna to Pyotr Petrov
19 June 1917
19 June, 1917 - Tsarskoe Selo
Dear old P.V.P.
Thank you so much for your letter. I am so pleased that you are at last better and once again in Tsarskoe. After beastly Petrograd, the fresh air will of course do you good and restore your strength. As to how we spend our days, you will surely have heard from Zhilik.
We go for a walk in the afternoons from 2 o'clock until 5. We each do something in the garden. If it's not too close, Mama also comes out, and lies on a couch under the tree by the water. Papa goes (with several others) deep into the garden where he fells and saws up dead trees. Alexei plays on the 'children's island', runs around barefoot and sometimes swims.
Trina (Schneider) continues to weed and water the flower beds without respite. Sometimes we also help with the watering, including the roses which we have planted nearby, opposite Granny's windows. Lessons continue as normal. Maria and I are studying English together. She reads aloud to me, and if it's not too hot, will do a dictation. Twice a week she and I do Russian history. At the moment we are studying the heroes of folklore. Twice a week Anastasia and I study medieval history. It is much more difficult, as I have a terrible memory for all those events, though she isn't any better. I have myself assigned my free time to reading (boring things), history of art, French history and Russian literature. There! I think that is everything. Mama sends you her regards and is glad you are better.
Everyone sends their greetings.
Your pupil no.1, Olga
Thank you!"
Olga Nikolaevna to Olga Alexandrovna
21 June 1917
21 June 1917
My darling, dear Godmother,
Am terribly touched by your sweet letter and heartfelt words. I wanted to have a heart?to?heart talk with you when you were with us in Kiev, but there wasn't the opportunity.
Poor Mama is terribly bored; can't at all get used to the new life and the circumstances here, although on the whole we can all be grateful that we will be together and in the Crimea. So horribly sad to think about our dear nieces and their parents and about our homeland. Little Dolls!! Now it's doubly hard for you, my darling Aunt Olga. May God preserve you.
A kiss to you and Mitia. Love you sincerely and with all my heart.
Your loving Goddaughter,
Olga
Olga Nikolaevna to Pyotr Petrov
10 October, 1917 - Tobolsk
Your long letter reminded me that I have not once written to You, dear old Pyotr Vasilievich, for which I apologize.
We were very glad to learn that You are better. I hope it will stay that way. All is well with us; everyone is in good health. The weather is good.
Today it is sunny and thawing, while for the first few days of October it was almost hot, it changes so quickly. My brother and sisters have started lessons.
I am writing to you in the big hall, where the four of us have tea together. Our brother is playing with his soldiers at a separate table. M and A are reading at the window, Mama and Tatiana are playing at something, Papa is reading nearby. They all send their greetings, as do I. All my best wishes. We often remember with Zhilik how we used to torment poor old P.V.P. during lessons, and so many other things.
Your pupil Nr. 1 Olga
Papa sends you his best regards."
Olga Nikolaevna to Margarita Khitrovo
17 October 1917
Tobolsk, 17 October 1917.
Darling mine,
We all send you our heartiest congratulations and wishes on today's occasion. Though it is late, I still hope you'll get this letter in time. I sent you a postcard through Bibi, in the Crimea, but I don't know whether it reached you. It must have been terribly pleasant in Yalta. Did you meet Al. Vlad.? You know, I never replied to the nice letter Gruzd. had written me. If you ever write him, tell him that I am very grateful to him, and that sisters remember their wounded and think of them. I have not replied to Veta's letter, either; her parcel did not reach us and I do not know her address; can you tell me it? Aunt Sanya seems to still be at Tsarskoe. I don't know anything about the others. I wrote Olya, but have no reply as yet; I don't know whether she should write directly to me or through Commissar Pankratov because he receives all mail and distributes it.
Everything is all right with us. The weather is like that in the fall. There isn't much snow and it is not cold. One cannot complain, generally speaking, because the sun comes out almost every day and it is a hot sun too. We go for walks but less than before, and we have nothing to do. There is not enough snow to play in and it is not warm enough to play other games. Our house is very cozy, especially after we received carpets from Tsarskoe. Did you hear the Lyuba moved? Where is Ksenia? I hope that your brothers are in good health. Give them our regards. Do you have any news about Mal. and Nik. Dmit.? We don't know anything about him and would be glad if you would tell us something. Where is Molokh.? The sisters and brother have started their classes. At night we all sit together and play various games. Sometimes somebody reads Chekhov aloud, or something else. Some of the stories are very funny. How do you like the new spelling? It appears to me very ugly and foolish.
Did you see Tanya's parents? It seems they are still in Yalta. Where is she? It's been a long time since we've had any news from them. Are you not bored with all my questions? It is time to end. Give my regards to Zinochka and her family. Is Olga Evg. there? Good luck, my dear. Liv.'s postcards hang on walls here and delight us. God bless you.
I kiss you tenderly and think of you.
Olga.
Olga Nikolaevna to Ksenia Alexandrovna
9 November, 1917
Crimea, Ai Todor.
To the Grand Duchess Xenia Alexandrovna
Post marked: Tobolsk, 11/11/17.
Square stamp: D. Ts. 118
On the other side,post mark: Koreiz, Tavr. g.[??]
Tobolsk, 9 November, 1917.
I wrote you last on Oct. 8th, but not sure if you got that letter, so I wanted to write again. How are you my darling, my little Aunt Xenia. And how is Grandma? Everything is fine here, everyone is healthy and full of vitality, which is what we wish for you. The winter is now practically here. There is a lot of snow, and quite cold, 17.
We take walks and do the same things, so there unfortunately is nothing new to tell you. The real Siberians bundle up more than we do; many walk around bundled up from head to toe in fur coats.
The hats have the same long hanging flaps; on their feet (...) or bright red boots. The sleds are interesting, some are tiny like toys, but the horses run very fast like race horses, ?? others look like crim.[ian], on which we rode.
When the bright sun is out, regardless of the freeze, it warms you up, especially inside through the window. There are three pots with tsiklamenams [some sort of a plant, I guess], which I got for the 3rd [?], in the hall there is another unknown little tree, wh. I dug up from the greenhouse, where the chickens that probably belonged to the governor now live.
I washed it for a long time bec. it was covered with dust and now I water it occasionally. Usually the leaves remind me to do this, as they start to wilt. I regret that you can't see our house, because it is very comfortable, and we feel right at home here.
It's sort of annoying that everyone has different time, here until March they keep changing it, but I can't remember if forward or backwards, and then back again. They don't pay any attention to daylight, I think that the sun always rises at the same time.
Do you ever see your granddaughter. How is she. I hope you are not too bored reading this?
Good bye, going to breakfast now. I kiss you many times my little darling. Christ be with you. All of us hug all of you and remember you.
Olga.
A P.S. on top of the first page in G.D. Tatiana Nikolaevna's handwriting: I kiss you and thank you with tender memories. Your Tatiana
Olga Nikolaevna to Pyotr Petrov
23 November, 1917 - Tobolsk
I thank You dear old Pyotr Vasilievich for your letter, which I received today, a month after You sent it. It arrived in Tobolsk on 31st Oct (I saw it from the stamp) and I can't understand what it was doing until now. I have nothing of interest to tell you, as our life is quiet and monotonous. On Sundays we go to church at 8.30 in the morning, while vespers are held in the hall. The choir are amateurs, their voices aren't bad, only they sing in a concert style, which I can't abide, although many people admire it. They warned us so much about the harsh climate here, yet winter has still not settled in completely. One day there is a frost and a slight wind, the next it's two degrees and everything is thawing and unbelievably slippery. The sunrises are always very clear and beautiful, despite the overcast days. The Irtysh is long since frozen over. I think that is all the news.
We were intending to build a snow mountain, but there is still very little snow. Papa usually saws and stacks firewood, while Mama goes out when it is not too cold, otherwise it's difficult for her to breathe. Joy, Ortino and Jimmy are flourishing. We have to spend the whole day chasing the first two out of the yard, where they have a wonderful time in the rubbish tip and eat all sorts of filth.
Well, it's time to end. Everyone here sends their best regards and wishes you good health. How is father? All my best wishes.
Pupil Nr. 1 Olga"
Olga Nikolaevna to Ania Vyrubova
10 December 1917
My darling, I hope you got my postcard. Thank you very, very much for the little mushroom. Your perfumes remind us so much of you. Every day I pray God we shall live together again. God bless you.
