Trieste, 12 February 1891

Come un baleno rapido
La sorte mia cangio.

Dear Madam,
It gave me the greatest pleasure to see your handwritirng once more, and I tender you infinite thanks both for your kind remembrance of me and for your courtesy in sending me the newspapers which speak so favourably of the successes of my beloved son. I am entirely in agreement with you that Ferruccio is wrong in not dedicating himself more to composition and in thus laying aside his Opera, with which he might acquire fame and money more easily than by becoming a teacher. To be sure, when one forms a family everything becomes more difficult and one is obliged to think about securing one's position. And for that reason I consider that Ferruccio should not have dreamed of taking a wife until his reputation had become more widely spread in all the branches of his Art, all the more as he is still too young to bind himself and to take up all the burdens of a family. You will understand without further explanations from me that this decision of his destroyed my most cherished dream of living close to this son of mine who is doubly dear to me, for I love him not only with a mother's affection but with the heart of an artist as well.
This being said (between ourselves) Ferruccio is still the best of sons, but living so far off I can no longer enjoy his companionship which is so dear to me, nor enrapture myself at the touch of his fingers, nor rejoice in the creations of his fervid fantasy! I beg, dear Madam, that you will not repeat a word of what I have said, when you write to Ferruccio. I allowed myself to pour out my poor heart to you, for although we have never met, I felt sure that our opinions would harmonize. I shall therefore always be thankful whenever you remember me and write to me.
Believe me, dear Madam, with esteem and gratitude, Your most affectionate and obliged

ANNA WEISS BUSONI.

Be so kind as to write to me in Latin characters, as it will then be easier for me to decipher your German.
[Cit. in DENT, pp. 96-97]