Duelm, Benton Co. Mn, February 4, 1887
Dear brother, siester-in-law and nephew,
We received both of your letters in the best of
health and see that you, too, are still well. This time, I took a fairly long time in writing to
you, I had a lot to do during the holidays and afterwards with completing the annual year-end
invoicing.
Dear Franziska, your letter made me so very happy,
but at the same time I read it with sorrow, nostalgia and pity, yes, it brought me and my wife to
tears, as he was still so well and lively here with us. My wife, too, grew fond of him real fast,
and now already we have to count him among the dead, and he had suffered so, but it was God's will,
and the holy Apostle said, it is better to suffer here than there. That you had your dear burden
with him and sometimes ingratitude in return for your good intentions, I can well imagine. My wife
knows about that, too, how impatient he was when he was sick, because here, he was sick, too, in
bed with a cold. She already said then that she would pity anyone who would have to take care of
him should he become seriously ill some day, and several times, she said, when we heard that he was
ill, what trouble and difficulties you might have with him. Well, it was just his nature, and it
pleases me to know that he changed toward the end. May God let him rest in peace. You wrote that
you had to go before the court? What happened there? I am sure, he didn't leave a will, but you
surely wouldn't have any trouble with that?
Dear Wilhelm, I received your letter as well, at
New Years, in which you informed me so nicely about all the circumstances.
I am happy that you, too, had a rich harvest. I also
see that you have many and big horses and cows and calves, and that, unfortunately, one cow died,
and what ever else happens with the people around you, it is hard to believe, but it is terrible.
Did that one person not yet pay back the 20 Taler?
You write about H. Bickschlueter. Just tell mother and Hinschen ? that he is doing real well,
she should not lose any sleep over Heinrich. Because Heinrich does the same, the only thing that he
now lacks is a good wife to share his loneliness. But there aren't too many here fit for him,
because of the Germans over here, nobody has one left for him, but every pot finds its lid, and so
he might soon find one over here, yet.
Recently, Heinrich wrote a letter home.
Heinrich Schultebein bought 160 acres four weeks ago, too, or, I bought it for him, since
he coudn't communicate with the people, and I saw to it that the deed or title to the land was in
order and to make sure that there were no leans on the property. I think, he got good land but at
the moment everything is covered with snow and very deep in some areas. I also read with thanks the
greetings from Mr. Lehrer and return my greetings wholeheartedly.
Would you know if soon somebody might come to
America, I could use a suit again and some pants and vests. As usual, I send you some calendars
again which, I hope, may be of interest to you. How is it with the orphan friend? If he still
needs you, he shall continue to make his regular appearances. You ask about the prayer cards, I
received all of them and distributed them. One I returned to Cologne to my friend
Mathias Driessden (unreadable) 2 weeks received letter from
him in which he expresses his condolences to us and to you and especially to the mother. Greet
Austermann from me and especially from my wife and tell him only with her greatest regret she wants
him to know that the beautiful song bird perished and she is so sorry, he always sang so cheerfully. I don't have special and further news today, so I shall end now with many best regards, especially for you all and all the relatives and friends and all who ask for me.
C. A. Huenck and Mrs.
Please, write back again soon. The books with
packaging weigh exactly 1/2 pound. They are such which I have here to distribute. I got about
100 picture books from my insurance company. Their only intention at this is to expand and
enlarge their business.
Translated by Lucia Nezelek
