Oberhallau, 11/28/1882
My dear sons Emil and Oskar,
Your sweet (should probably be:
your FIRST i.e. l.) letter from 11/6, which I had nervously counted days
and hours to receive, arrived Tuesday 21th. Nov. I read your travel report with
great interest and learned that you have been received in the friendliest
manner, which enjoys me so much, and for which I’m so thankful. In thought I
followed you daily lovingly, asking the Lord to keep you safe and happy. You
have experienced a lot, which you can talk about now. Even far from the
Fatherland you’re in the protection of the Saving-hand, constant on our
Pilgrimage here on earth, we feel His Presence. Therefore my dear sons, I want
to repeat these words: if you want to succeed safely on the seas of life, you
have to choose the Lord as your knowledgeable leader for your ship. This way,
even when the waves will become dangerously wild, you will remain protected by
His blood.
Page 2 (This page
starts with some notes upside down on top, these belong to the final words on
the letter – See Side-notes)
I now whish you luck and God’s
blessings in your new home-land, and that the Lord will guide you on the road
of wisdom and in the right direction, because the Just road glows like a bright
light, while the Godless road is dark
and we don’t know where it leads.
Please, take these words to heart,
and protect your heart with great diligence, because that from where life
starts. Be brave (good), my sons, so that your father Oskar will be pleased, as
well as I will be able to say that my children as walking in the truth.
As far as I’m concerned, I have to
let you know that I’m suffering, the separation has been weighing very heavily
on me, I was imagining lots of things in the past days, but now I hope that all
will get better.
How are you both? Are you in good
health? I have been really worried, have also thought that you, Oskar must have
been sick to your stomach, had told you so, am sure you are both skinny from
all the difficulties – do hope you will be able to recuperate now.
Page 3: What do you do now?, what does everything
look like, is Syracuse pretty?, do you have a nice home? Has Michael Surbeck it
nice, you will have given him the letter. How did it go with the Free-card, you
didn’t tell me anything about that, leaving me in painful doubt, I received the
enclosed letter from Albert, the son of
the innkeeper, which he sent
immediately to Bremen, that the free-card had been accepted in America, and
probably was cached in by the issuer – or had been sent back to Bremen – I was
nearly shocked when the letter from Bremen arrived, be so good and deliver the
letter as soon as possible, so that not too much money will be lost. Let me
know about this, and write often so that I won’t be so sad (Heimweh –
literally: home sick – which would not make sense in English because the mother
IS home)
As you wrote, the Grafs had to
give more money. Be watchful, and ask your father to give half of our debts to
Grafs, the amount is 450 franks – I figure the other half for Emil, has to give
it next summer to his lawyer Michael Graf or Martini 83 (?) You do realize that even without all this, I
have lots of expenses – hope you will not spend one unnecessary cent. Jakob wrote that Emil has been thrown down
the stairs in New York – his clothes must have been nice (after that) – how do
your shirts look, if only I could quickly wash and iron them – keep your
clothes need and clean! Cleanliness borders
Godliness, says Wesley.
When you write to Graf, congratulate Jacob, he got engaged with
Gretli, daughter of Kasper, he will
come and get her in two years – they celebrated the engagement last Sunday as
he was still here – what a young bride, right? Berg Balis arrived in Antwerp
November 22 and are now far on the ocean – Gerth from Schreibers and Johann are also with them, they travel to
Marshallville, their children Greth and Jakob sent them the card for the trip,
other ways they couldn’t have done it. Weaver Graf Schreiber filed for
bankruptcy , and how?! Imagine that.
Page 4. Anyone’s
heart should bleed, because this is an unusual
family circle, everybody so sweet and considered of each other – Herman
is being helped by his relatives so that he can continue his studies, because
everything is being sold. I escorted these two children and the Balis to the
railroad station, it was again an emotional Good-bye – Schaad Kubler wanted to
go to America next spring - he held a
speech (auction) , but couldn’t accept the offers from the buyers. So he
will have to wait. He asked to greet your father from him, as well as the
councilor of the canton. It is amazing how many people are interested on you
guys, every body asks and are happy when I can tell them you are doing well.
The president asked me lately as well, I told him you had been received
friendly – he answered - hats off!
Write often_ has your father
pleasure in his sons? – how is Emil? – I would be very happy Emil, to receive a
few lines from you personally – Michael Baumann again sold his farm and house
to Sepp Baumann for 35,000 franks, if it goes through he may go to America to
Syracuse to his relatives Ochnerrs. You have his address, should try to visit
him sometime. Lisi, the daughter of the butcher, wrote how happy she was to see
some familiar faces. “ Die wird manoever gemacht haben” she will have had
the time of her life?
What does she look like? Where was
it that Lisi Surbeck had to separate herself from you? She hasn’t written yet –
how were the good-byes from the Grafs?, did you cry in each others arms? Did
you thank them for all, write to them, keep a correspondence with them, they
gave you much love. Preacher Keiser send you many greetings, write him, tell
him how you are – don’t forget!
I want to close now, wrote you a
lot of news – Be cordially remembered by your loving mother and with her
blessing – Barbara Ochsner
Shall I send you the newspaper
from Klettgau?
Side notes : 2)
received a letter from E. Greiner, he only wrote your address – sent it – he is
in Neufchatel in Pension he will write you
4) Many greetings from all those
who know you (could not read the following text, because the letter was
torn) Greeting from R.S. z. Post.