Headline: Balzer, 10 February
Much beloved brother-in-law Jacob Volz:
Be many times greeted by me, your brother-in-law Heinrich Schwabauer.
So far we are all still healthy and also the old mother; but with a heavy heart I must tell you that my wife is very ill.
Sascha and one of the girls would like to come to America if uncle Jacob and aunt Molly come to their aid.
Much beloved brother-in-law and sister-in-law Amalie, a warm greeting from me your sister-in-law Amalia: With tears I must write you and tell you briefly that I am sick. My sickness is a serious women's ailment. Tomorrow at 9 o'clock in the morning I will be operated on her in the hospital. I am standing before a high, high mountain. I am so afraid!
Also know dear brother-in-law, that Konrad Spady, from Norka, is ready with his family to journey to America. He has finished all the paperwork and everything of importance for the journey. He has 23 souls (members in his family- translator).
Brother-in-law Johannes Grasmick has gotten his house back. (Grasmick, like many others in the famine year of 1921, traded his house for a couple of pounds of flour and left to live among the Russians. He spent the winter among them and later returned home again. In the winter of 1923 the government issued a decree that those who fled during the famine but remained in this country should be given back their houses; he had a bit of a battle before receiving the judgment. Thus many such "down and outers" got their homes back but they had to pay back double--J. Volz).
Otherwise things are going pretty well. The livestock are in Kraft.
Heinrich was taken into the Army and has not yet returned.
Greetings, your brother-in-law
Heinrich Schwabauer, No. 895
(Enclosure)
Most esteemed uncle Jacob and aunt Molly:
You are curious as to whether little Wanna is still alive. Yes, here he is. I have already written you 2 letters but have still not received an answer. My family is also healthy and things are going fairly well--but earnings are very poor.
Greetings to you, your Johannes Klein, No. 1015
(This Klein is the son of the well known Joh. Klein, a shoemaker like his father and lives in "Klein Messer." Joseph Zieg was the mayor, now called "Predsedatjell." Klein was twice the mayor. I once lived near a judicial office where Klein artfully cross examined concerned parties like a judge. He visited me often when I was in Balzer.---J. Volz)
Be many times greeted by me, your brother-in-law Heinrich Schwabauer.
So far we are all still healthy and also the old mother; but with a heavy heart I must tell you that my wife is very ill.
Sascha and one of the girls would like to come to America if uncle Jacob and aunt Molly come to their aid.
Much beloved brother-in-law and sister-in-law Amalie, a warm greeting from me your sister-in-law Amalia: With tears I must write you and tell you briefly that I am sick. My sickness is a serious women's ailment. Tomorrow at 9 o'clock in the morning I will be operated on her in the hospital. I am standing before a high, high mountain. I am so afraid!
Also know dear brother-in-law, that Konrad Spady, from Norka, is ready with his family to journey to America. He has finished all the paperwork and everything of importance for the journey. He has 23 souls (members in his family- translator).
Brother-in-law Johannes Grasmick has gotten his house back. (Grasmick, like many others in the famine year of 1921, traded his house for a couple of pounds of flour and left to live among the Russians. He spent the winter among them and later returned home again. In the winter of 1923 the government issued a decree that those who fled during the famine but remained in this country should be given back their houses; he had a bit of a battle before receiving the judgment. Thus many such "down and outers" got their homes back but they had to pay back double--J. Volz).
Otherwise things are going pretty well. The livestock are in Kraft.
Heinrich was taken into the Army and has not yet returned.
Greetings, your brother-in-law
Heinrich Schwabauer, No. 895
(Enclosure)
Most esteemed uncle Jacob and aunt Molly:
You are curious as to whether little Wanna is still alive. Yes, here he is. I have already written you 2 letters but have still not received an answer. My family is also healthy and things are going fairly well--but earnings are very poor.
Greetings to you, your Johannes Klein, No. 1015
(This Klein is the son of the well known Joh. Klein, a shoemaker like his father and lives in "Klein Messer." Joseph Zieg was the mayor, now called "Predsedatjell." Klein was twice the mayor. I once lived near a judicial office where Klein artfully cross examined concerned parties like a judge. He visited me often when I was in Balzer.---J. Volz)
Sources
Die Welt-Post, April 3, 1924, page 2.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
This translation provided courtesy of Hugh Lichtenwald.
Last updated March 7, 2016