Original text

English text

[Partial translation]

7 November 1926

[…] We received your letter dated October 23rd with the money and photos, thank you so much. […]I will have to go and show Uncle Trebus the picture of his brother sometime. I told him about your trip; he was very happy to hear about everything. He said he would love to visit his brother once if it was possible. However, Uncle Trebus is ill, has overwrought nerves, and suffers from rheumatism. He is currently spending three weeks at a forest health resort. His weight is down to 107 [metric] pounds.

Ernst from Nordenstadt was here at the time your letter arrived. When he heard that Willy is making $65, he became very defeated. After all, he finished his apprenticeship at Easter and has been hoping to receive a similar wage. Ernst is always extremely happy when he gets a chance to read one of your letters. Wilhelm’s wife just arrived in Nordenstadt yesterday. On Tuesday, when she wanted to leave with Wilhelm, her aunt died. She then decided to stay for the funeral.

I do not have any news from Steeden. […] Father received some work – mainly folding shutters for the district association. For the price of 976 marks, he had to make 34 shutters and 4 laundry room doors within 6 days. Of course, he could not do that by himself. Staud & Grimm on Westendstrasse offered to help out. The work was not totally completed after 6 days, but they were able to deliver much of the order. They performed the machine work and made the shutters at Grimm’s. Since they delivered so promptly, they received their money right away. Three people – the two Morgen sons included – worked from 7:30 am until 9 or 10 pm and ended up with 123 marks […] for their labor. Now the work is over and they have nothing to do again. So he decided to go to Nordenstadt today, in order to see whether anything needed to be made for Gretchen. Everything would be much better if only there was some work to help pass the time.

[The Ennerich's house] is still in its bare state; they are waiting for some inexpensive money as well. Willy is back home again. His in-laws did not want to keep him any longer.

Aunt visited us once in the summer. Father was in Bensheim to make arrangements for Johanna at the time. When she heard that Johanna was supposed to go there, she became envious. “She could not afford to send her children to a boarding school, they needed to earn money instead,” she said. She does not get along with Father at all. Both, Aunt and Uncle look terrible because they do not allow themselves to eat properly. Instead, all they do is save money to build a house, which nobody will be allowed to enter. Have you checked into being guarantors for our suretyship certificate? If you can do it, would you mind proceeding? After that, we could submit our application. It is good that you are getting your teeth fixed. I am convinced now as well that it is better to have them gone. Soon, I will have some false teeth made since everything has healed nicely. I will write to Willy as well this week […] Kindest regards, Mother.

[Father] […] How are things coming with our documents? The way everything is going, we will not be able to celebrate a happy reunion with you next year. Please take it to heart, my son, and do what needs to be done […] Paying taxes is our motto here! […]

[…] Yesterday, I was in Nordenstadt. They are all healthy and in good spirits. Gretchen is there as well; she is very nice and friendly. It looks to me like Wilhelm made the right choice […] I heard that Gretchen’s parents would like me to make a bedroom for the young couple, with the exception of the wardrobe, which has been made in Allendorf already. That would mean a little bit of work again.

I am pleased to learn that Willy earns such a nice salary. Here, he would earn the same amount in marks. Say hello to all our relatives […] until we write again, Father.

Translated by Ilse Baker