Original text

Frankenthal Jan. 10 / 76 [sic]
[the date should be 1877]**

My Dear Darling wife,

Only yesterday evening did I mail a letter to you & this morning mail brings me a (Correspondence) P. Card from Emanuel, the contents of which are but few words, but of bitter weight. I thank God that you had the opportunity yet to nurse your afflicted mother now relieved from all troubles & painful sickness, with her last blessing visiting upon you & all the dear children. My dear Bella I know myself how hard it is to become familiar with the idea a dear mother has left us to meet us again at an unknown world & I can therefore very well realize your feelings and all the dear ones left behind, that is only one year, as you well remember, I was placed in same condition & at the time you followed your dear Mas remains to their resting place I hurried to my late mothers grave.
I stopped to say Kaddish. You begin such is life. Any how you and I will thank God that you were present which will always be a great satisfaction to you what was not my portion. You remember the Sunday morning I got the letter, & you know also how I felt at first, but my dear you are young, strong, & wise, take also an example on me & console yourself & the other dear ones as possible. Time cures all suffering & knowing every one, rich & poor, young & old, we all have to go whenever our Almighty father calls upon us so far & no more. I was also compelled to take this view & have learned to bear the unalterable with resignation & without murmer. Now my dear I trust you will follow my advise as the duties to those left us demand us to do. To those gone we have no more duties to perform. All we can to is respect their memory by saying the prayer adopted for that purpose. A change of scenery will be very good for mind & health, I am now assured you will soon follow the call of your husband & protector who will do all in his power to make you feel his love. I am sure a trip on the ocean will greatly benefit you particular after having been so closely in door. The sea breeze is a healthy cure. I trust to hear from you soon. Sal L. sent me two papers from 27 or 28th Dec from Balt. Direct to this place to day.
Many many kisses for you until I can give them to you myself from your own darling loving Isaac


[** This should be 1877. Isaac refers to the death of Isabella’s mother, Henrietta Guggenheimer, 23 December 1876. He also references the death a year earlier almost to the day of his mother, Marie Schweitzer, on 6 January 1876.]

Transcribed by Renate Evers