The Welt Post –
Letters From
Splavnucha, 13, Nov.
1922--To Oswald Sittner,
Dear brother-in-law Oswald:
May our undertaking occur in the name of the triune God. Amen--
Although we are separated from one another by the great ocean and many mountains and valleys of foreign lands, it is joyous that we can again communicate in writing, which privilege was denied us during the long world war. From then (to now) heartfelt greetings and spiritual kisses from us your blood relatives, and I want to immediately ask you to write to us as we wish to carry on a true and brisk communication.
We received your last letter and are pleased that you are in good health. We can also boast of good health for ourselves, and so much more because I, your brother-in-law and brother was ill for 9 long weeks. After being restored to health from a bad illness, one can
now, more than ever, appreciate one's good health.
-- Now we wish to go on with our writing and to communicate to you that your gift, or should I write "our gift"? has been received as soon as it was sent. You should have seen the glowing faces as the the things were unpacked! In the hour of need and shortage one is always glad to have friends who will take pity on them. Receive our heartfelt thanks for this timely help which the strong bond of love with your mother has made stronger, and we send you our "abardig" regards. (ed. note: "abardig" unknown meaning).
What can we write you that is new? One always comes back to the time of need which has oppressed us. We have 13 people in our family and to feed them costs a lot. We had seven horses and now we have 2, and during the war we had to forfeit 12 head of cattle. The economy here is not recovering, on the contrary, it is going in reverse. It is not good enough for us, and we have fallen so far in arrears, but what can one do? With many of the people there was no bread to be found during Christmas.
Throughout the country there has been a dividing of the land; we received our land in Bowinska, (ed. note: unknown location) 200 Dusch. (ed. note: "Dusch" unknown word). (ed. note: it could also be translated that they received 200 Dusch for their land in Bowinska). The harvest was poor, no seeds to sow and no harvest. People who have lots of livestock receive lots of seed for sowing, and have harvested much. Then much also depends upon the rainfall.
Our Jacob has gone to be a soldier and already it is two months since he has left and we don't know where he is.
We will close now with much regard and with the plea to quickly write again.
Your brother-in-law,
Jacob Hempel