Page 5, Die Welt-Post, Thursday, the 24th of May, 1923

Letter From Russia

Colony Huck, 24 March 1923--

To Johannes Huck, Montrose, Colorado:

Dear Son:

   We, your elders and brothers and sisters want to write to you today and to you, your wife Christina and children, we send our warmest greetings and immediately inform you that our entire family except for father is healthy. Father has been sick since November and we still don't know what the affliction is that affects him. How can one not give him the care and nourishment required by old people. We can't give him any meat because it is no longer the case that one can say: Dear Father what do you want to eat or drink? Earlier it was an easy thing, to prepare something appetizing for a sick person. Now however, we are lacking provisions to build up the body of a sick person. However we will not forsake but cling steadfastly to our belief in the Lord, perhaps with Him we could yet keep him alive with what we have.

   The harvest was just enough so that one can make it through. However, we were unlucky and lost a horse in July. Now we have to give up everything extra from the grain harvest in order to keep working with a horse. It requires 600,000,000 Rubles worth of produce. We have sent money to our son-in-law Philipp Schneider, but we heard that we couldn't get any because horses are also expensive in Siberia. Someone has to make a search, buy the horse, and return again to the village.

   Therefore we see our refuge again in you, dear son Johannes, and ask you for money, without which we must again remain without a horse. There are many people here who have gotten money from America and used it to buy horses. The American dollar is worth one hundred and twenty million Rubles.

   Further, we must tell you that we have safely received the clothing you sent us exactly as it was sent. We have also received your letters. A thousand times thanks to you for sending clothing over to us in the last shipment. We received the aforementioned shipment safely and undamaged.

   We also thank God, for the plan that someone in far off America put together to provide clothing for those here who are naked. Mother can not (find the words to) express her deeply felt gratitude to you about it. We often pray that God remembers you and does not forget you and yours. In spite of our misery we must learn that all of our welfare is placed in God's graces. We thank Him once again for all that is good.

   Everyone is content, with the exception of your sister Barbara, who feels that you have offended her.

   Best of greetings to the Conrad Sittners, whose Posilka (ed. note: "Posilka" is an unknown word) we have also received.

   As letters are now getting expensive, you should be content with this letter.

   Dear brother Johannes:

  I too, your brother Heinrich, am once more have cause to bespeak to you my heartfelt thanks for the clothing we have received. With tears, we, one after another, tried them on and hugged each other in joy. Everything was just as if it had just been packed. I cannot express to you in writing the joy and emotion in my heart. I would love to speak to you personally face to face but it not permitted to us. I God so wills it, we will greet one another again, should it not be that we are not allowed to do so here on earth, then we will be certain to see one another again in the hereafter.

                                Your brother, Heinrich

Dear Son Johannes:

   Herewith I will bespeak to you my heartfelt thanks for the love you have shown, in that you also sent a present to the child of your sister Maria.

   With greetings to yours,

your loving mother, Magdalena Huck