Page 7, Die Welt-Post, Thursday, the 2nd of August, 1923:

Original Accounts from Russia

Huck, the 4th of June, 1923.

   Valued reader of the "Welt-Post:"

   I ask your pardon for making you wait this long for information from Huck. Planting (sowing), feudal service (ed. note: "Frondienst" translates as feudal service. Most likely refers to labor at the local collective) garden work and the like have kept me from doing any work in my room. Now all of the springtime work is completed and we hope for God's blessings. Sowing this time was a little late; the 14th of April (old style) was the first were able to get into the acreage and till. It took us around a month until everything was tilled under. The reason for the long time it took--few working livestock, and with them we had to do almost all of the acreage, because in the fall there was very little land around here. It is well finished and the weather is favorable. Though from now until harvest time there are many unpleasant things that could happen. We will but wait for the best from our dear Lord.

   A very disturbing appearance in the fields and woods is the increasing number of wolves and foxes; they can cause a lot of damage. already many sheep and goats have become the stuff of their prey; they even attack horses. Yes, the wolves are at last so bold that you can hear their angry play yourself driving to the villages. So it was not long ago, that in Heinrich Huck's backyard (Jerzhlippe; 2nd Row) 12 sheep were bitten to death. In the morning he pointed out the wolves’ tracks as well as the way the wolves tore them to pieces. It is no wonder that these wild animals are increasing so unspeakably, they can no longer be destroyed because the people no longer possess hunting weapons. And last year with almost no more food for the people, most of the hunting dogs were shot (for food). These customers (the wolves) have nearly lost their fear of man and one thinks involuntarily about the fulfillment of the prophecy in Off. Joh. 6, 8.

   The state of health is not of the best, it peddles the fever in abominable fashion. Entire households full are laid low with this sickness. Yes, ever more quickly come the fatalities, so that people who feel cold straight away give up the ghost.

   Recently we have received more clothing through Mr. Volz 16 packages, most of them from Lincoln, Nebr. Over half of one package was stolen. A larger portion of the packages were judiciously sent to specific persons, these were also given to the appropriate people. The remainder, therefore, were generally distributed according to instructions and were allocated to the poor of the village. Understandably (as always with such allocations): discontent, mistrust, jealousy, groundless accusations, and so forth and so on., follow. All things considered, all these troubles were nothing. I, because I live here and am a member of the distribution committee, have had a difficult burden to carry and this last time I should have been more aware.

   The need for clothing remains as before, huge. Clothing material is high in price. Since the last time (that I wrote), so high that compared with what farmers earn, that it has become impossible for a farmer to provide for himself. When already many of their rooms have been papered with thousands (of paper money) and also many others possess banknotes, they are still only pitifully poor millionaires. Where this will lead us with all the sickness, the Lord only knows.

   Now, in recent times, we brethren are permitted to go to Balzer every two weeks to the local authorities to thank them and confirm the receipt of a package of products.

   They (the villagers) ask for clothing.

   At the last distribution Br. Ludwig spent the entire night there without being able to get in.

   Clothing from Br. Peter and there was nothing that the very sick are still in great need of.

   Individually they ask their elders in Argentina, South America:

3. Widow Margaretha Hixt, nee Heidenreich, No. 63, of her brothers: Georg, Ludwig and Jacob and her sisters Barbara and Catharina.

4. Lorenz Huck, (widowed, Oswald) No. 399, of brother-in-law Georg Wilhelm, stepbrother Michael Altergott (old Dönhof) and uncle Jacob in North America and brother Johannes and Jacob Huck in South America.

5. Joh. Adam Michel (Beckers) Nr. 207, of his Br. Georg Philipp, Portland, Oregon, from whom he hasn't had a letter in a long time, all the same he writes often, and then his brother Jacob.

6. Georg Heidenreich (Petereckardts) Nr. 143, of the sons of his uncle Heinrich: Georg Peter, Lorenz, Philipp and Jacob in North America and of his half brother Conrad Heidenreich, v. w. (ed. note: abbrev. v. w. is unknown) Johann Georg in South America.

7. Philipp Geier (Schreibersgehilfe) of his brother-in-law Georg Philipp Michel, or also his sons Jacob and Johannes and Conrad Schlidt (Norka) in North America, and of Georg Geier in South America (San Antonio).

To close, I will state my thanks for the receipt of 1 Pud of white flour and occasional money from the German Red Cross from Peter Schaaf and Georg Bohl (Argentina). This gift unfortunately, brings me little joy because the personal expense involved in receiving it is very costly. What one sends through the German Red Cross is well and securely received but it must be sent to Saratov and when it is very little, the overhead costs are so excessive

as to make the collection too costly. (ed. note: the cost of receiving the gift is in excess of the value of said gift).

   With heartfelt regards, your village comrade and friend,

Philipp Kindsvater

formerly, Master Weaver