Translated from German. The original letter is currently held in the Sophienburg Archives (New Braunfels, TX)
Date, author of the letter unknown
Dear Valentin,
My two eldest children are sending their photographs to your dear children in memory of themselves of the day after their confirmation as is custom of children to do, to have photographs made of themselves, Doreta and Johann. Doret is now grown-up and healthy and has found employment in a household, the housewife of which is a native of here, at Furth near Nurnberg, to be sure the day was a hard one for me on which she left; nevertheless, it is a lightening of my worries because the costs of the household are still quite extensive, and the girls do want new clothing now and then which, on account of conditions, is not easy. Johann absolutely wants to learn the barber business and goes to a (Gerichtsvollzieher) baliff and writes, in a quarter of a year they then get a few (Gulden) guilder and later 25 to 30fl the month, and I think that by then if I then yet live, conditions will have changed to the better for us. The (Spatjahr) autumn it reall is too bad the potatoes on account of the excessive rainy weather are not doing well; meat will get cheap because there is not enough good feed for the cattle. It is likewise with the (Weinlese) vintage, scare and decaying, I have thusfar gathered 23fl by the time I had to pay taxes and a (Klafter Holz) cord of wood. By New Year I am to pay a (Termin) installment of 134fl and don't know from where to get it.
On account of the war, there is no money and the rich do not give credit even on land. Were my household not so large that the passage-money to America for eight persons would not be so excessive, I would follow your advice. I will have to learn a trade here. All of my children could work and are used to it and no doubt would have it much better in America. Of course if one does not bring much along, one cannot buy anything and so in God's world I must stay here, but my children when they are a little older shall come over. Maybe Christopf will one day come and we can then discuss the matter, in Germany it never will be better and through the Prussian laws the rich grow richer and the poor poorer. When one owns anything, comes the (Gerichtsvollzieger), takes inventory, and after 14 days whatever wares you have are auctioned. There is no credit and no one helps the poor man anymore. Only the rich have money for (Staatspapiere) government papers.