Translated from German. The original letter is currently held in the Sophienburg Archives (New Braunfels, TX)
Kitzingen, 26 September 1870
Dear Friends:
God's Greetings to all of you. May He direct that this writing reaches you in as good health as it leaves us. Dear Valentin shall apprise me with reports about you, in particular about your concern over dear Uncle's fortunate circumstances. A blessing over the great blessing. Yes, dear Valentin afterall is in America much better than with us here. We too now have the freedom to exercise a trade. What the chief ground of complaint is: we were two lands, and now five. Where we are hard hit because on each farm there is a tiller and are only dependant on the city for a sparse living with meat to be had only two times in a week. Oxen meat costs 19 Kreutzer, pork costs 21xbitt, loaf of bread 30x, and will be higher because just here during the harvest season had three weeks rain. Each day caused seeds to sprout, the (Gerste) grew the most slowly, wheat and corn is fed to the livestock, potatoes turned out good, which is a blessing. We have potatoes each day on the table. My brothers say if we once in a while have a piece of meat with it we are fortunate. I cultivate one Morgan potatoes, 3/4 Morgan hop. Garden grows well. Costs 20 pf. The small patch will bring about 30 fl, which afterall is not a big yield. Each piece of land costs 250 fl. The hop-pole 1.80 makes 410 fl and figure the labor time leaves not much left over. The past year I bought a (Weinberg) vineyard on Zielfristein(?). A Morgan costs 4 bofl on which I have to pay interest, 20 fl. Labor we do ourselves shall according to my calculation bear 60 fl grapes. We have two (Geiste) goats; therefore, we have milk. We also feed a hog. We also have a small abode, cost me 1500 fl, in which we are quite often. My livestock I have in the cellar and since the market on it is steady I have annually altogether 40 fl interest to pay.
I wish I had it like dear Valentin- enough work and a sound living income. We are each day in the picture, and lament that we have such a penury living, displeased. Yet often, dear Valentin, when my children want to go to America and I see that all goes well with them, the Mr. Uncle and you, I am convinced will helm them to find employment, I am confident of my friends and I too will come over. As it is, I do not like it in Germany. My eldest boy went to communion on last Easter. He attended the Latin school four years. I always wanted him to take the (Postwesen) postal system or (Forstwesen) forestry study, since in our business only one person can make a living out of it. And I have the hard luck with my husband. He is only 42 years old, thick and strong in body, but cannot shave himself anymore because he trembles. He does nothing in the forenoons. The doctor says his excessive drinking has shattered his nerves. He now is suffering with swollen feet and legs, and is as good as dead- he sleeps the entire day.
Dear Valentin, I think God will direct what is best for us. Johann will have to tend to the business, and I to the household. When a husband does not earn anything, the household suffers. On New Year's Day, I started a letter to you, but could never finish it. For months I have been sick, 20 weeks in bed. I had to suffer much and since two months I am well again, but very weak. Nature's changes are for us women hard times. Oh! What would we do in the world, are we young and healthy, we have to tussle with the children. They come one right after the other and we women are involved, but once it is all over we are happy again and then comes these kind of circumstances that cost so many their lives. I am told that in order to recover I must eat and drink well; however, it is impossible to have a (Schoppen) glass of wine. How glad I was about the letter from dear Uncle that he was so kind that I should have the (Guthaben) property of (Gerber) tanner Scheuing in Brasbach. Which would have, under my present circumstances, been a blessing. My husband is from Ansberg and has a married sister there. I wrote her immediately regarding the matter, and found out from her that all in that family except one had died and that this one a few years ago went bankrupt and is a complete pauper. Thus my gladness turned to ashes. Maybe the good Uncle will help me, inasmuch as you his children are in good circumstances. At least I hope you will not be angry with me when he has assisted me to get on my feet again. I can only beg in tears, dear Valentin. Thank God for your family's good health. I now understand how a (Hauskreuz) family burden can bring a family to grief. I wish for you and your good wife that you can also raise your youngest to adulthood.
A day after day passes in God's world. How it stands in Germany with the War with France, you no doubt read in the newspapers. (Wunderbar sind die Siege) Amazing are the German victories. On the fourth, they captured Kaiser Napoleon, and yesterday Germans marched into Paris. Paris announced general revolution. What happens next, we will have to await. The great French Fieldmarshall Mar Mahou died of his wounds. Lamentation was great, because Badjeru under Prussian rule all married men up to 29 years of age had to go. One married man from here has fallen. There now is very little (Handel und Wandel) trade and no one has much business; money is scarce. We did not have to quarter any soldiers because all came by railroad. Perhaps after the war things will improve. How happy the letter from cousin Christoph made me, announcing that he once will visit us. What a big joy it would provide for all my brothers and their wives. Will he set a date and write when he will come? And actually come? Oh! How often I think of that I would like to see dear old Uncle again. I yet in spirit see the old Pfeuffer flock standing before me when I think of him, and so Uncle probably does too. Write him my best regards. I love him like my father. When I was at your place in Obernbreit and slept in that little room upstairs, and in that little room downstairs at that long table had to eat until I almost burst, I remember quite well. And then your traveling wagon when you left for America, and I was sobbing. I remember as if it had been today. For the greetings from George I thank heartily. As a boy, he probably was the proudest when he, with the green leather satchel, marched off to Marksbreit. I remember well. Maybe we all will get to see each other again. I still keep your photograph with all others. I thank you, Valentin. Your son is a perfect image of you, but your bearded face is stunning. How time fleets in giant steps. I will close. I wrote at nights. You will excuse, my eyes are still quite weak. Greet all friends heartily and wish you all good health and am with love your...
Margretha Gerold