Chicago, 12 December, 1871

My dear sister,

It is almost eight days since I heard from Mathilde about your misfortune (unfortunately the letter from her was sent via Hamburg and was 21 days in arriving), and I still have not received any letter from you, I am getting somewhat worried because Mathilde wrote that you fell twice during the fire. She did add that she didn't think you had injured yourself in the falls, but I had the feeling that she wrote this just to keep me from worrying, because she knows I am somewhat nervous. This is increased because my wife's health, rather than improving, is worsening.

Her attacks of nerves, to which physical distress (such as stomach cramps) are added are getting worse, in spite of all the doctor's abilities. She looks very ill and she cannot walk even the few steps between her bed and the sofa alone. In the evening I have to carry her to her bed, where she sleeps only a few hours each night. Without Gertrud, whose youthful courage (even though she has rheumatic pains in the right shoulder) seems indestructible, I don't think I could stand it. We can't even consider taking the child now during the winter. It is unthinkable to have a sick mother and a nursing baby together, particularly in our cramped quarters, where the child’s smallest cry would increase the mother's nervousness - and
I simply couldn't ask a 20 year old girl to take on such additional responsibilities. I beg you, when you see my mother-in-law to tell her that her reproaches regarding our situation here are uncalled for and show that she has no comprehension of what we are going through. This sort of thing only increases my old state of depression and, if I should get sick, then what would happen? Up to now there is no danger of this, but I do not know how long I can stand the monotony of work and worry.

Moneywise I am in fairly good shape, especially since you sent the 3100 Thaler. I won't attempt to invest it at the moment, but have deposited it in the bank and will draw on it if I need to …From my insurance I received only $480 - that is everything that is left of house and furniture. The shares of the newspaper are in good shape, at least for Hesing who bought them for $9000 from? and - Salomon, who had taken them over (?), but of course we cannot declare any dividend this year. Because everything has to be used to replace the burned machinery. In October I sent you and Mathilde various newspapers, several numbers of Harpers Weekly, and to Mathilde I sent a dozen photographs of the fire’s destruction. I hope they arrived. Please write me about this.

Your Hermann