Schweitzer family letter, April 3, 1865

English Text

Mühringen April 3, 1865 Dear Isak! Dear mother keeps asking why you have not sent the promised letter soon which you promised in your last dear letter. You also did not acknowledge the shipment of the suitcase and its contents. We hope that you are doing fine what we can say of us. Last week I and Berthe were in Heilbronn to offer spices. Berthe has been staying in Horkheim until now, as long as it pleases her. It seems as if we can sell these products faster than any other items according to what Levin told us. Wormser [is] a lawyer from Stuttgart because of Emil. The former will only gain little, the Württemberg laws are again different. Emil will not appeal [?] and will pay soon. I don't care much about this affair, I have little to worry. We hope for a prompt reply from you. Enclosed you will find a Gulden bill to spend during Easter. If you have time I advise you to go Horkheim during the holidays. Meanwhile the best greetings from your father H. Schweizer If my finances allow I will go to Stuttgart in May and visit you then. The former. Dear brother! It is said that a long wait should not provide vexation but finally one gets tired. We are waiting every day for a letter from you but until now still in vain. We hope that you are doing fine as we also do, thank God. Emil still talks about Karlsruhe sometimes from good things and sometimes from bad things, of course more of the latter. He is a real half gentleman or rather he fancies it. It seems that it is not a stretch for him. Today he was there with his father and read the claim letter of Doctor Levin from Stuttgart that was sent to Mr. Schulte there. The reading was not that interesting for us. The most important thing is that our sister Berthe went to Horkheim as you know. So far she likes it there as we learned from her letter. Our beloved father already indicated the reason why we drink very sweet coffee at the moment. We hope that this will contribute to that we will become great [Hebrew word] with God's help. Nothing has happened with the "Brunn" for a long time, we hope that it will end well soon. This week we also got a prince, a young Bertel. Now I think that I told you lots of news. I am expecting that you will also send a long pleasant letter soon. I will close, your faithful sister Ernstine Schweitzer in Mühringen on the Eiach My greetings to all who ask for me. Rosenfel[d] told us today said his son will arrive here on Thursday. I can wait for it, and you will let him go. The Mühringer send their regards to all. The former. Dear Isak! This time we do not even know what we should think since the long promised letter has not arrived yet, and mother does not want to wait any longer. We want to know why and want you to let us know the arrival of the suitcases and shirts and how they are. Emil is often here and likes to talk. But he does not build up a good reputation for Mr. Wormser's home and I have seen about it a few times. Dear father and Ernestine already told you that we have spices now as well. Dear Berthe is in Horkheim. She already wrote that she likes it very much there. Our dear aunt and cousins enjoy having her there. Dear Isak, be so good and write when you get this so that we do not have to worry about you any longer. How is Isak Löwenstein? Please give him as well as your colleagues my regards. Give my regards anyway to all who ask for me. Where are you going over Easter? Now farewell and looking forward to a speedy reply your sister Louise Schweitzer Samson from Letten wrote a letter to us last week, do you write to him as well? Today we were balanced for the first time. [letter in Yiddish] My Dear Isak, You should really be thinking about how much worry you’ve caused us this time! Your long- promised letter has still not arrived. God grant that it [the delay] doesn’t mean that something is wrong. Emil told us many things that I didn’t much like. If your Easter [i.e., Passover] fare is as meagre as it’s been the rest of the year or, as your cook says, just try to get enough to eat––I’ve told you more than once, but you haven’t obeyed [?]. When your so pious and prominent Wormsers can’t be bothered to give their people enough to eat, dearest Isak, there is no need for you to feel ashamed and not speak boldly about taking back your couple of Baden thalers if they don’t realize what you’re worth or that we are human, too. Your dear father and sisters have already told you everything that’s going on, so I’ll just hope that you’ll be quick to report on your well-being and on how you’re observing Passover. You should pay a visit to one of your dear aunts; let them give you a sample case [sc. full of food] to take home. You’ll certainly do good business. I hope to hear back from you very soon, your mother [signed in Latin characters] Malchen Sch. [new letter] Mühringen, April 8, 1865 Dear brother! We were about to send you this letter when we received your long-awaited letter. So we waited a few days. We see from your letter that you are doing fine and did not find time to write because of all the amusing things you do. I do not begrudge it wholeheartedly. Moriz Rosenfeld arrived here on Thursday but I had to get the letter myself. He talks big, but he developed to his advantage. Emil told me that he received a long letter from you but he did not let me read it. [Continued in the middle of the page] We did not find time for embroidering [?] your handkerchiefs. We were also afraid that they would not turn out according to your taste. Please write again your basic wishes. I will close and I am looking forward to an early reply. Ernstine let them give you a sample case [sc. full of food] to take home. You’ll certainly do good business. I hope to hear back from you very soon, your mother [signed in Latin characters] Malchen Sch. Mühringen, April 8, 1865 Dear brother! We were about to send you this letter when we received your long-awaited letter. So we waited a few days. We see from your letter that you are doing fine and did not find time to write because of all the amusing things you do. I do not begrudge it wholeheartedly. Moriz Rosenfeld arrived here on Thursday but I had to get the letter myself. He talks big, but he developed to his advantage. Emil told me that he received a long letter from you but he did not let me read it. [Continued in the middle of the page] We did not find time for embroidering [?] your handkerchiefs. We were also afraid that they would not turn out according to your taste. Please write again your basic wishes. I will close and I am looking forward to an early reply. Ernstine

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