Lachen, May 15, 1856 Dear Son Mayer, Your words of April 6 caused us indescribable joy because from it we saw your well being and your satisfaction. May this luck/happiness continue to be bestowed on us for a long time, so that we each get pleasant news from each other until we see each other again. For our part, we can also tell you the best. We are all cheerful and healthy, thank God. We received your letter from Williamsport and hope that you might always answer us soon. Our only pleasure, with you so far away, is seeing your dear handwritten lines. We thank you for the present. You write us that your are now at your dear Uncle’s in Noor [New Orleans?]. It makes us very happy because we see that they are so considerate of you. That made us and everyone happy that they care for you like a father for his own child. Just follow [their advice], because you see that they are doing everything for your benefit. Because you will amount to something dear child if God Almighty keeps you healthy, as we are praying every day. Dear child, that made us very happy that you already have such good earnings, but later will have even better. You write that at your dear uncles’ you have lacked nothing. That’s the best. You will definitely enjoy your business. Be considerate of your dear uncles on our behalf as far as is in your power. You write [that] business in America is now so [bad?]. Under those circumstances you can imagine how bad it is with us, because you will still be able to remember how bad it is with us, as the [meat business] with us at this time of the year. You write that we should write you the prices of tobacco. A hundredweight costs 12 to 16 guilders [=Dutch currency]. We got 40 guilders for ours. Regarding news, right now I don’t know of any to write about. Karolina was in Klingenmünster for Easter. Grandmother is still quite well. [page 2:] Greeting to you [hole in paper] and my dear [Levis' ?] [illegible] and all their [husbands] and children, and sister Johanna and her husband and children. You haven’t written anything yet specifically about the sister. Haven’t you been at her house yet? We are very curious to know in your first answer [= as soon as you can write]. I hope that the letter finds you as it left us. Joseph Mayer [different handwriting] Dear Brother Mayer, I greet you and your uncles and aunts many thousands of times. H. Mayer [different handwriting] Dear Brother Mayer, I greet you and your uncles and aunts many thousands of times. K. Mayer [different handwriting] Dear Brother Mayer, I greet you and your uncles and aunts many thousands of times. Babette Mayer [Yiddish] Dear son Meir, Your letter of April 6th came to my hand with great joy. The dollar discovered therein pleased me very much that I then see that [you are getting by with] nice money ... [between lines: seeks/triumphs] [when God sees to it?] I think will continue to [see to it that you get by]. I [don’t have] other news to write for now. We all [send] to you and to your dear friends greetings a thousand times, Renia Meyer [different handwriting] Dear Brother Mayer, we all greet you and your uncles and aunts many thousands of times. Karolina Mayer [different handwriting] Nice greetings from Georg Jung [different handwriting] Greetings from August Mayer. Greetings from Julius Freundlich