No. 1 Lachen, September 2, 1860
 Dear Brother and Sister, 
It is with joy that I take pen in hand to write to you dear brother and sister to let you know that we got your letter from the first of August and see from it that you are well and in good spirits, thank God, which makes us extremely happy [and] which is also the case with us, praise God. Dear brother and sister, we pray night and day for your health, and since God Almighty has heard us so far, He will continue to hear us longer and also give you a little luck, so that we will experience joy from you. Dear sister Karolina, since we saw from your letter that our dear brother is concerned about your welfare, which makes us very happy. This is also very nice of our dear brother that he is doing his brotherly duty by you. Dear sister, you reported in your letter that our dear Uncle A. L. is just as concerned for your welfare. It makes me very happy that he brought you a very beautiful dress. Dear sister, you write if one behaves [or, comports oneself] well in America, then one is more highly regarded than if one is rich and does not behave [comport oneself] well. Dear sister, I don’t doubt at all, and our dear parents don’t either, that you are behaving [are comporting yourself] well. Dear sister, if you just see that brother and uncles and aunts are concerned for your welfare, so be concerned about their welfare, too, and do everything to make them pleased. Dear sister, you write about our Babetta, [asking] what she is doing. She has to work, just as you had to work when you were home. Because we have the same work as when you were home. Even though there is not much slaughtering because cattle are very expensive and there is a whole lot of blood so that in anyone’s memory there has not been so many of all breeds [page 2:] No. 2. Dear sister, the grapes are not yet good. By contrast, last year at this time they were ripe. Because we had a very cold summer and so people do not believe that there will be good wine this year. Dear sister, I don’t know of any other news to write except that many Jews are emigrating to America. Namely, Jeiche Geinsheim’s Jette, two daughters of Lemle Aldorf, two girls of Eisig Gommerheim named Jette and Karolina. You know Jette because she was a store clerk for us Maiers. There are also 18 people who are going to America from here, namely Lu Schelle’s Lui, Küfer Krebs, Wilhelm Hofman etc. Dear brother Mair You write that you want to start a business with Aunt Johanna, which made us very happy, and we thing that it will also be better for you if you have a business than if you are a shopkeeper’s clerk. Dear brother, you write that I should really practice math and writing (which I work on every day) if I want to go to America sometime, so that I can do something. I don’t know any news except that 14 days ago ......... were here on a visit. Something else to note: Babette and I were at the ball in Maikammer on Shabbat Nachma. Jul, Abraham & Sara were with us, too, and we were all very merry. I also danced a lot at the ball and at the parish fair here. Much loved sister and brother, It is with great joy that your letter came into my hands and from it [I] saw that you are all fine and healthy and our dear sister is enjoying herself so much. That made me very happy. I also have to let you know that I went to the ball in Maikammer on Shabat Nachma and I have to let you know that I got a lovely new [...] dress and have had a great deal of fun, too. [message in left margin] Something else to note, dear brother, sister, uncles and aunts: I wish [Yiddish word] in the new year what you yourselves wish and I greet you all many times. Greetings from G. Jung, [R? J?] Theobald, Bogenreifen, T. Reichert, G. Reichert, Jakob Bautcher, Jul, August, Abraham, Hanjokel, H. Theobald, Kercher, Retar, K. Freitag, Gerhard Mehrmann. Heinrich Mayer! [page 3:] No. 3
 Dear sister, you write me about my sewing. You can easily imagine that I can only sew a little because the meat business is the same as when you, dear sister, were at home. Dear sister, I have to let you know that I have not finished the blanket, but I think by next winter it will be finished. Dear sister, you write me that you were so beautifully dressed at the ball. That made me very happy. Dear sister, when you write again, write a few lines to them [in margin:] to the Sutch family in Neustadt because whenever I go to them, they ask about you. Dear sister and brother and uncles and aunts, for the new year, I wish you what you yourselves wish for the new year. May God Almighty keep you healthy for many years and bring you happiness. Dear brother, it made me very happy that you are taking such good care of our dear sister. That made us very happy. I am now ending my note and hope that the letter finds you in the same way it leaves me, and [I] greet you dear brother and sister, uncles and aunts many thousands of times and remain your eternally loving sister Babetta Mayer [14 lines of Yiddish not yet transcribed] [page 4:] No. 4 [12 lines of Yiddish not yet transcribed] [different handwriting] Dear Brother and Sister! 
It is with joy that I take pen in hand to write to you dear brother and sister and to let you know that I am still quite fine and healthy, as I saw in your letter that it is the same with you. I greet dear brother and sister and uncles and aunts many thousands of times and remain your loyal brother and nephew until death. Karl Mayer