Lachen, July 16, 1867 My Dear Ones 
It is with joy that I take pen in hand to tell you of our well-being, which hopefully will also not be lacking in the least with you dear ones. We received your letters of May 26 and June 22 and saw from them that all is well, which gave us indescribable joy. In the first letter you sent us some photographs of our family, which made us very happy, and we wish we could just be able to hug them personally. However, for my own self, this wish will soon be fulfilled. Now you wrote us, dear Heinrich, that I [hole] should send a photograph to Uncle Maier, which I myself delivered to him, and they were very happy about this. They are all well, thank God, and asked a lot of questions about how you are. [page 2:] Now my dear ones, since I wrote you three letters in the last 4 weeks, it is impossible for me to write you much news. But despite this, you write, dear Heinrich, that you aren’t receiving any letters from us. What is the reason for that? Now I see from your first letter, Carline [Caroline] & Heinrich, that you don’t want to read my old [way of] writing and lamenting in my letters any more. If I have insulted you or, rather, have offended you, then excuse me. — — However, I just can’t remember doing it. However, the old saying can be applied here: Whoever wants to go courting cannot take fright at everything. Now, dear Emanuel, in accordance with your letter I will try to comply with all of your wishes. Also in a few days I am going to go to Cousin Isaak and talk about these things & write the [hole] again. [page 3:] Now, my dears. If any of you still has something you want, let us know in your first letter. However, dear Heinrich, since you write us that we should send you something if we think that you are worth it, this made us feel very bad that you had to ask this question – for which you should apologize to us this time, since Lion Haas did not let us know when he was leaving. However, I will try to make everything good, since you have rewarded us already thousands and thousands of times. Dear Carline [Caroline], I also want to answer your questions. Namely, can father get around better. Unfortunately I have to confirm “no” to you. We have already tried everything possible and nothing helps. The doctors say that in old age things are lost. But everything still tastes very good to him. I am now going to stop with my pen, but not in my heart, and I greet you and kiss you all many times. Greet all our friends for me, particularly the little Heinrich and those who ask about us. [hole] Mayer [page 4:] To all much-loved siblings,
With great pleasure I sit down again to inform you of my well-being, which hopefully will not be lacking in the least in your circle, either. When we received your two letters and saw the photographs of our relatives, I was tremendously pleased. Our dear mother, in particular, recognized Aunt Hanne at first sight and immediately remembered the hours they spent time together. To my mind, Aunt Hanne has very intelligent-looking children. Uncle Abraham, too, must be very plump [i.e., well nourished]. We were also very pleased that you bestowed on us the photo of Aunt Elis and her dear husband. Also, I am also very delighted with the little [rascal?] who is standing there so heartily. Now, my dear ones, what is little Heinrich doing? Can he talk yet? Is he learning German and also English? Now my dears, hopefully it's no longer so hot now where you are, which is always very [hole] for us when we hear about it. Also, I want to tell you some news, namely, we recently had visitors from Karbach: Aunt & Elisa and Sara. Elisa is in Wallertheim. Sara is at home. Eliesa is a pretty and intelligent girl. Susmann’s Elis is also going to America. Mayer’s Schom [= name] from Neustadt, who was at his uncle’s in Houston, has also come back. I also asked immediately if he was in Orleans. He said no. He also told me that at Moses’ in “Neuork” [New York?] he had letters that Heinrich had been asking about. Abraham, too, is writing in every one of his letters that he is coming back. [hole] Babetta