[Partial translation]

12 January 1926

Dear Carl. [sic]

We received your dear letter from the 16th last week. This morning, we got the letter sent on the 28th containing the money. So far, we have received everything without any problems. [...] Sunday was Johanna’s birthday.

Wilhelm from Nordenstadt was here that day for a community assembly. His father was unable to come because he was ill. He had gone to Bechtheim-Beuerbach, Ennerich, and Steeden during the previous week, in order to give his siblings their money and ended up catching a cold. Johanna went to see him yesterday[…] Wilhelm is still shirking marriage. He told us that it might work if there was a way for him to earn some additional money. He is not sure whether he wants to start a family as a small farmer; he, too, has a very bleak outlook into the future. If it were up to him, he would go over there as well. However, Petter does not want to hear about it.

Next week, the district synod will meet here. In addition, we will have 2 soldiers billeted on us.

We were all very happy to hear about Lenchen’s marriage and about how nice the wedding was. It will be a nice memory for her later in life. We sure had to laugh about your gift. Who helped you with that, or did you make it all by yourself? It was very nice and laudable of Willy and August to do skits and presentations; they do make for good entertainment. We read Lenchen’s letter as well. She is very happy and content about everything having turned out so well […] You wrote about the beautiful children’s service on Christmas Eve. Is that a custom over there as well? And you even had a Christmas tree in church. It is too bad that Willy was unable to be there as well[....] It is a good idea for you to join the church. Johanna talked to our minister. We are in agreement with the Wisconsin Synod, but still disagree with the Ohio Synod. Just work together and keep pushing in the direction you described. If your minister is serious about his job and gives good sermons, you have reason to be happy. […] English trucks transporting office equipment keep driving by. The bulk of the troops are supposed to arrive any day now. According to the newspaper, our district will receive 9000 troops. We will have to come up with additional lodging since more of them are married than we were told originally. We saw some Scotsmen already in their colorful traditional costumes. All this makes our streets look entirely different again […] A warm thank you from all of us for the $30.