[Partial translation]

Steeden, 11 January 1938 [Mother]

Now the holidays are over, Johanna’s birthday yesterday brought the end [...] on Christmas Eve there was a service in the church hall. The choir sang, the trumpets played the old Christmas songs and the young people presented various things [...] last week Father and Johanna were in Wiesbaden to look for an apartment, because apartment leases are still terminated quarterly. They found a three-room apartment [plus a kitchen, in Germany that is not counted as a Zimmer] at Bismarckring 35, the rent is 53 marks. Among many it was the only one which would suit us. It has no attic and is not very large, but large enough [...] there is no place to be found in Steeden. There is a plan here for a development in the direction of Kerkerbach, on the hill where the house stood which we had wanted to buy, whether and when something comes of it no one knows [...] at New Year’s I talked to Hedwig’s mother again, she also advised me it would be better to look for something in Wiesbaden [...] she does not want to live here any more either. This week we got ration cards for fats, we took them to the grocer, he does not know either when there will be any butter. Everything is scarce. We constantly hear that this or that is no longer available, there is no longer any kapok because it is imported, but there are still ready-made mattresses for the bed, they are of kapok and cost 90 marks. When we want furniture we will go to Kelkheim in the Taunus Mountains, there they make a lot of furniture and they are a bit cheaper than in the store. On the second day of Christmas [Dec. 26, a holiday] Johanna was in Schönborn, at the engagement party for Karl Prätorius and Grete Martin, who is the same age she is. Hermann Prätorius, who is a tailor in Hannover, also got engaged. The Prätorius family is planning on four weddings this year. That happens rarely. Uncle is having a hard time because of the dowry/furnishings [Ausstattung] for Hilda. Here young people buy bedroom sets for 4-500 marks. Luise Bender is in bed, a cow kicked her in the leg [...] she was supposed to rest [...] first the nurse was there, then the doctor also [...] at Hanjuste things are not well [...] Karl is the nobody, sometimes he argues but then he lets everything go. One has to feel very sorry for poor Heinrich, how will that turn out [...] ? Otto from Schadeck was also at home over Christmas. He is milk controller in Magdeburg. He wanted to get engaged at Christmas, because he always visits the Dillmanns, but then he had to leave. Miss Dillmann is very demanding, she is not satisfied with what Otto earns, she said she could not marry just anybody because of her brothers who have good jobs and made good marriages. Of course Otto is not very smart, he should look for an ordinary girl who can get along with what he earns, because Otto will never be able to count on a high salary, he does not have enough education. How it will turn out with their property (I mean the division) no one knows. The old grandmother is 91 and has been bedridden for 4-5 months because of a broken hip. How did you spend the holidays? Please greet Ruth Wilton and also Müllers with Minna and Emmels [...] this noon Hedwig’s grandmother visited us, she will soon be 80 and is still healthy and in good spirits, she still knows all the news from the village. We are happy that we have found an apartment, then we will be our own masters. Of course we have nothing to complain of here, but it is better to live in a city than in a village [...] many greetings [...] Mother.

[Father]

[...] I would also like to report on our trip to Wiesbaden. We spent the night at Albert Fink’s who is always ready to extend an invitation when old acquaintances turn up. The next day I went to see a lawyer because of the Glaser situation; he told me that I needed a permit from the district court in order to recall the money; I was given it at once. The lawyer also wants to get that permit so that it will be possible to terminate by April 1st. Also each buyer, meaning Frau Glaser’s four children, has to be sent this information [...] now the holidays are all over, they were somewhat sad, I spent more time with you than here. Really a lot has changed and it is hard to deal with it [...] Thank God we are still doing well, and you report the same. We are very happy about the pictures, little Herbert has become more sturdy and will soon surpass Ruth. We have not yet heard whether you have received our Christmas packages [...] President Roosevelt and Capital [the corporations and moneyed class] are really fighting one another. There are once more 15 to 16 million unemployed [...] I guess Capital does not like laws which are meant to help the socially disadvantaged [...] before Christmas the German government announced that wages will have to be paid for all holidays which fall on a weekday. The law has immediate effect. In this way the German workers were able for the first time to enjoy the [two] Christmas holidays and New Year’s Day as paid-for days of rest [...] many greetings, Pa.