Rehweiler, January 7, 1916

My dear ones!

The letter I had been expecting for so long arrived here yesterday (dated December 9), and I will rush to write a response. I got your celebratory speech already a day before that, and because of the brevity of the accompanying letter, I assumed that either a letter was lost or that one would still follow. So now I have received everything in its entirety. Only the program of your concert, which you mentioned, is missing. As I can gather from both of your letters, dear Uncle, you are doing a lot in America in the interest of Germany and your dear wife, my aunt, most probably supports you single-mindedly. I will pass the things that you sent me on to the newspaper, just like I did back then with the report from the singing contest for the Emperor's prize, which you have read in the meantime in America.

[Left margin:] Just now I went through your solemn speech once more and also through the included message, in which you also say something about reports about the concert. Those are not included in your letters and I have not received them so far.

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Now, in so far as my personal situation is concerned, I am informing you, my dears, that on Christmas Eve my Lisbeth and I exchanged our engagement rings. It was a serious and quiet celebration in the light of the Christmas candles - Christmas during wartime! The holidays as such were filled with visits to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and with the receiving of engagement gifts. We were heaped with gifts, especially from the Heuchelheim community - a sign of their love and attachment. But the best engagement gift was the announcement of the exam results, which happened right after Christmas. I reached the 7th position with a grade II, out of a total of 114 ladies and 20 gentlemen. That is a brilliant result and I am thoroughly happy about it, for now my future is wide open and with this final result I have the chance

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to be employed in a town (Neustadt, Dürkheim). Teaching there is easier , which is much better for my physical well being. The time of the exam was tough, and particularly the preparation for it,  and my health suffered badly from it. If times were different, I would be in dire need of a convalescent leave. But currently we are needed too much.  Right now I work in a school with seven grades and 80 children plus in a training school with another 38./ enough work! But after all one enjoys it during these austere and difficult times. Whenever I have a day or two off, I rush to see my dear bride and when I am with her I quickly forget the idea of wanting to be sick. It is not so bad after all, and once spring returns with the sound of birds singing  and the smell of flowers and hopefully also with a long-awaited peace, then is the time to strike up cheerful hiking songs,

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to say: Take the hiking boots and the hiking pole from the wall, and off you go into God's open countryside! This way winter's sorrow and winter's suffering vanish all by themselves. Oh, to remember the beautiful time when we were hiking together, and when I compare then and now! The world all around us is armed and raising their weapons in order to smash my Germany, my fatherland. In vain! Despite all misery, despite austere and hard times, Germany will emerge victorious from this fight, more unified, more energized, more powerful and nobler than ever before. May all this come to fruition in the new year!

I wish you, my dears, all the best for this entire year and remain, as always, with affectionate love your grateful nephew

Eugen

[Left margin:] Address: Teacher Haas Rehweiler / on Glan Rhineland Palatinate