Crescent City, July 24th, 1854

My beloved brother Sigmund!

Your letter brought me much joy, especially since you also enclosed a letter from our parents. I also received a letter from them and will send it on to you. From your letter I see you have decided not to come here to me even though I have written you and told you I need you. That causes me great pain, as you can imagine. I have waited so long for the time we could be together. Certainly, you should obey your parents. Perhaps it is for the best that you do not come. As far as my coming back to the States is concerned, I will not even consider it. I like my business. I told you in my last letter what my business is. Believe me, dear brother, I wish you would come and join me in it. I would not ask you to come here without your best interests in mind.

I wish the Lord had given me an older brother who could have come to this land before me and given me the help that I can give you to get started. I would not have made the mistakes I have made during the last five years that I have been here. Today I would be much farther ahead.

Let us not give up on the possibility of you coming here. Let us just postpone the decision until later. Let me tell you one thing, Sigmund. If you become unsatisfied where you are, you have much greater prospects out here to earn money. You can earn more than $12.00 to $50.00 a month here.

If you need money to come here, do not be bashful about asking me for it. I have better prospects for you. A healthy, young man who is ambitious can earn a tidy sum in a year here.

Nevertheless, follow the advice of our dear parents. Time will bring roses. Write to me very soon and tell me how everything is with you. I kiss you,

Your brother,

Seligmann Heilner

I am enclosing a check for $100.00 for you to give to Lemann. Convey my greetings to him. I have written him two letters, but still have not heard anything from him. I won't bother him any longer. The blame is probably mine, in that I can only remember borrowing 70 dollars from him.

Even though I have written you a short letter, you write me a long one.