[page 1 (sheet 1, right-hand side):]

Nordstemmen, Christmas, 1909

Dear Brother and Sister-in-law,

We have not written for a long time, I do not know the time anymore, it is so long ago, but we are still going. How are things going, are you all well and happy, which is what I definitley hope, that these few lines that I am writing to let you know that there is nothing new It is becuase of my weakness that I do not write, yet I am writing, I have such trembling in my hands, which you can see by my writing, on December 14 I was in Altenhagen. Mother is getting old and I noticed that she is hard of hearing, she can hardly hear unless you talk loudly. Sister Lina is right well, she has much to do. I am satisfied with life, I had day work today and I was in a mood to write to you what I saw. Above all I wish you a Happy Near year and that you stay well and happy for many, many hears and that you will write to me soon.

[page 2 (sheet 2, left-hand side):]

Dear brother-in-law and sister-in-law, I realize that I must write from now on, our Father does not do any of it, I wish you all a happy coming year and hope that we hear from you more often and I will not neglect to answer. This year we had a gloomy year, may the good Lord send us more joy next year. This year our little daughter of 2 1/2 years died on February 1 and on September 16 another daughter was born, she was sickly at birth until now. Hopefully it will soon go better with her else there is little chance. They say one is not supposed to be happy, that you can say here, too. Otherwise we are all

[page 3 (sheet 2, right-hand side):]

happy. The oldest one will be 9 years old on March 8 and learns cooking now, the second one is at home and learns to sew. She is 16 since July, and the nine year old one is not well in her back and at this time cannot walk well alone, to school she has to be taken most of the time. If the little one is a bit older we want to have a good family picture made, it is actually sad that we do not know each othe personally. Then we will send you one. But that is how it is. Our father is really getting older. The position he is in gets on his nerves so that he actually trembles.

[page 4 (sheet 1, left-hand side):]

Now my daughter Minna who is nine years old will take it from me.

Dear Uncle and Aunt and girl cousin and cousins, I also must write you can see that I am now going to school and learn to write I am nine years old now and go to the fourth class

Best wishes

Your Minna