April 11, 1884

Siegelau, 11th April 1884

Dear Hermann!

Your precious letter of the 9th of March we have received on the 31st of March and have read it with great delight and pleasure. With such interest we have taken note of your work and accomplishments. It would make us happy if you would give more explanation of how the conditions are in this country, how the economy is.
Mr. Steiert in Waldkirch had shared with me that he had not received any news from his son for a year and a half and he has requested that I put this before you and maybe you would contact him and encourage him to write. You can do about this as you please. I have hereby fulfilled my promise.
The Mark Meuller's Franz Josef is still in Radolfzell in Baden working as a miller, but is now, according to reports from his parents, since eight days ago, been drafted into the army as a soldier in the infantry. If he is not called to the arms in Waldkirch he will give his service at Konstanz. Otherwise everything is all right with him.
Your sister Rosa has had the jaundice but she is pretty well recovered from it. Fidel is still working in Freiburg in the Black Forest in a Clock factory, but we do not know whether he will come home for Easter, but if he does I will relay to him your best wishes.
Over all we had very mild weather, hardly any snow, only in December from the 7th to the 10th there was some ice once for the beer shops. Innkeepers ran into quite a bit of trouble; many had ordered many thousands of hundred-weights (of snow) from Switzerland.* Innkeepers in Waldkirch and Gutach even drove to the Black Forest and picked up whole wagonlads of snow when it could still be found. It was always warm and beautiful throughout February and March was constantly warm too, with real summer days often. As a consequence of this extraordinary warmth, trees put on their most beautiful blossoms as early as the end of March and the beginning of April. Today, the 11th of April, cherry, peach and plum trees are in beautiful bloom but I wonder if that is good. From the 9th to 10th of April we already had hoarfrost which however did not cause any damage yet. It could still freeze, which would be a great loss because everything looks so good now. We finished sowing oats and also have planted potatoes. When it is warmer again we will take the cattle to pasture during Easter time.
We have now a real nice young horse which is two years old. Yesterday I was in Konsingen with the older horse and put her with a stallion. Actually
there were three beautiful stallions but if she will become pregnant will be questionable. Last year I took this same mare three times to Runzingen with the stallion without success, but after all, she is 18 years old and "pretty well done for".
I know of nothing more to write except our best wishes. We wish you good health; be well-behaved and be sure to write soon. Approximately 14 days ago your Sister Mary Anna wrote a letter to you and it was my wish that Rosa would also write so that we could send her letter together with these, but Rosa has not written up to now so I can only enclose Mary Anna's letter.** I have also encouraged your brother Franz Anton to write but he says that it is impossible for him, but I think that whenever he goes into the army and he will need this or that, he will again learn to write letters. Rosa will write soon. I have given her paper and ink a long time ago. Now we wish you the best and in particular your Father sends his greetings. Now be greeted many times from all of us, and especially greetings from

Your Father

Fr. Ant. Fahrlander

*This letter was originally translated by another party who was unable to get the significance of the need of snow. Mr. Schweder was also puzzled by this part of the letter when I asked him to translate the paragraph. There was a word he could not translate (perhaps archaic, or of a different dialect) and he also could not determine the reason for hauling in snow, except that possibly he refers to innkeepers using it to keep food. I doubt that they thought beer should be served ice cold.
**No letter from Mary Anna was found among these letters.

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