February 10, 1884

Siegelau  10th February 1884

Dear Hermann

We have been waiting for a letter from you very long.  Finally on the 5th of January we received your dear letter.  As early as the 7th of September, the third anniversary since you left us, we thought we would receive a letter.  Now we are happy again to know how you are and that you are well.  All of us were very glad, and particularly I, that you are happy with your new work and wish and hope that you will continue to enjoy it.  We thank you kindly for your New Years greetings.  We too wish you everything good:  health, happiness, and well-being.  If you write again, will you be so kind to tell us about your current job and circumstances?
There is always news here with us in Siegelau, but not very pleasant news.  Our Ferdinand Nopper had to give up his business as early as October last year.  All of his belongings were sold in auction following a court order.  His house  and fields will be sold too, shortly.  The grocer went into a lot of debt so that probably much will be lost.  His brother-in-law, Edward Oswold, who is now the ex-mayor (the presnt mayor is Franz Joseph Hermann
Wagner, who purchased the Marken farm earlier and he has been mayor since the 28th of December), who had vouched for his brother-in-law, is suffering adverses.  The grocer's brother, called Schneider* Kramer, is losing his entire property, about 3,000 marks.  About two weeks ago all property was auctioned off and probably the farm itself, and the land, will be sold too, soon.  The owner of the Bear Inn, Nopper, turned over the Inn to his daughter, Crezentia. 
Crezentia married in the spring 1883, in Dorlinbach (umalaut over the o) near Schweighausen, in district of Ettenheim, a widower with two children, by the name of Andreas Wangler, owner of the Engel Inn in Dorlinbach (umalaut), but really did not do so well with that marriage.  She had hardly been there a few months when everything was sold for them.  Late last year they then moved to the Bear Inn.  After thay had lived in the Bear Inn for some time, the young owner, that is, Crezentia's husband, paid a visit to his parents in Dorlinbach (umalaut), became ill and died there, after just three days of illness.  The "Bear Widow" as she is called here, is free again.  However, the Bear Inn will be sold for her.
Siegelau Music Club is still in existance.  Your brother, Franz Anton, does not participate anymore.  He did not enjoy it anymore.  Last summer they did not have an instructor for an extended period of time, thus he gave up his membership.  He still "blows" or plays the clarinet.  From time to time he goes to the instructor who is known to you in Unterspitzenbach, who gives him music instruction.  He is playing fairly well already and the two of you, should you come sometime again, could make music together with the violin.
Marie Hummel is now with us as a maid.  I do not know whether you know that she had a little girl again late last year, a girl who is now about 21 weeks old, from a farm hand from Lorch.  Two years ago he worked on the Gscheit farm as a farm hand, and last year he worked for us.  Marie, however, does not discuss it much.
So far we have had a very mild but very unhealthy winter here.  At the beginning of December last year we had a cold temperature of 10 degrees.  The whole of January was warm, with intermittent rain and fog.
Rosa has really very much to do, too,  Both his children** are not well.  The oldest girl, little Victoria, usually comes to see us, often twice a day, but has to stay in bed for several days now.  The little boy, little"Sepp", has been sickly for quite some time but is pretty well again, but still not back to normal, which is what gives Rosa a lot to do.  Otherwise Rosa is well.
Well, now, I do not know what else to write.  Please be so good and write us again soon.
What are your former comrades doing?  Do you know anything about them?  The oldest son of Mayor Eble of Niederwinden, and one of the Seiler farmer(s) of Durrenberg, close to Niederwinden, departed for America last month.  Eble's son is a soldier and has served in the army for three years.  The one son would have been drafted now.  The motive they might have had is not known to me.
Well, I do want to conclude now.  You will soon write again, won't you?
With the most deeply felt wish that you may continure to stay well, and still become happy in America in spite of everything.  All of us send our greetings.  Just now Rosa informed me that you had written him (?) that you are well and that you like your present position.  We are glad to hear that.
Again best greetings, and do not forget to write.

                                                                                                                                Your Father, Fr. A. Fahrlander

Franz Josef Wackenmuller worked up to about July in Elzach for a baker.  He again left there late loast year and has been working as a miller in a mill in Radolfzell on the Untersee.  It was only a few days ago that he wrote his parents and says in his letter he still liked it away from home.  I had almost forgatten to tell you this.  With best greetings.
 

Your Father

*"Schneider" means tailor; he may be referring to him by profession, or by name.
** We conclude here by the way it is written in the German, referring to "his children", that Rosa married a widower; she married Josef Kury in 1883.  In the letters he is referred to as "trenkler", but the translator is not familiar with the term, nor can I find it in my German-English dictionary.  It could be a word of the local dialect.

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