**FrautschiLettersVirtualArchiveChristian185987S

1859-1887, Excerpts of Letters from Christian Frautschi to his family in Switzerland (handcopied by Bertha Frautschi, after 1947)

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Max Kade Institute. Frautschi Letters (MKI/Frautschi3)

Electronic version: http://frautschi-letters.mki.wisc.edu/let/C185987/Christian185987.html

| Markup of English translation |

<text>

7/15/1982
Excerpts of letters that father wrote to Switzerland. Sounds just like him.
-Note by Bertha Frautschi

<dateLine> <date value="1859-02-06"> </date>
6 February, 1895</dateLine>
<Div 0>

From a work place in Geneva, Switzerland.<1b>
Much beloved parents and brothers. For <1b>
me it would be pleasant if Father would<1b>
come to me in Geneva with a [?] for<1b>
my master. I send to all of you heartfelt<1b>
greetings, also to the Turbach teacher.<1b>
<closer>
Always thinking of you, your son<1b>
and brother,</closer>
<signed> Chr. Fr.</signed>

<Div 1>
<dateLine> <date value="1873"> </date>
1873</dateLine>

On the 23rd of May my little family<lb>
was increased with a son. My beloved wife<lb>
and children are [?] well. Emil is<lb>
always saying "I am a Swiss boy".<lb>
In October of last year I had the opportunity<lb>
to purchase a beautiful 12 year old<lb>
business house for $3,5000, toward which<lb>
my father-in-law contributed some $100,<lb>
so that I have no heavy burden of debt<lb>
over me.

<Div2>
<dateLine> <date value="1876"> </date>
1876</dateLine>

On Friday before Christmas I left<lb>
Madison with my Emil to visit my<lb>
parents-in-law, for I had not been with<lb>
them since the time my marriage six<lb>
years ago. I found them well. They have<lb>
built a tremendously large farm for 9 horses<lb>
and many other animals. My dear children<lb>
were sick a few weeks ago, Bertha especially.<lb>
I would have been inconsolable if she<lb>
had died.

<Div3>
<dateLine> <date value="1879-12-28"> </date>
Dec. 28, 1979</dateLine>

Dear Brother J. Peter has not written to<lb>
me for a year. And Brother J. Jacob not<lb>
since August. I hope that they are all well.<lb>
And brother Gottlieb - what is he doing?<lb>
Emil and Adolph attend the English day school<lb>
and the German Sunday school. When will we<lb>
see each other again? Strike up hymn 69<lb>
Jubelteune.


(Bertha added note she looked up<lb>
this hymn, and found it is headed "Shall
we meet on that Shore?)<lb>

<Div4>
<dateLine> <date value="1882-01-05"> </date>
4 January, 1881</dateLine>

The grace and peace of God through<lb>
our Lord Jesus Christ _ as greeting and<lb>
New Year wish. If we in spirit put ourself<lb>
back in our childhood days when we<lb>
dwelt in our parental home in the<lb>
affectionate family circle (brotherly<lb>
circle), it quickly disappears. But<lb>
we are drawn to the place of our dear<lb>
unforgettable parents. O, true God, teach<lb>
us to reflect, that we must die. I<lb>
so much want one more time during<lb>
my lifetime to see my brothers; if it is<lb>
not his will, may the Lord keep us that<lb>
we may all meet in eternity.

<Div5>
<dateLine> <date value="1883-08-13"> </date>
13 August, 1883</dateLine>

Heartily beloved Brother Johannes -<lb>
I was sad to hear that you were<lb>
physically stricken. How do things stand<lb>
with you now? Trust in the help of the<lb>
Almighty! I am united with you in<lb>
the Fournitte (?). Your wife Katherine must<lb>
have a golden heart. Her words were inspired<lb>
by her trust in God. The devotion with which<lb>
she waits on you with love and soul is<lb>
heart warming. May God give you a<lb>
peaceful heart and bodily healing. I have<lb>

spoken with a very good doctor. For your<lb>
rheumatism he recommended purified<lb>
turpentine oil, to be taken on sugar<lb>
or in water. Every morning after every<lb>
attack 8 drops, more or less. Perhaps<lb>
for a year, perhaps less long, perhaps<lb>
longer.

<Div6>
<dateLine> <date value="1887-08-29"> </date>
29 August, 1887</dateLine>

I recently went on a visit to<lb>
Brother J. Jacob. I found him and his<lb>
family moderately well. Financially<lb>
he surpasses his brothers by a wide margin.<lb>
He had good fortune in the purchase<lb>
of a building site.

<dateLine> <date value="1887-12-12"> </date>
12 Dec., 1887</dateLine>

We have a deeply care-filled year<lb>
behind us. The doctor was often in our house. <lb>
But our prayers were heard. Irving was<lb>
near death. In our neighborhood it was the<lb>
children who were afflicted with this sickness, <lb>
and two of them died.


Hearty greetings, with wishes for a<lb>
year rich in blessings. May God<lb>
grant it.
<signed>Chr. Fr.
</signed>


</text>