**FrautschiLettersVirtualArchiveChristian1868S

October 25 1868, Letter from Christian Frautschi to his parents and brothers in Switzerland

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Max Kade Institute. Frautschi Letters (MKI/Frautschi3/C1868)

Electronic version: http://frautschi-letters.mki.wisc.edu/let/C1868/Christian1868.html

| Markup of English translation |

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<head>[Letter,] October 25, 1868, from Christian Frautschi to his parents and brothers in Switzerland</head>
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Mazomanie<lb>
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<date value="1868-10-25"></date>Octob. 25, 1868<lb></dateLine>
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Greatly beloved parents and brothers!<lb>

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Your news of July, that all was well with you, gave me<lb>
great pleasure; I could only wish that you might write us<lb>
more frequently and that I might receive something more often<lb>
than formerly.<lb>


To the same end with<lb>
regard to you, I am writing<lb>
you these few lines. Right now<lb>
I do not feel disposed to write<lb>
much to you, but I am aware that this is sometimes not<lb>
very pleasant for you, either. <lb>


The Pilgrim, which in September<lb>
received a Marseilles passage to<lb>
America from you, reached me for<lb>
a visit on October 3, without complaining<lb>
of the hardships of the seavoyage<lb>
or of being wet through; with his pilgrim's staff, however, he did<lb>
<pb n="1">
indeed make me aware of many<lb>
cancerous sores of my fatherland.<lb>
More frequent visits would be<lb>
pleasant for me, but I cannot<lb>
ask it of you on account of the<lb>
expensive postage. I don't believe,<lb>
however, that 25 cents is the legal<lb>
postage for forwarding used journals<lb>
to the United States of North America,<lb>
according to the newest postal<lb>
agreement. <lb>


The Christian Messenger must<lb>
discontinue its appearance among you<lb>
for a few weeks, during which I was<lb>
looking around for a place and didn't<lb>
receive it myself.<lb>


I told you last year how the<lb>
raising of hops played an important<lb>
role in this region, and in fact, there<lb>
are many who began to plant<lb>
several years ago who have become<lb>
rich and who induced thousands<lb>
of industrious workers and many<lb>
<pb n="2">
artisans into excellent employment.<lb>
Baraboo and its surroundings were a<lb>
principal hops raising center, and wheat and<lb>
other plants were entirely neglected. The<lb>
hops give a great deal of work, and<lb>
accordingly farmhands were employed at<lb>
25-30 dollars a month in addition to<lb>
their keep. Also the equipment costs a<lb>
great deal; one needs drying houses, presses,<lb>
great ovens, and the like. Last year it<lb>
was worth 50-60 cents; then the outlay<lb>
climbed to still greater proportions. A<lb>
month ago, at harvest time, 25,000<lb>
pickers were needed in an area of<lb>
30 miles, so that children were<lb>
transported here from large cities 100-150<lb>
miles away. Each one had to earn from<lb>
1 to 2 1/2 dollars a day during a 2-week<lb>
period. There was one man in Baraboo<lb>
who had planted 27 acres, and who<lb>
alone needed 200 pickers; so you<lb>
can imagine that it takes a great<lb>
quantity of kitchen equipment, tents,<lb>
<pb n="3">
bedding, and the like, and it necessarily<lb>
looked to be on a military scale. Now<lb>
this year at the hops harvest time<lb>
no one wanted to buy, or in the best<lb>
bales at 10-15 cents. At such a price<lb>
the proprietors did not want to deliver;<lb>
yet the pickers had to be paid at once,<lb>
and so it came almost to a crisis.<lb>
Weak young hop growers had to<lb>
mortgage their property for borrowed<lb>
money, and had to pay double<lb>
interest; legal interest here was<lb>
formerly 10 per cent. Then came<lb>
unemployment; as a result of which<lb>
I left there, too, and can finally<lb>
be content that I was able to receive my pay. With<lb>
this I am going to close the<lb>
story of the hops; I think<lb>
many will flee from the<lb>
hop roots and henceforth will<lb>
amuse themselves better with<lb>
sowing wheat.<lb>

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The wheat harvest began<lb>
here this year about the middle<lb>
of July. On account of the<lb>
unusual heat the crop frequently<lb>
ripened too soon, before it was<lb>
fully developed; however, the<lb>
quantity and quality of the wheat<lb>
is good this year, and the price<lb>
lower than last year. Since<lb>
the beginning of August until<lb>
now we have had mostly cool<lb>
weather.<lb>


Out of my possessions [tools?],<lb>
as much as I could, I gave<lb>
our Cousin what he needed; you<lb>
can dispose of this, for the rest,<lb>
as well as the board [tables?]<lb>
with consent.<lb>


I shall write to you again in a<lb>
short time; for this time I will close<lb>
and hope that these few lines<lb>
will find you in as good health<lb>
as they leave me. <lb>

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Before all else, let us poor Earth-pilgrims<lb>
right earnestly consider and take to heart<lb>
the purpose of our being here<lb>
[in order] to become eternally holy.<lb>
Thus, we know that, without struggle,<lb>
no Crown will be forthcoming,<lb>
and that to postpone Repentance and<lb>
Conversion until [one's] deathbed<lb>
is very dangerous.<lb>
Therefore our dear Saviour<lb>
beats daily in our hearts,<lb>
and recalls us with His sweet<lb>
shepherd's voice, to give ourselves<lb>
thus complete and undivided<lb>
in body and soul to Him.<lb>
He will help to carry our [] for us.<lb>
Indeed He said Himself,<lb>
"My yoke is easy, and my burden is light."<lb>
This often gives me courage in need and tribulation.<lb>
May dear God help us go forth even to the end, <lb>
in accordance with the will of His eternal love. Amen.<lb>


[I received a letter from]<lb>
<pb n="6">
Brother Joh. Jacob 3 weeks ago.<lb>
He is well. I hope to hear<lb>
from you soon and would like<lb>
to ask you to send me your<lb>
photographs. <closer>Many greetings[.]</closer><lb>
<signed>[C]. Fraut. Mazo-manie<lb>
Wisconsin</signed><lb>
<lb>

Greet the relatives and friends for me.

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