[15] July 1863, Letter from Johann Jacob Frautschi to Christian Frautschi


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

Electronic version: http://frautschi-letters.mki.wisc.edu/let/JJ1863/JohannJacob1863.html


| Markup of English translation |

 

[Letter E, translation]
Markup (English):

<text>
<front>
<head>From To Date</head>
<opener>
Saanen<dateLine><date value="1863-07"></date>July 1863.</dateLine>
</front>
<body>
<p>
Dear Brother,
</opener>
<p>
Your letter and the money arrived safely and I thank you
very much. I am sorry to hear about the problems you inherited
from the Loos boy and I hope things go better for you soon. The
boy is now free, but he has other problems, namely that one never
hears the truth from him--only lies. He can't do the milking and
didn't take care of the cattle on the mountain the first week.
We have 26 cows, 46 oxen, 14 pigs, our own stock include 9 cows
that don't give very much milk. One rented cow, 4 beef cows, 7
calves, 2 pigs, the milking is no problem for me, I milk half of
the cows or more. The Bergkum was occupied on June 25th. The
new mountain hut was finished about a week before we moved in.
We have 22 cows in the barn. Father got on well with the masons
and carpenters, but Father was not always of the same mind as
Joh[ann] Rusi, but they got along peacefully, the costs of the
construction were not as bad as Father had expected so there is a
bit left over for a nice little summer money, the food didn't
cost us that much. Recently a man told us that people don't envy
us our hard labor and expense on the new hut, but some do envy
the finished product. Joh. v.[von] Gruenigen inscribed the name
of the hut as well as a little verse which says how beautiful
upon the mountain are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings;
that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that
publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!
(Isaiah 52). Johannes Reutaler installed the windows, I didn't
mention that the windows, the cabinet, the kitchen benches,
everything fits right in its place. They say the boards are too
low but nobody has raised them.
</p>
<p>
The table is large enough, when we have guests we bring the
other table over and the two fit well together. On Sundays of
late we have had many guests, carpenters, relatives. Everybody
says we have a nice house, every week we had 5 carpenters, 7
masons altogether. The wage for carpenters is 150, for masons
200 [Rappen?]. We have wine from our cousin Christian v.
Gruenigen 20 Maas [5 gallons] a Maas costs 1.40, we also got 3
Maas from Gottlieb v. Gruenigen at 150 per Maas.
</p>
<p>
When we look back into the past when we seemed so poor, we
have to see past our complaints and murmuring and see that the
Lord has blessed us with all kinds of wealth and gifts. When I
think about my brother Johannes and want to write something, I
have to think about something else, or my pen would not rest! --
Father and Mother really want you to come home this summer and
stay with us. Don't worry so much, just come. Mother is very
worried about your misfortune, she says she would gladly replace
it for you if she could. Thank God I haven't been quarreling
with Father much, I think he is not as quick to anger as he used
to be; he is happy with the house and the pasture he bought; he
says if he had the chance and if the Lord continued to bless
us he would buy more. Zingre hasn't sent any money yet, I will
go ask at the post office again. Cousin Christian v. Siebenthal
came home on July 1st to help with the hay but got a hook run
through his hand so that he can barely help us. Bendig is still
walking with his a cane and can't do much. Elisabeth Kue... got
married, his father-in-law Wuersten died. Emanual Romany Turbach
died suddenly. I will end this letter, forgive me I was writing
in haste everything that came to mind. Thank God we are all
healthy and we would be pleased to hear the same from you.
Greetings from us all
</p>
<closer>
in friendship Johann Jakob Frautschi
</closer>
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