13 November 1865, Letter from Johann Jacob Frautschi to Christian Frautschi


University of Wisconsin-Madison. Max Kade Institute. Frautschi Letters (MKI/Frautschi3/1865LetterG)

Electronic version: http://frautschi-letters.mki.wisc.edu/let/JJ1865/JohannJacob1865.html


| Markup of English translation |


Markup (English):

<text>
<front>
<head>From To Date</head>
<opener>
Saanen <dateLine><date value="1865-11-13"></date>November 13, 1865.</dateLine>
</front>
<body>
<p>
Dearest brother,
</p>
</opener>
<p>
I wanted to report to you that I returned home after being
in the institution for 9 weeks. Now I am home because I didn't
have a room. Recently I had a friend help me, his cousin is the
supervisor of an institution in Russia, supposedly a nice quiet
man. He was supposed to write and ask for two rooms. Now I am
waiting for an answer and looking for a good time to leave, but
now there seem to be a few hinderances. The hardest thing for me
that I cannot choose my own path, but have to let God do with me
as he will. As far as my health is concerned, it is better but
still have weak nerves and tremblings in my limbs. But I have
every confidence that my terrible problem (ear aches) will be
gone if I do everything the doctor orders with heart and soul.
By the way, I can't thank God enough for bringing me to the same
institution I was in before; it became quite clear just how Satan
hunts us here and there and doesn't allow us to think clearly:
If you are afraid, you are not to read the word, you don't seek
refuge in the Savior, under whose wings of mercy we can rest
securely, my dear brother! Oh, how I wish that you were home,
that we could talk together about that great happiness. Oh, how
happy we can be if we walk in the spirit of God.
If we just seek Jesus, be it in good days or bad, if we ask
for Him, and seek and not let up until we have found Him, oh, if
we didn't just live for ourselves seeking after our own pleasures
and desires but rather Christ alone, then we could also die in
the Lord. I was so pleased to come home, to tell our parents and
our brothers of the love of the Savior, to tell them how He loves
ths sinners and longs to make them into the children of the Lord,
how one can only be just and saved through the service and blood
of Christ. But I now have to confess to you that I must
constantly search for the spirit of God here, or else it is
missing. The first few days were good days, now the bad thoughts
are starting again and people are thinking of the past and the
future. It seems that this is a life of seeking where there is
no hope and no finding, oh, how we live here, we should be
satisfied, there is dissatisfaction even in the wealthiest homes.
True joy is often found in the poorest families, where they seek
their happiness in Jesus, the giver of all good and all perfect
gifts.
</p>
<p>
Our parents received your letter of October 29th. We
haven't heard anything from Joh. Peter except that Gr. v.
Gruenigen saw him at the Bissenstalden in Genf, promenading with
some girl.
</p>
<p>
If you have any problems, write to us for money. We will be
glad to send it to you, or come home. J. Jakob would rather go
to work in a cafe or as a butler, than to continue working as a
cobbler.
</p>
<p>
Joseph Steffen was married and living in France, he has
died.
</p>
<p>
Christ. Frautschi married Elisabeth Reichenbach, our former
little maiden. Our parents have sold 5 cows.
Father loaned 300 Fr. each to Qr. Romany and Gottlieb
Gander.
</p>
<p>
Now Father thinks it would be better to buy some land than
to loan his money out. But it doesn't really make me happy any
more to buy things.
</p>
<p>
I will end my letter, because I have to go to the village to
get some roses. I will write more another time. I am waiting
for a detailed answer from you. Whatever you want to know about
I will gladly write to you.
</p>
<closer>
With the best greetings from us all, your brother Johannes
</closer>
</text>