From: Emmental, Bessarabia
April 1911
The winter crop does not look as well as it could, although we have good weather now. Due to the extreme cold in January and March, there are several patches of plants that show no growth. These need to be plowed under. Planting the seeds is underway, but it's quite slow. We have been planting since 22 March, but the frequent heavy rains force one off the field and we do not have half of it done.
This is my second edition, but I do not know if the first one was ever printed. I haven't seen it yet. (*Publisher: Its Issue #37.)
Another crop of Emmental America emigrants left 28 March. They were: Adolph and Dessentarius Wagner, Johannes and Joseph Hüttel and wife, Franz Miller, Kasper Dirk, Johannes Baumann, Thomas Haag, bachelor Johannes Plotzky and Simon Haag of Krasna. I wish them all a happy journey and much success in the New World. Here in Russia, talk is always of the pending war with China, but nothing concrete is being made known.
In Gangor, a neighboring village, a little old man of 80 lived all by himself in a small house. One morning, villagers opened the door since they had not seen the old man in a while, and found him lying dead in his chamber. The man had closed the flue on his stove too early after stoking the fire well enough to combat the ungodly chill. Gas formed and suffocated him, then burst the oven itself.
Greetings to the parents and siblings, especially brother Joseph. He should correspond more frequently. I am doing it, so can he! It is always a joy to hear from friends and family.
I am curious if my friend, Stephanus Wingenberg is also a reader. If not, he should order the publication right away and correspond as well! We have always been good buddies and I would love to have his address. (*Publisher: Sorry, don't have an address either, but perhaps a reader out there knows him or of him and would let us know?)
Easter is right around the corner; so let me share a pretty Easter poem with our readers:
O, Easter Bunny, Easter Bunny
Come lay eggs in that grass,
Come you little rabbit
I am asking you so fine
For a happy Easter Fest
I would like colored eggs
In my Easter Nest!
P. Mauritius of the 18th century assigned certain eggs to the various professions.
Spiritual and worldly leaders - an eagle egg; Priests – a falcon’s egg; Head of household fathers – a crane’s egg; A bachelor – a peacock egg; Virgins – A swan’s egg; Women – a hen’s egg, as they love to cackle like chickens.
Greetings to all the readers of this publication. I sign respectfully,
Zachäus Kopp,
Son of Martin