From: Haynes, Adams County, ND
27 September 1915
So far in this area everyone is healthy and well. But up to now only a few people have done any threshing. Should the weather remain unfavorable for an extended period, then it will be Christmas before we can do any threshing.
The yield varies quite a bit here. Wheat brings in 5 to 44 bushels per acre, and macaroni wheat (Durum wheat) 54 bushels. The wheat that was seeded late is severely affected by rust spots and amounts to only 4 to 5 bushels. Oats are good and the yield is 35 to 72 bushels per acre.
Here are two letters, which I received from Russia today. They were sent from Russia to their son Rochus Seifert in Canada, and he sent them to me. Unfortunately, about the war there is not much written. They read:
Emmental, Bessarabia, 30 June 1915
A greeting is sent to you, dear child Rochus Seifert, from your parents and siblings.
So far we are in good health, but we cannot write you about how bad off we are. We have to pay and pay, but we are not able to do so. We are supposed to pay for the lease of the land but haven’t even seeded it yet. If we could be with you for just an hour, then we would tell you all about our misery. Write to us often and do not forget us. – Your Parents.
The second letter reads:
Emmental, Bessarabia, 12 July 1915
Dear child, we completed the harvest and we also did some threshing for two days.
We are badly off. By 27 July, they will auction everything we own because of the lease of the land that we cannot pay.
The people are all off to the war and the ones still at home are supposed to pay, although they have not planted anything. Women whose men are in the war do not have to pay. We are not permitted to write anything about the war. Grandfather is also supposed to go into the service, even though he is already 71 years old. We received your letter. A greeting is being sent to you from your brothers Eugenius and Johannes. Should people once again be inducted into service, then they will also be among them. – Your parents, Joseph and Mathilde Seifert.
Those were the letters. The situation in Russia must be terrible. If 17 year-old boys and old men at age 71 have to go to war, then it soon must be close to an end.
I send a greeting abroad to the readers of the Staats-Anzeiger.
Phillip Seifert