From: Leader, Saskatchewan, Canada
28 January 1927
Worthy Staats-Anzeiger!
While thumbing through the Staats-Anzeiger Edition #51, I noticed a report by Mr. Anton Gedak from Krasna and also a report by Mr. Seifert from Emmental, Bessarabia. That is the place where I was born. We thank these gentlemen very much for their reports from the old homeland, which we still hold very dear.
My brother Johannes and my nephew Edmund Hittel had some bad luck recently. After they had been shopping in the city, they drove to visit our brother Daniel. They unhitched the horses and went into the house. When they came back out and stood in front of the house still talking, they suddenly saw the sleigh in flames with all their recently purchased things and their blankets in it. The amount of the loss came to about $65. The fire was started by the foot-warmer, which they kept in the sleigh.
Since the post office is 18 miles away from us, it is very inconvenient for us regarding letters and newspapers. Before we can post a letter usually 1 to 3 weeks go by. We hope that it will soon get better in that respect, since my brother Johannes has applied for a job as postmaster here. The job was already promised to him, but it is not quite secure. We hope that the matter will be settled, because then we will receive our mail twice a week.
The health conditions leave a lot to be desired. The children have coughs, sore throats and headaches. One of my children is also seriously ill. My health is now getting better and if it continues this way, I hope to be rid of the rheumatism I have been suffering with for 6 years.
As far as I know Elisabetha Wagner, wife of Reimund Wagner is also on the sick list. I heard that she is now on the way to recovery.
(*Editor: We sent you the calendar. It was probably stolen. We will send you a second one.)
In closing, I greet my mother-in-law Susanna Engel in Emmental, Bessarabia. It has been more than a year that we have not received a letter from her. Perhaps Mr. Seifert can tell me how she is doing.
I wish the editor Mr. Brandt and also all the readers a blessed New Year.
Respectfully,
Joseph J. Hittel