From: Stebbins, Morton County, ND
28 April 1912

I am not a subscriber to the newspaper, but I hope that these few lines will find an acceptance.

On 27 April, after ten o’clock at night, burglars sneaked into my cellar and stole my wine barrel with about 10 gallons of wine. The thieves got away, but I discovered their tracks on the road, and I know that they traveled north. Apparently, the thief assumed that I did not need to drink any wine. However, if he was only interested in the wine, then he should return the barrel after he empties it. I still have some money to buy a crate full of grapes for wine to refill the barrel.

Should the thief get thirsty again, he will have to go to the neighbor, because I will now lock my cellar. I am thankful that the thief at least left me my meat. I can live without wine, but not without meat.

“Thief, isn’t it a fact that the barrel was heavy?” They carried it a quarter of a mile. It seems that there were three of them. One stayed with the horses, and two carried the barrel to the wagon. They can talk about being lucky that I did not catch them. They would have fared as badly as the gypsies in Russia who were caught in my father’s cellar. They did promise never in their lives to steal again.

Respectfully,
Adolf Riehl