From: Haynes, Adams County, ND
6 January 1914

The weather is still good, but the ground is totally dry and the farmers are afraid that there will be no snow this winter, and that we will not be able to plow in the spring due to the lack of moisture. (*Editor: In due time things will work out, dear friend. Our well-being and travail is in God’s hand.)

My friends have also visited me once, namely Zachäus Braun and Konrad Kopp, who were with me during the Christmas Holidays. We spent good times and emptied many glasses of beer. On the 27 December, we drove to Burt from where we left for home.

When we arrived home, a letter from my stepbrother was there. Instructions were to pick him up in Haynes. Sure enough, he arrived on 31 December and stayed with us for four days. Together, on 2 January, we visited our friend Martin Stroh. And on 4 January, my brother Michael Masseth set out on his journey home. He took a rooster, a thoroughbred kind, along from here. But Michael, I don’t think you were able to hide the rooster under the bench on the train until you got to Logan County. On 3 January, we celebrated elaborately the feast of Genoveve at my brother-in-law’s, Thomas Ihli. A good time was had by all.

I send a greeting to all Russians and especially to Uncle Valentin Herrschaft and family, and to Zachäus Kopp in Emmental. Why is it, Zachäus, that you don’t report anything anymore? Don’t you belong to the reader family of this paper any longer? In case your subscription expired, please let me know. (*Editor: Oh yes! Mr. Kopp is still a reader of this paper and has paid through 9 February 1914. Jos. M. Kopp in Fox Valley, Sask., Canada always paid the paper for him.) Further, I also greet all my friends in Emmons County, N.D. and Blasius Miller in Canada. From Blasius I would like to have the address of Daniel Kopp, the son of the first husband Daniel Seifert, in case he has it.

I wish the editor, Mr. Brandt, many new readers for 1914 and strength and health, so that he will be able to accomplish the hard work of managing the paper, since we all know “the Old Man” is the best.

Phillip Seifert.

From: Brisbane, Morton County, ND
10 January 1914

Konrad Kopp spent some time visiting with Martin Seifert and Peter Schäffer in Adams County and had a good time. Paulus Hartmann and wife Natalia visited brother-in-law Romanus Blotzki in Shields, N. D. on the feast day of the Three Holy Kings. I ask the editorship not to waste any time with my scribbling or act surprised when it appears wobbly, for I am old and the hand shakes a little. Nonetheless, I am still an avid reader of the newspaper.

Greetings to my son Rudolf and family in South Russia. Also to Michael Ternes, Michael Haberich, Johannes Turk, and Johannes Ganski. I ask all to write more. Furthermore, a greeting to my children in Canada; namely, Rochus Ihle and his wife Irena.

The prairie rabbits cause a lot of damage to farms around here. For instance, on the morning of 2 January as my neighbor Benedik Tischmak stepped out of his house, his yard was full of rabbits. Benedik jumped back into the house, grabbed the shotgun and fired at them. He killed 18, wounded 24, and 75 got away. No offense Benedik!

Hello to everyone in the reader’s circle.

Johannes Both