From: Emmental, Bessarabia
13 May 1914

It may be that many of my friends and acquaintances in the reader’s circle wonder why nothing has appeared from me in the newspaper for so long. Well, dear friends, as with everything, there are bleak hours and fate, which sometimes block the way for the best things.

The newspaper and its valuable bonuses aroused in me a deep interest and respect from the very hour when I first got the paper in my hands, because it always brings news from all parts of the world that no other newspaper can match. Since the Staats-Anzeiger also brings interesting and important news items in its smallest corner, I for one did not want to miss out on frequently reporting news articles to the reader’s circle.

I have read the paper for more than two years with such an interest, that I forgot all about its nice prizes. But finally I remembered to also look at the prizes and to ask the worthy editorship to make me happy by sending me one. My request was not denied, but I never received the prize. Because of this, I became so disgruntled that I completely derailed from corresponding. However, pardon me dear readers, I have to get back to my habit and faithfully write reports again and put the prizes aside, else the newspaper could perhaps sue me. (*Editor: Yes, dear friend, we have already sent two scissors to your address, but we will not rest until you have received one. Momentarily, we do not have any on hand, but the factory producing them for us has promised a delivery by the beginning of September. In case you should change your address again in the meantime, we ask you to please notify us at once. This time we will send you the scissors by certified mail. We want to find out if it is really impossible to get the bonus in to your hands.)

For months on end, no stories from me have appeared in the paper, but I have decided to again write report after report. It may very well be that among my stories there were some that hit a low blow to one or the other reader. However, the stories were aimed straightforward, and the remarks that landed the low blows, were totally true.

On 3 May, we celebrated the Feast of Consecration of the church here in Emmental. Guests from Krasna also attended. Furthermore, the Lord Mayor, Anton Gedak, bestowed the honor on us with a visit. He stayed for three days. Among the attendees were a lot of discussions. The Staats-Anzeiger was mentioned with high praises. A lot was talked about the many correspondences in it, including the ones by the “A Farmer”. Of course not about him as a person, since no one knows him, but about the contents of his reports.

Many thanks to the mayor for notifying me by means of a letter about his fortunate arrival at his next of kin, and that it was a delight for him to have participated in the festivities with us. I too was genuinely happy to have had Mr. Gedak as a delightful companion among us.

I send a sincere greeting to the reader’s circle of the newspaper and especially to my children in Morton County, North Dakota, and to the honored colleague, Mr. Anton Jochim.

Romuald Dirk

From: Emmental, Bessarabia
18 May 1914

We had a very nice winter with lots of snow. Spring was also good and the winter seed was standing in full splendor. One believed in an abundant harvest. Unfortunately, it happened differently since April did not bring us any rain and nothing but storms and night frosts, so that the wheat did not do anything. The grass in the pasture instead of continuing to grow became less day after day and the poor livestock had to suffer. Finally at the beginning of May we received a little rain, which of course due to the prior drought only helped a little in passing. But the spring seedlings were still green and recovered a little. We have to have rain in the next days in order to bear fruit. The winter seed looks bad. The best might perhaps yield 20 pud per desjatin but most of it will hardly yield 5 pud.

It is possible that again several people would have immigrated to America, but now they are lacking the means and they will have to stay here. They also cannot sell their land because no one is there to buy it. Last spring several people from Emmental departed for Canada. Some of these people left behind children, others the parents, but the ones left behind were determined to follow later in the year. That will now be impossible. If these people read my lines they might understand that they can’t count on greeting the people they left behind later in the year, since we are expecting a bad harvest. How deep we have gotten into debt through buying land is well known to them. The debts have to be paid before one can leave Russia and then there are not enough means for the trip. It is also possible that some of the immigrants wish they were back here but they should be happy to be there. If one could wish oneself to America, I believe not half of the people would stay here.

I am asking the editor, Mr. Brandt, to send me the scissors and the sewing kit. My brother will pay the remaining 90 cents, if he hasn’t done so already. (*Editor: At the time we don’t have these premiums on hand. They are being produced for us and have been promised to us by the beginning of September. At that time we can deliver them.)

I would like to ask my buddy Phillip Seifert to order the Staats-Anzeiger for Rochus Gross, if he wants to bring him great joy. His address is the same as mine. Recently I read in the paper a correspondence written by my cousin Emil Joseph Kopp, son of Jakob. I have written to them often and also send greetings via the Staats-Anzeiger, but never heard anything from them. Perhaps they are angry since I mentioned the 18 rubles. Now then, I don’t demand them anymore. I still have enough to live on. But why are they writing such stupidities to Krasna even though they are considered to be among the smartest men?

Since there is no more news to report from here I want to write something about the “A Farmer.” The “A Farmer” always reports a lot about men from Krasna and doesn’t write anything about the women. I can judge little about these, but only know that the past winter two of them were here, and they would have been better off staying at home. I better not mention the names.

Also, many a person has tried to discourage the “A Farmer” from writing, but he has always answered quickly and continued with his stupidities. Now someone has made him quiet down. The Dear Lord took his wife away and took her with Him to a better world. Now he will probably rest and let the pen rust. I could identify the “A Farmer” by name. (*Editor: So?) I know him very well, but I don’t know if the editorship would accept it.

(*Editor: If you know the name we will accept the report referring to this even if you missed the mark. The latter will probably be the case.)

A friendly greeting to my old mother and the brothers in Canada. Their letters from the 1st and the 5th I have received. An answer will follow soon. Brother Joseph why are you waiting so long with the payment for the paper which has been due since 9 February, and why don’t you correspond? Do you have so little time since you got married?

As soon as there is news to report I will write again. A greeting to everyone.

Zachäus Kopp,
Son of Martin