|
Dear Sister and family,
I received and was delighted to read your
letter. I implore you to answer my letter without delay. On
arrival in Melbourne please contact Tuvieh Szejnberg and
Chaim Bertshein about Rebecca, Tuvieh's daughter. She is already a
fully-grown young lady and they should worry about her because she
has nowhere to live. I did not intend to write to you about
it but I must. [Tuvieh left his daughter Rebecca behind in
Szczuczyn when he came to Australia. He later brought her and her
brother to Australia, but his wife remained in Szczuczyn.]
We once had an auntie in Szczuczyn - our
father's sister - but regrettably she is no more. Muki Farber of
Szczuczyn visited us today and told us that his sister Zelda will
leave shortly for Palestine. Yaakov Farber, our uncle, may follow
her shortly. He (Muki) did not tell us anything about Rebecca,
which you surely understand means that she will have to continue
staying with him. I'm asking you to inform Tuvieh and Chaim
Bertshein in my name.
As for ourselves, we are all well. If
business were better, everything would be OK. Regrettably things
are getting worse from day to day. Let us hope that time will
bring a change for the better.
Our children are well. Moshe finished
school already and now studies accountancy and typewriting. In
time he will emigrate, though we don't know yet where, as
there is no future here [Moshe studied in Vilna and then managed
to migrate to England. He also lived for a time in Columbia, in
Israel and in the United States]. Next year Chayale will finish
school, she is now in the 7th clas and does well. Our youngest
daughter Nechama however is particularly gifted and excels in her
studies. As to your suggestion that our children could learn to
sew, you will be glad to know that they learn sewing at school and
Chayale has already some small sewn articles to her credit.
No other news. Please send our regards to
Lozer and the children, and to the Rosenbaum family for
their kindness towards you. The Frydman family sends their
regards, also our auntie Malka and the Lachover family. My
mother-in-law sends her regards and thanks you for remembering
her.
Your sister,
Gutka
[THIS ADDENDUM IS PROBABLY WRITTEN BY
GUTKA'S HUSBAND, SZMUL]
Dear Zelda,
I intended to write in our previous
letter but it didn't work out so I'm adding a few words now. We
are happy for you that you made the right choice and you will now
start a safer and easier life. Who could have anticipated at the
beginning that everything would fall into place? I'm envious
that you find yourself in such a great land, and you surely
understand how thirsty we are for such an atmosphere. I can't
believe that little Nechemia is already at school and
the little fellow is almost a little mench [person of
substance]. I can't write much, kiss the children for me. I hope
that in time they will be able to write themselves.
Dear Zelda,
I spent this vacation in Szczuczyn and I
missed you. As you know, we always enjoyed staying with you - your
food was so tasty. This time I had to stay somewhere else. On the
other hand, I was happy that you are no longer in a state of need
and I am pleased to hear good news from you. I hope that one day
we will visit you in your comfortable home and enjoyed it
together. If possible attach a picture of yourselves in your next
letter. We are keen to see how you look there.
Best wishes,
Chaya
Mother mentioned in her letter about
sewing. I intend to learn a trade after finishing school.
Everybody advises me to do it.
Regards,
Nechama
Maybe you are learning English. I would
love to attempt to correspond with you in English and see whether
or not I'm capable of doing so. Probably not in the near
future, though.
WRITTEN IN THE MARGIN, IN ENGLISH:
"Goodnight my dear." |
