Letter Dated 15 March 1878, Parisville, Michigan

Lieber August,

By the time you receive this letter, I am certain your arm will have healed and that you are once again playing violin. Keep practicing. I will do the same. And we will think of one another.

Most settlers here come from Prussia. They are so eager to be entirely American that they break ties with European ways. For example, people here call me Bertha! Imagine! They say it sounds more American than Berta. So to fit in I am learning English, but it is not necessary. People here rarely speak it! They speak Polish or German, just like back home. And while we are all Prussians trying to fit in, there is one old habit that we will never reject: Germans and Poles here are as suspicious of one another as they are in Prussia. This discord is so blatant that the Parisville church is strictly Polish while just a mile down the road there is a German church. Unbelievable! Two churches to serve so few people! At least the economy in Parisville is better than in Prussia! It’s doing so well, in fact, that William and I are building a hotel. Papa was right — things are better here in America!

Deine Schwester, 
Berta 

 

Letter Dated 13 August 1877, Kniewon-Samosten, Prussia

Liebe Berta,

We have moved. Papa says that with you in America and Johann in the army, we could no longer afford such a house.

After our move we had a fire. I was getting up from the table when I banged my head against the petroleum lamp. It fell on me and flames covered my arm. Mama snatched up the porridge and poured it over me. Papa rolled me in a blanket.

My arm is still tender but healing. Until it is better, I cannot play my violin. Since I sound so horrid without you, little is lost.

Tell brother William hello from me. Papa boxed my ears when I said William looks like Chancellor Bismarck!

Dein Bruder, 
August 

Letter Dated 7 July 1877, Parisville, Michigan

Lieber August,

We are married! Enclosed is a photo we took after Mass. I cannot wait for you to meet your new brother-in-law!

And another surprise: William and I are building a hotel! Parisville is growing. More people pass our way each day — lumbermen heading north, trappers and fur-traders — and they all seek lodging. The railroad will come soon, bringing still more people. This hotel is such opportunity! And when you arrive, we can perform duets for guests. A respectable hotel needs beautiful music, right?

Deine Schwester, 
Berta 

Letter Dated 13 January 1877, Gohra, Prussia

Liebe Berta,

Do you remember the polkas we played together? And the mazurkas? You on piano, me on violin?

Well, I cannot play them since you left! When I do, it sounds like weasels fighting. My attempts send Papa outdoors and make Karl shriek!

Mama says it could be years before we come to Parisville. Until then, she says, I must find my own beautiful voice as a solo violinist. We all hope that day comes soon.

Dein Bruder, 
August 

Letter Dated 23 September 1876, Parisville, Michigan

Lieber August,

My journey was long. Hundreds of Prussians leave Bremen each day sailing for America. Like Papa, they find little work for low pay. And like Mama, they say that Bismarck is wrong — things are not improving in Prussia. So we all seek better lives in America. After six weeks of travel I am glad, if not a little nervous, to finally be here in Michigan.

August, I am sorry to have left. But I am sixteen now. Papa found a nice boy for me here in Parisville. He was waiting for me. His name is William Susalla and he is also from Prussia. He is hard working and watches over me in this country where so much is new and strange. As soon as you join me here, you will meet him yourselves.

Not a day goes by that I don’t think about you, Mama and Papa, Johann, Anna and little Karl.

Deine Schwester, 
Berta