No date, no place

Regretably about grandfather’s letter, one can’t be a fiskewekler. You know his address, you write to him. I have posted him a letter – I don’t meet him every day, and when one meets him one must be businesslike and polite.

Malmesbury, 18 June, 1901

I am very sorry that I can’t send you any money now, but you must not be despondent. With God’s help everything will come right. The reason for not sending money is not because the profits are too small – because I don’t know where to get a few pounds to send home for expenses, as this is the first priority, ‘es iz eing in die hent’ (‘there is no money in hand’).

Malmesbury, Wednesday, 25 June, 1901

My dearest wife, I am very sorry about the pain you had when you did not receive your letter, although you knew that I had transferred myself and everything I had in Cape Town, and I was here only one week in which I could write. As you know, it is very difficult to move and everything that was on my heart I was glad that you did not know about it, but in the end you found out.

Malmesbury, 9 July, 1901

May God grant us to hear good news from Simon Rapyk, who has moved from Tabakanet to Appelvernik. I did not know about it. Please write where it is and how it happened. What is the news in Simberig from the young and old? Everything that has happened since I left until now. It is pleasant to hear in your letters any news of people that I know.

Malmesbury, 6 August, 1901

I must confess my guilt that I did not answer your letter last week. I have no special reason – in one word – there was just nothing written. I cannot receive your letter earlier because the post going to Russia has not left, and you know when you wait for a letter one cannot write.

Malmesbury, 27 August, 1901

At present times are quiet in the bakery, there is little business but in the South African way it is impossible to save money that way because when one is at home with the family and you make a living in a ballebatieste way – that’s good enough, but alas, when one is separated far away, there is a need to save money in order to be able to go back home.

Malmesbury, (first day Shlichot), Sunday, 8 September, 1901

It is a pleasure to do business and to save a few pounds and to send it home, and so the wife is not cross with me. Secondly, it is a lively world, but unfortunately I cannot demand anything. My wife is cross.

Malmesbury, (third day Shlichot) 10 September, 1901

My dearest wife, to begin with I can tell you that TG I am in good health. May I hear the same from you and the children. May my letter find you in good health. I am enclosing with this letter a cheque for £5 sterling – may God have mercy and improve our lot for the new year so that I should earn more and more and that we should not be separated.

Cape Town, Sunday, (immediately after Rosh Hashanah), 15 September, 1901

Dearest wife, I have received your letter, yesterday on the second day of Rosh Hashanah. I thank the Lord for His mercy in giving us health. May He send all that is good in the new year, and that we should be able to see our good fortune with clear eyes.

Malmesbury, (after Yom Kippur), September 1901

You write me that my brother Isaac reckons to come to Africa, and you tell me you wish to hear my opinion on this matter. I would like to give my opinion, but I am afraid he will not listen and perhaps may already have left home, because one is in a hurry to make some money.

Malmesbury, Chol HaMoed Succot (between 30 September - 3 October), 1901

Dearest wife, you appear disappointed that I write short letters. I know very well that it is more pleasant to read a longer letter with more news – because, alas, it is our only pleasure and happiness, until God in His mercy will make an end to our separation. Believe me, I would wish to provide you with pleasure even if it costs money and trouble, and especially a thing that costs no money or anything – I would gladly do it, but you can’t force nature.

Malmesbury, 15 October, 1901

Business is very quiet, may God have mercy, the bitter war oppresses everybody, from the greatest to the smallest, so everybody is praying for better days.

Malmesbury, 12 November, 1901

The whole African world is sighing about the war. Everyone in his own way. But I think that we should complain about the bitter mazel that we have that so far we have not had anything good yet. Either before the war, or now.

Malmesbury, 26 November, 1901

About business I can tell you now – it is very little and poor, because everybody’s movements are restricted. Everybody must stay or lie down in a certain place. One is not allowed to leave and one can’t arrive, either. About going to farms to do business, there is no talk. And so everything is very quiet. I know that you need money, even though you have not written about it.

Malmesbury, 29 December, 1901

My dearest wife, I have received your letter and I am very glad to hear that you are all very well, thank God for His mercy that He grants us good health, and when there is good health He would also give something to live on, everything that is necessary. About what you ask, that I should see in these bad times that I should at least keep up my writing in time so that you should know about my health.