1911-04-??. From Trijntje Stuit to H. Beekhuis.

Woldendorp, dear brother and sister,

Jan has left [at age 16 for America]. Oh, oh. He left as if he was coming back tomorrow. I have been home since Tuesday. I went to Burema for horses and a carriage to bring us. Uncle Huizinga always takes us. Do you want some of mother’s skirts or Mother’s black dress or Rientje’s dress or shall I give Rientje’s brown dress to tante Ena in payment for uncle H.’s [Hendrik Huizinga] bringing us? Then I don’t have to pay a day’s wages.

I wish you could come sometime Hinderik. I have to sell the stove. I can’t leave it there. If you want the goat it will have to go with carriage mail. And that will have to be as soon as possible, before she lambs.

I will not be able to withdraw any money from the savings bank before the middle of May. I still have fl 1.30. Jan needed one thing and another. That’s what we have to live on now. Not enough for me to go to Schildwolde. I have to buy a number of things for the household. I guess I’ll have to ask for an advance at the notary.

I had a letter from both Berend and Pieter [Ben and Pete in South Dakota]. They both wrote that they wanted to have a railing made around the four graves and they also wrote that they want to relinquish their right to their part of the inheritance and are handing this over to me for Marie and Roelf’s education and care. I hope to hear from you or see you in person.

Greetings, Trijntje.