| |   Translation : CHRISTMAS GREETINGS from the natives of Czechoslovakia to Dear Auntie and her children send Vera and Vaclav. Maybe it worked out well and the meeting with Mr. Zahn turned out O.K. He works with us on the table Medard [I do not know what this could mean---Paul]. I am very glad that he can give it to you salted [I don't understand this either---maybe I can ask a friend of mine if it is a special idiom or something---P.] Auntie, it's too bad that you weren't able to come to see the Spartakiada*. We live about 20 kilometers from Karlovy Vary---we would show you everything. I'm very sorry that I also cannot write to Karla Cizkova. Do you know her address? Dad says hi to everyone.....[the last line is illegible except for "with Jana" and "from Most" Vera.   
Translation: Dear friends and auntie! I wish all of you pleasant Easter holidays and that you enjoy them in good health. Also a lot of beauty [?]. How did you last out the winter? This year it has been frightfully cold and it remains that way. Winds.....Auntie, we remembered you, what you had to to try, what you went through, what happened to you. No one knows what awaits us and what will happen with the elderly. I know that I won't be here for long. Daddy also wasn't here and neither was Mom. When I think about what all a person goes through and what still waits for us. If only we had them , how gladly we would....[I can't make this word out] where are those times. But I'd better not write any more about that because I have [a word I cannot read] in everyone. Everyone should appreciate their parents while they still have them. Auntie, I'd like to ask you a favor, maybe you will oblige me. If you could send me a photo of all of you and also of you yourself. Perhaps Rudy will take the picture. I don't have you anymore and I'd like to get you all together. I am quite looking forward to receiving your letter and the enclosed picture. Auntie, how I waited for the last letter and I said to myself that maybe something happened, that I didn't receive anything for my nameday. I also say to myself that... [can't read these words] I have strained my left leg [can't read]...It's from the veins, I have varicose veins. And now I have worries about Marticka. It's coming to an end with her. I only hope it goes well. She's already got everything prepared. When we have it [news?], I'll let you know. It will be more work, but she will be at home. Then I'll be there longer, so I won't be able to go to work anymore. Auntie, you wrote me one time that you have a garden and how you take care of it and plant flowers. [a sentence I can't make out] I also say that I'm not able to do it. How much work I did, getting up early in the morning to clean house and then to work. I can't do that anymore. It will get even worse as time goes on. [can't make this out], work has already piled up. If only it would rain or be dry. Auntie, I was at my sister's place in Caslav. So I wrote you about that, too. I end with this and look forward to the letter with photos. I will then write you also. Everyone be healthy. With greetings, Marta *************** [P.S.---translator's note: There were some parts of this letter that I could not make out, partly because the scanned letter is hard to read, and partly because the penmanship could be better. Also the letters that I've looked at so far were not written by an educated person, so I had to spend some time deciphering the grammar. I realize that some of the sentences don't flow into each other very well, but this is the best I could do with this one.]    
Translation: Dear auntie and all the rest! Accept from me many and frequent remembrances and greetings. I keep asking myself, what it is with you that you don't write to me. [Sounds like a Jewish mother!---P.] It's been a long time since I've received any news from you at all. I think about you constantly and I tell myself that I am writing, maybe she will write back to me. I made a mistake, forgive me, auntie. [She is apologizing for a smudge on the previous sentence---P.] It is freezing here and there is lot of snow--too much. Well, not really, but it really is cold. Maybe there will be pretty [can't read this word] in the snow. I only hope there aren't any severe frosts so that they don't cause any damage. A year flies by, changes [I can't quite make this part out]... When a person is older, there's always something wrong. I am now suffering a lot from the [angina? I really don't know this term "regma"], what can I do? I have it in my whole body and now my hands are shaking from it. I still have a year to work until I retire. I say that a year is a long time and we don't know what can happen, everything can change. I don't count on anything anymore. They were still going to work, but I couldn't because this "regma" was bothering me. Otherwise it was a pretty autumn. How did it manage it? [?] I don't go anywhere and I have plenty of work. During that year [I can't make this out]... Little Lubos also is going to kindergarten. He's been going since April and will continue until the end of the year. I am glad I will have it better now. He has ideas. I say where does he get these ideas? [I'm not sure of these last two sentences because they are hard to read---P.] When I clean things up a bit, I will sew, so that I can repair things after that winter. [an illegible sentence] And what are you all doing? How are you doing? Marenka [diminutive for Marie], I ask you please to write me something [the rest of the sentence is illegible except for "so she wrote me" at the end]... She probably won't write. I don't know about her [or something like that---this penmanship is really difficult!]. So for the time being I will finish writing. I wish all of you pleasant and merry holidays with a rich [illegible word] so that you all enjoy them in good health. And much health, good fortune, and God's blessings so you can meet together again after the New Year. All of this wishes to you from a sincere heart, your Marta WRITE ME, auntie, I'll be waiting. 
Translation: Dear Mrs. Krasse! At the beginning of my letter warm greetings and I wish you a happy and merry New Year. Forgive me that I didn't send you the gift from your parents in Czechoslovakaia on time. Vera and Vaclav, who live in Sokolov, I work with them and they asked me to personally give the gift to you. I am sorry that I am unable to visit you personally. My mom is 80 years old and is ill and that's why I cannot give the gift to you personally. I would be very glad if someone from your family, either daughter or son, would stop by to see me so that I can convey the message to them. Or call. The telephone number is in the upper lefthand corner! With respect, Freed Shortridge  
Translation: Dear friends! Accept from me many greetings and frequent remembrances. Time has flown and the holidays are here. There's no snow here, only ice. But it's not so bad. [sentence I cannot make out] Lubosek [little Lubos] is sick. He's got a sore throat. It's not nice. [illegible sentence] We must be careful so that he doesn't get it again. He can't stand having the covers on him, he kicks them off. When I give him gloves, he takes them off. So he catches cold and then gets sick. I made another mistake with my writing. Auntie, forgive me for that and it will be like the New Year. I don't know how things are going with all of you. How are you doing [aunt]? Are you healthy? What about the rest of them, how are they doing? We'll be another year older again. How often do you watch television? I don't watch much. Only rarely, because I fall asleep early. And I have work with the little one. Like I do in the evenings myself. I still haven't done any sewing or housecleaning. I had 3 pieces, so I will [do some preparations for sewing?] and will throw myself into it in the New Year. Since I'll be working alone, it'll take a while. Auntie, I was at my sister's in the fall in Rohozec. Now they have one son of the older married one, they have now in December a boy. The second one came home from the army in the fall and also has an acquaintance [probably meaning a girlfriend]. Only the third is still in school. Time flies and we get older. Just hope that God gives us health. [IS (illegible sentence)] So I have again written you something. Oh, and something else, he [there is something illegible that might be an initial and say who it was] was at your place in November on a visit, he has a brother there. He liked it there. So, Auntie, take care, everybody be healthy and write me. I wish all of you all the best, a lot of health and satisfaction in the New Year. Auntie, write. - Marti |
