Page 1 Hamburg Ohlsdorf, 31st December 1911 My dear good aunt! First of all, thank you very much for your Christmas card. It is always the case when you send us a sign of life that we are happy about your health. The year that is now ending was not a good one for us, as you can well imagine from my previous letters. Yet, why mop up when it is actually my duty to only make you comfortable. Thank God I am cheerful and well. on the other hand my wife suffered a lot last year. Her suffering is more of a spiritual nature, if our great process is only over, which is apparently favorable, she will recover in a short time. A picture that hangs here in my room involuntarily reminds me of the past. It's a picture of three boys. The brothers sit sideways, me in the middle. It will be recorded around 1859. I want to let the circumstances in my parents' house rest. We children then sought contact with our closest relatives, Grofse’s. You shouldn't talk bad things about the dead, that's not my intention either, but I must confess that our uncle Grofse didn't care much for us. How grateful page 2 we children would have been for just a kind word. And now another picture. When I came to America in March 1872, I was still an immature young man. Nevertheless, I soon recognized the big difference, dear aunt, between you and Grofse’s - I also recognized the kindness and dignity of uncle that was written on his forehead, his actions were accordingly, our father was also like that. In the very early days when his mind was still clear. Yes. if we had had relatives like that close by my brothers would not have died so young. It is unnecessary, dear aunt, to tell you how happy I am to see you again. Always assuming that my business goes well. I won't shy away from the further tour to meet Henry again, he has had to go through a lot in a short time, I feel for him and his wife. Do not take it amiss that I was able to offer you so little interesting this time, as an excuse for this I would like to point out once again our unfortunate cause which impresses me. I would like to call out to you again, keep yours from now on. experience and spend another “happy new year”. Greetings from your loyal nephew Gustav Gruppe and wife.