Letter 1-a
Note: This is the first letter from America that has
been preserved. The author Gerrit Willem Bloemers belongs to the so-called
“separatists” and likes using frequent Bible quotations in his letters. He is
married to Janna te Selle and already emigrated in 1846. In 1865 he takes care
of the brothers Jan Hendrik and Harmen Jan te Selle when they also emigrate to
America.
Date: January 1865
Sender: G.W.Bloemers
Addressee: Derk Willem te Selle
Winterswijk
January 1865
Dear friends and other relations,
We let you know that we are still in good health and we
hope you are likewise; and we want you to know that we have received Jan Willem
Korsschot`s enclosed letter in which we read about your good health about which
we truly rejoiced.
We have also read in it that many of our friends and
acquaintances have been called to an irrevocable eternity, they being, so to
speak, only just a little ahead of us, but beloved ones let us hold on to our
calling and election in the Lord so that through Christ's justice we may enter
into his kingdom that he already prepared before the foundation of the world;
but enough of this, each of us should find out for himself whether we are
entitled to a share of that kingdom.
Furthermore we inform you of the circumstances in which we
are: the yield was rather successful except for the summer wheat and the hay,
which suffered a lot due to the persistent drought; all the food articles for
cattle and people are expensive, particularly the bacon: 14 cents a pound; beef:
10 and 12 cents; butter 32 to 34 cents; this also makes good cattle quite
expensive. We sold a yoke of oxen for 100 and 33 dollars and a young horse that
is going to be 3 years old this coming May for 100 and 25 together with the
gear. Also clothes and fabrics of cotton are as much as three times as expensive
as in former years, including the working-tools that contain iron.
The day's wages are also much higher than before because
in March war will have been going on for 4 years and this involves a lot of
expenses and brings poverty to many because surely you must have heard that they
must draw lots here and the last time they drew lots for conscription, Tobias
drew a bad number too, and with lots of pains, after having been away from us
for 23 days he got out of it because of the fact that he occasionally spits
blood. Otherwise it will be of no avail: they don't care whether they have many
children or old people. In the latest conscription five times a hundred thousand
were selected and now they need three times a hundred thousand more. Still we
enjoy many privileges here. Everything in the South is being destroyed and
burnt.
There they have to draw lots from the age of 45 down to
the age of (1)02 ? and then they can also buy below and over those ages and then
they will cost from 1 to 8 hundred dollars and this for a year. Dear ones, what
more shall I write of this; you know what the Lord says about it in his Word, a
house or country that is divided against itself will be destroyed and it is the
same over here; what more shall I write to you about the war; where should I
begin and where should I end. It is my wish that it may incite/induce (her) to
implore and pray before the throne of Mercy!
Now I let you know that I intend to send you a book
through a man born in Noord-Brabant, who is going to visit his parents, and who
lives close to us; but from where he will forward it, Arnhem or Rotterdam, I
don't know, but my wish is that you may receive it in good health and that you
may draw blessed fruits from it for yourself and for yours. Perhaps you will
occasionally encounter strange things in it, but in that case examine what the
Word says about it and do not "put flesh to your arms" (to your poor ?) and
should it come into your hands, read and read it again and write me some day
what you think of it.
Will you please also inquire whether my three sisters are
still alive, because I have received no news from them at all and write me
whether there are some in the family in whom the Lord has worked and whether the
Lord has added any newcomers to his kingdom, and how you yourself, your wife and
your mother have been. You must not think that I am tough on you, no, I just
wish to admonish you like a brother. The Word teaches us that if we were not
born again he shall not inherit the kingdom of God. So we may admonish one
another as long as we may be in mercy today; and even though we have merely
received one talent, we should make profit out of it and not bury it in the soil
like that useless servant, and that the same will be taken from him which he
owned.
Furthermore we let you know that we enjoy rather good
health, except for mother who has so much gout in her one leg that she has to go
on crutches, but her heart is still very healthy. As for me, my deafness is
increasing, too, and the strength of the body is declining for I shall be 71
years old on 14th April, but I cannot thank the Lord enough for the favours
bestowed on me, poor sinner.
I also let you know that J.W.Korschot and his wife are
also well, as are Dulmes and his wife and children. And we also let you know
that we have a family of 6 children: 2 boys and 4 girls (one little boy died)
and they all look good, fresh and healthy. Please be patient with my poor
writing and do write back soon. Do not give this letter to anyone else. Convey
it orally, as I do not want them to know about the book.
Come to think of it, there is something I should also
report to you. This summer I went to my brother, to Michigan, to visit him,
since we had not seen one another for 18 years, and I saw many acquaintances
from Holland there and most of them are doing fine. I really enjoyed being
there.
I have to stop, because writing is becoming quite a hard
job for me. It is probably the last letter I am writing to you. Not to put an
end to our friendship, no far from that. Be so kind as to remember me and all of
my family to all friends and acquaintances. And please write back soon.
G.W.Bloemers,
Received
July 19 1865
Address written in black ink
To mister
D.W. te Selle
Winterswijk
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