Letter 20
Date:
April 12, 1881
From:
Gerrit Jan te Selle ‑ Holland, Nebraska (Firth area)
To: Derk Willem te Selle
Holland, Neb, April 12, 1881
Dear Friends,
Again I take up the pen to
write you a letter. We still are rather well, but I had given a
letter along with W. Lefferdink, an old neighbor of mine. He was
very eager to take some letters with him. That way he had a better
chance to go everywhere. For doubtless he will do everything he can
to attract people. He has 10 guilders from the company, and what he
makes in the taverns. His brother‑in‑law told me that he likely
later will quietly go another way. Ask him whatever you want, but
remember that with every light there is a shadow and that its not
all gold that glitters.
I have also bought another
80 acres of land because 80 acres is too small for the living needs
of a large family. I have it on a six‑year schedule. And I had to
buy it because the railroad land is all gone. Also I only had 24
hours. I saw very often that people were looking at it. Nowadays
the newcomers have to buy from somebody else, who then again moves
some 100 or 1,000 miles farther on.
Recently I also got a
neightbour, a Hollander, who paid $2.500 dollars, $1.600
immediately, the remainder on time. And yet people are saying that
he will never make it. There are hundreds here who have obtained a
piece of land for nothing who are now so burdened that they have
little or nothing for themselves. What is produced is too cheap and
machinery unspeakably expensive. When everything is sold there
remains little more as debts. For young people it is sometimes good.
For some months some get good wages, but let them take into account
that they have to work very hard in these weeks, and in the time
afterwards they can scarcely pay for their board. For almost five
months we could not do any work. It is still quite cold. It freezes
awesome hard, even last night. One cannot yet sow or plow. There are
those who have to plow 100 to 200 acres for corn with a span of two
horses.
And the middle of May is high time.
Wheat costs 65, corn 20
cents, butter 11, eggs 8 cents per dozen. Dont tell Lefferdink that
you did receive this letter.
He can tell you many
things but remember, he is a churchless person. He just goes in
order to get rich at the expense of another's misfortune. For that
reason I was afraid he would influence your boys people or others to
come here. If they want to come, let them first seek advice from
their families and whether it is profitable for them to go.
I must
go to the post office.
With
esteem, your brother,
G. J.
te Selle
.
Norma
Te Selle-Prophet:
“In
the 1880 Census report, Garrit Jan te Selle (Te Selle) is living
in the Panama Precinct and was listed as a farmer. In the 1885
Census report, he is also shown as being in the Panama Precinct
and is listed as a carpenter.
.
A
"span" of horses..... Definition:
“A
pair of animals, matched in size, strength, or color”.
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