146. 3rd Ave.

Paterson N.J.

Aug.23.1929

 

Dear Tjamme en Atje en l.[ittle] M[aartje oct 8 1926]:

 

We will take up the pen once more. First we have to thank you for the nice pictures we recieved from you. We like them and are pleased with them. Likely my wife will write about them too. Well, everybody is still in good health over here and our little girl is doing fine as well. She is getting quite loveable [this is extreme hard to translate in essence she is starting to communicate, not just feeding, sleeping and pooing: my words] She will be getting four months the 25th of this month [please confirm april 25 1929]. We planned to write sooner but you know what writing means. I never wrote as much as here in America: then to my parents, then to Trijntjes parents and P[ake grandfather] and B[eppe grandmother] and S[?] and J[? both letters are difficult to read] etc. etc. So I sometimes don't know what to write. [is he assuming everybody back home exchanges information, which is likely?] We still very much like it over here but still one week to go and our holliday is over. We have traveled quite a lot these last ten weeks with our new car. I wish Tj.[amme] and A.[tje] that you could see all the things we see here.

 

Again thanks, and do write back!!!!!!!!!!

 

Wouldn't it have been nice for us if Father and Mother had been here this year. I own a car and have more time to spare. But all things are over. [done or gone, I do not understand this] You should come over just for the fun of it Tj.[amme] just for a few weeks next summer; or can't your wallet afford it yet? How is everything back at your place, I suppose everything will have changed. [Tjamme has build himself a new butchery, have to find out just when we do have a picture] I hope, if the Lord whishes, and we live to see your new butchery some day, but not that soon yet. It is not that expensive however to from here to Holland. But from there it is quite something. I think from here it is 170 dollar, for a round-trip. That will add up with some more expenses for this and that but still it isn't longer such a big sum. We hope for the best. We have a very dry summer, amazing little is growing; everything will become more expensive. Now, I hope you will write back soon and tell us what is going on there. We want to send you a picture of our baby, you can count on that. I leave it to this. Receive our well meant greetings along with this letter with the blessings of the Lord.

Please say hello to all you know whom.

 

John and Trina & Marie Machiela [born apr 25? 1929 ].