Liebes Weibchen! Liebes Mannichen!: Love Letters between Gustav Geerdts and his “wifey”, Bertha Starke Geerdts
[These translated latters were on another website which doesn’t exist anymore, so I’m transfering them over to this CyranoWriter site. Some of the links probably won’t work, but I will try to fix them as time permits. Other letters from immigrant Bertha Starke Geerdts include family letters from Bertha Starke’s early years as a new immigrant from Alt Öls and Nieder Schönfeld, Kreis Bunzlau, Schlesien, Germany.as well as writing her mother Johanna Dausel Dehmel Starke in Alt Öls, Schlesien, and Kiel, Germany.]
(From Gustav Geerdts, at home in Milwaukee, to his wife Bertha Starke Geerdts, who was staying with his parents at their home in Sheboygan)(written in English–spelling is as in the letter)
(For a fun picture of Bertha Starke Geerdts doing the wash on wash day at the Fratney Street house, click here(someday)!)
Milwaukee, August 5, 1901
My Dear Bertha,–
I have had a very pleasant Sunday here, the wether was nice and cool and sunshine all day, just right for a sick man like me. At about 1/4 after 11 o’clock Berthold came here and asked me to go to the picknic in National park, he had a ticket for me. We did not enjoy the picnic very much it was to dusty in the park. I had to eat dinner and supper at Bert’s there was no way out of it at all. In the evening Bert. and I had a few glasses of bitters in a saloon, they tasted very good and I think that cured my sickness. The pain in my side is nearly all gone. I slept very good all night. I feel better today than any day since the strick.
Write soon and tell me how you go to Sheboygan and how Alice liked the boat-ride did she laugh did she cry did she sleep or did she do all three or what? What do pa and ma think of our little girl? How do you and Mutter and Alice enjoy in Sheboygan? I hope you are making a pleasant time of it down there enjoy yourself Mamma, that’s what you went down there for.
Next Sunday there is an excursion down there another boat which leaves here at 8,45 or 1/4 to 9 and leaves Sheboygan at 11 o’clock in the evening, its the Saloon-keepers excursion to Born’s park. Wright me a letter soon Bertha. My regards to Pa. and Ma. and Mutter. Give our little daughter a great big kiss for me. Here is one for you to.
Your loving husband.
Gustav
8 August, 1901
Liebes Weibchen!
Dein Lieben Brief habe ich am Mitwoch Abend erhalten. Ich habe mich noch nie so uber einen Brief gefreut wie uber diesen. Es ist ja auch von mein liebes Weibchen! Es freut mich sehr, daB Ihr Euch so gut amusiert. Ich kann wie Alice sich uber alles so wundert und freut. Sie ist voll sehr unartig (disobiedient) und zerreist alles, aber das wird ihr woll nicht zur Bose genommen! Ihr seid ja auf die Sommererhollung! Amusiert Euch nur recht gut, das ist mein Wunsch. Liebes Weibchen! Du machst mir den Mund ganz Weslich, wenn du schreibst, was Ihr da alles schones zum essen kriegt, uberhaupt die rote Grutze! (a tapioca type pudding, usually mixed with fruit flavoring, berries, covered with a vanilla sauce). Aber ich troste mich schon damit, daB ich auch welche bekomme, wenn ihr wieder kommt, nicht wahr, liebes Weibchen!??
Die Blumen bluhen schon, die Garten besorgt die Mrs. Binning. Immer sie gibt ihm Saladkartoffeln, und ich weiB nicht noch sonnst was alles. Den Pete kriegt jeden morgen einen Kleines Lecherbissen, und der WauWau, einen Topf kriegt jeden morgen, seine Fliegen. Ach, wie wir kommen schon gar nicht um, aber lange halten wir es diesen Weg nicht aus! Wir werden uns alle wieder freuen, wenn ihr wieder daheim seid! Liebes Weibchen, du schreibst, du warest so banger um mich, das hast du auch nicht notig, denn ich habe noch nie besser gefuhlt, wie jetzt. Die Schmerzen in meiner Seite, bald ganz fort, alles tut mir gar nicht mehr weh, wenn ich Atem hole, bloB noch ein wennig wenn ich den Arm sehr hoch aufschtreche. Das Strohwitwe leben, wie die Nachtbaren es nennen, ist gar nicht schon. Es ist doch viel schoner, wenn Mann sein Weibchen und seine Familie bei sich hat!
Ich lebe hier sonnst ganz gemutlich! Das Morgens hole ich mir ein Pint Milch, ein paar Sammel, und fur 5 cents wird zum Oatmeal gegessen, und die andern nehme ich mit in Schlacht (lunch container). Mittags gehe ich in ein Boarding Haus, da kostet das Mittagessen 15 cent. Am Monntag Abend habe ich mich Kartoffeln gekocht, und das Fleisch dazu gebraten (fried). Am Dienstag habe ich die ubrigen Kartoffeln gebraten, und Leberwurst dazu gegessen. Am Mittwoch Abend habe ich gebraten Eier, und Grahambrot, Honig gibt es bei jeder Mahlzeit. Gestern Abend war ich bei Berthold, um da Euren GruB zu bestellen. Sie lassen auch schon GruBen. Mrs. Binning hat mir dein Brief uberreicht. Sie sagt ich soll Euch alle von ihr gruBen. Sie sagt, sie fuhlt sich einsam, das die Alice nicht da ist. GruBt Papa, Mama, und Mutter von mir, auch ein GruB von Hans. Es kuBt und gruBt dich dein liebes Mannigen. Gibt auch unserem Tochterchen ein Paar KuBe!
Gustav
(From Gustav Geerdts in Milwaukee to his wife Bertha Starke Geerdts, who was staying with his parents in Sheboygan)
8 August, 1901
Dearest little wife (or “wifey”)
I received your loving letter on Wednesday evening. I have not ever rejoiced over a letter, like I did over this one. It is, yes, from my dear little wifey! It gives me so much joy, that you are amusing yourselves so well! I can imagine how Alice wonders and rejoices over everything. She is certainly very disobedient and rips everything apart, but that won’t be thought evil of her! You both are, yes, on summer vacation! Amuse yourselves only really well, that is my wish. Dearest little wife! You make my mouth water, when you write, what all beautiful you have received to eat, and especially the red Grutze (a tapioca type pudding, usually mixed with fruit flavoring, berries, and covered with a vanilla sauce.) But I comfort myself already with this, that I will also get some, when you return again, isn’t that right, dearest little wifey!?!
The flowers are blooming already beautifully. Mrs. Binning is taking care of the garden. She always gives it salad potatoes (peels), and I don’t know what all else. Pete (probably a pet?) gets a little bite of something every morning, and the WauWau (another pet? Maybe a turtle?) a pot he gets every morning, his flies. Ach, we’re not going to perish yet, but we won’t last long living like this! We will all rejoice again, when you all are home again! Dearest little wifey, you write, you were so worried about me, but it’s not necessary to do that, because I have never felt better than I do now. The pain in my side will soon be completely gone, everything doesn’t hurt any more, when I breathe, only a little when I lift my arm up very high. The “straw widow” life, as the neighbors name it, is not at all pretty. It is a lot nicer, when one has his little wife and his family at his side!
Otherwise I live here very comfortably! Mornings I get myself a pint of milk, a couple of rolls, and for five cents can eat oatmeal, and the other I take with me in the lunch container. Noons I go in a boarding house, there lunch costs 15 cents. On Monday evening I have cooked myself potatoes, and meat fried along with it. On Tuesday I fried the rest of the potatoes, and ate liverwurst along with it. On Wednesday evening I had fried eggs, and graham bread, and there is honey with every meal. Yesterday evening I was with Berthold, to give your greeting there. They beautifully greet you themselves. Mrs. Binning handed me your letter. She said I should greet all of you from her. She said, she feels so alone, because Alice is not there. Greet Papa, Mama, and Mother from me, also a greeting from Hans. It kisses and greets you your loving little man. Give also our little daughter a pair of kisses!
Gustav
Milwaukee, August 13, 1901.
Liebes Weibchen!
Gestern Abend war ich zu mude, zum schreiben. Ich hab nicht geschlafen, auf dem Boat. Die Menschen waren beinah alle betrunken, und haben ein Larm gemacht, da konnte Keiner schlafen. Auf die Lake was es ganz schon. Wir sind hier erst um 5 Uhr angelandet. Da hatte ich gerade noch Zeit zu Haus zu gehen, mich umzukleiden, Fruhstuck kochen, und zu essen, Vogeln und die Schildkrauter zu futtern, und nach der Arbeit zu gehen. Gestern Abend habe ich noch die Mellons Food Company geschreiben, wegen den Sample fur Mrs. Albricht. Hans war Gestern Abend hier gewesen, wegen ein Paar Hosen, die ich ihm mitbringen sollte, auB Sheboygan. Das hatte ich aber ganz vergessen. Dafur habe ich ihm dem ein Paar von Meinen gegeben, die ich zuletzt gekauft habe.
Sonnst ist es hier noch alles beim Alten. Ich weiB nichts neues. GruBe deine Eltern und Mutter auch herzlich von mir, und ich danke die Eltern noch herzlich fur die Eier und die Kirschen. Dies ist Dienstag Abend. Morgen nachmittag oder Donnerstag vormittag wirst du den Brief woll kriegen, da schreibst du mir Donnerstag wieder, da krieg ich den Brief am Freitag. Folgentlich ist das der leste Brief, den ich dir dies Mal schreiben kann. So lebe wohl bis auf nachsten Sonntag Abend. Dann werde ich Euch von Boat abholen. Die Mrs. Binning laBt sich gruBen. Sie sagt die Alice soll bald wieder kommen. Sie sagt es ist hier jetzt so still und Einsam! Es fuhlt sich aber keiner so Einsam wie ich! Ein herzlichen KuB und GruB von dein leiben Mannichen. Gib auch mein Tochterchen ein KuB und sagt ihr, es ist von ihrem Papa!
Gustav
(From Gustav Geerdts in Milwaukee to his wife Bertha Starke Geerdts, who was staying with his parents in Sheboygan)
Milwaukee, August 13, 1901
Dearest little wifey!
Yesterday evening I was to tired to write. I didn’t sleep at all on the Boat. Almost everyone was drunk, and made such a noise, that no one could sleep. On the lake (Michigan) it was completely beautiful. We landed only at 5 o’clock (a.m.) So I had just enough time yet, to go home, change my clothes, cook breakfast, eat, feed the birds and the turtle, and to go to work. Yesterday evening I wrote the Mellon’s Food Company, about the sample for Mrs. Albricht. Hans was here yesterday evening, because of a pair of pants, that I was supposed to bring him with me, from Sheboygan. That I forgot completely. For that I gave him a pair of mine, those that I bought most recently.
Otherwise, here is all the same as before. I know nothing new. Greet your parents and mother also heartily from me, and I thank the parents again heartily for the eggs and the cherries. This is Tuesday evening. Tomorrow afternoon or Thursday morning you’ll receive, most likely, this letter, then write me Thursday again, then I’ll receive the letter on Friday. As a result, that is the last letter, that I can write you this time. So live well until next Sunday evening. Then I will pick you all up from the boat. The Mrs. Binning sends greetings. She says that Alice should come again soon. She says it is here now so quiet and lonely! But no one feels as lonely as I do! A kiss and greeting from my heart, from your loving little man. Give also my little daughter a kiss and tell her, it is from her Papa! Gustav
Sheboygan, 15 August, 1901
Mein Liebes Mannichen!
Dein lieben Brief habe ich heut als Donnerstag erhalten. Es freut mich, daB du gut daheim angekommen bist. Das glaube ich, daB du nicht hast schlaffen konnen. Wir haben es auch gehort, wie es dazu ging! Unsere Tochterchen hats Monntag und Dienstag Nacht nicht gut geschlafen. Sie konnte nicht zur Ruhe kommen, aber letze Nacht hat sie wieder umsobesser geschlafen. Ich gehe jeden Morgen Hinbeeren pflichen, und Alice iBt sie so sehr gern, und stopft auch einmal eine ganze Handvoll in den Mund! Wenn sie damit vertig ist, dann sieht aber ihre Gesichtchen schon aus! Wir haben heut uber sie so lachen muBen!
Die letzten Tage bleiben wir Heim bei Mama, und Dienstag waren wir alle bei Emma’s mutter. Da haben wir auch Kirschen und Stuckelberren in Garten gepflicht. Liebe Gustav! Nun noch drei voller Tage, dann sind wir wieder daheim! Ich sehne mich schon nach den Sonntag, wo wir uns wieder sehen. Papa und Mama sind herzlich gut zu uns, wir sind alle recht munter, und unterhalten uns so gut, wie konnen. Ich habe Mama’s Blummengarten schon in Ordnung gemacht, daB macht mir alles spaB. Wir werden uns rechtzeitig auf dem Weg machen, zum Boat, damit wir es nicht verpassen. Ich werde nun schlieBen, in der Hoffnung auf ein frohes wieder sehen. Von unsere Alice ein groBen KuB an ihren lieben Papa. Auch herzliche GruBe von allen, auch von Mrs. Binning. Sei du, liebes Mannichen, herzlich GegruBt und gekuBt, Von deine Weibchen,
Bertha
Sage Berthold und Bertha, unser besten Dank, fur ihren Brief. wir haben ihm am Dienstag erhalten, und uns schon daruber gefreut, hatten ihnen auch einmal geschrieben, aber wuBten die Addresse nicht! Sie muBten uns deshalb Entschuligen und herzlichen GruB an Sie und Erna.
(written from Marie)
Auch von mir Tausend GruBe an Berthold und die kleines Tochter, mit GruB, eurer Mutter!
(From Bertha Starke Geerdts in Sheboygan to her husband Gustav Geerdts in Milwaukee)
Sheboygan, 15 August, 1901
My Dearest little man!
I received your loving letter today (Thursday). It makes me rejoice, that you got home well. I believe it, that you couldn’t sleep! We also heard it, how it went! Our little daughter didn’t sleep well Monday and Tuesday night. She couldn’t quiet down, but last night she slept so much better, again. I go raspberry picking every morning, and Alice eats them so gladly, and jams also at one time an entire handful in her mouth! When she is finished with all that, then her little face looks so beautiful! We had to laugh over her so much today!
The last days we have stayed home with Mama, and Tuesday we were all by Emma’s mother. Then we also picked cherries and Stuckelberrys (Raspberries or blackberries; something with thorns?) from the garden. Dear Gustav! Now only three full days, then we are at home again! I long already for the Sunday, where we will see each other again. Papa and Mama are really good to us, we are all really well, and get along (talk) as well as anyone can. I have put Mama’s flower garden already in order, that gives me much joy. We will promptly get underway, to the boat, so that we don’t miss it. I will now close, with the hope for a joyous seeing again. From our Alice a huge kiss on her dear Papa. Also heartfelt greetings from all, also from Mrs. Binning. Be you, dearest little man, heartily greeted and kissed, from your little wifey, Bertha
Tell Berthold and Bertha, our best thanks, for their letter. We received it on Tuesday, and rejoiced over it, and would have written them once also, but didn’t know the address! They must forgive us for that reason, and heart-felt greetings on them and Erna.
(written from Marie Geerdts, Gustav’s mother): Also from me thousand greetings on Berthold and the little daughter, with greetings, your mother!
(From Gustav Geerdts in Milwaukee to his wife Bertha Starke Geerdts, who was staying with his parents in Sheboygan, in English, with spelling as in the letter. Written on Milwaukee County stationary)
“Board of Supervisors of Milwaukee County
Gustav Geerdts, Supervisor 21st Ward.
1419 Fratney Street”
My dear Wife: —
Owing to some verry unfortutent business I have at the county hospital Sunday I cannot come to Sheboygan.
I shal tell you of the business I have have had there when you come back.
I hope you all are enjoying well out there, you must forget all toil and care, just have a good rest, rest both brain and muscles, think of nothing else just have a good rest and a good time.
I hope to see a good healthy looking little Wife and children when you return home.
Give my best regards to all and a kiss to Alice and Bertram.
Your loving husband
Gustav
P.S. Best regards from John and Susie, and also from Bert and Bertha.
10 minutes to 10 Oclock
Again from Gustav to his wife Bertha in Sheboygan
“Board of Supervisors of Milwaukee County
Gustav Geerdts, Supervisor 21st Ward.
1419 Fratney Street”
Milwaukee, August 3, 1904
My Dear little Wife,
When I came home this evening I found your letter waiting for me. I am sorry you did not get my letter before Sunday, now Pa had to go down to the dock fore nothing. I could have written a day sooner to. I am glad there are only three days more before I will see you all again, yes I will be in Sheboygan Sunday to take you home if nothing comes in the way.
These two weeks seemed like six to me, I miss you here Bertha thinking of you half the time, I said I was glad that you would be gong for two weeks then I would have time for study but that is not the case, I have less time now than when you are here Pet. May those three days go quickly so that I can soon see you and our dear little ones again.
Last Saturday I wanted to go to here the Singers sing at the Exposition but I did’nt go in because I knew I would not enjoy it without you by my side. I then went to the Academy of Music to see a play (I went there with a friend of mine from the Shop). but I felt so lonesome, there was something or someone missing and that was you darling. Well I didn’t enjoy that play at all, but wish for next Sunday. May you all live well an happy till then.
With love and kisses for you my darling. Kiss our two little ones for me. and best regards for Pa. and Ma. and Mutter.
Your fond Husband
Gustav
(From Gustav Geerdts in Milwaukee to his wife Bertha Starke Geerdts, who was staying with his parents in Sheboygan)
(In English on Board of Supervisors stationary)
“Board of Supervisors of Milwaukee County
Gustav Geerdts, Supervisor 21st Ward.
1419 Fratney Street”
Milwaukee, August 15, 1905
Dear Wifey.
Please let me know why you do not write me a letter. Are the children, or any one sick? I am waiting impatiently for a letter from you.
Gustav.
P.S. Write as soon as you get this, so that I will get a letter from you before Saturday noon.
Wausau 17 Jan., 1903
Liebe Schwester und Lieber Schwager!
Euren Brief haben wir erhalten, und darauB ersehen, daB ihr von meinem Freund Otto Gundham (Gundlach?) ein Brief erhalten habt, worin er Euch uber meine Lage hat wissen lassen. Nun, meine Lieben, ich nehmen gern das Anerbeiten an, mir zu helfen, daB ich wieder nach Milwaukee ziehen kann. Es ist ja doch auf jedemfal besser, daB ich nach Milwaukee komme. Ich habe mir von meinen Krankengeld nicht viel sparen konnen, weil es zu viel an den Doktor bezahlt werden muB. Milwaukee habe ich den Doktor frei. Also, meine lieben, wenn es Euch moglich ist, mir $20 zu borgen, sollte es mich freuen! Alles andere mundlich! Es gruBt euch vielmals,
Gustav und Marie
(From Gustav and Marie, possibly Starke, in Wausau, Wisconsin, possibly to their half-sister Bertha Starke Geerdts in Milwaukee. Although Marie was Gustav’s mother’s name, it makes no sense as it is written to think it would be from Gustav Geerdts and his mother Marie Geerdts) In two previous letters, from Ernst Starke and from Otto Starke, in 1890’s, a “Gustav” is mentioned as a brother.)
Wausau, 17 January, 1903
Dear Sister and dear brother in law!
Your letter we have received, and therein saw, that you received a letter from my friend Otto Gundham (Gundlach?), wherein he let you know about my condition. Now, my dears, I gladly accept the offer you made, to help me, that I again can go (move) to Milwaukee. It is after all in any case better, that I come to Milwaukee. I haven’t been able to save much of my sick money, because too much must be paid to the doctor. In Milwaukee I have the doctor for free. So, my dears, when it is possible for you all to lend me $20, that would make me happy! Everything else is well! It greets you many times! Gustav and Marie