Very dear brother K. de Groot,

We find ourselves through the Lord’s blessing still in the best of health and hope the same for you. Because it is the Lord only who gives and takes. I am glad that you thought of me and with tears I read your letters because I am all these good deeds unworthy. Oh brother, I am so happy that you are so successful. Know that I am concerned about you and I know that you are concerned about me. We have two brothers but if I or you were in need they would close their hands to us and say “warm thyself”.  Oh brother, the warm relationship with you I will never forget.

If your daily life is endangered then come here with us. Every day I am wondering how you are. Oh, how I would love to talk to you face to face, the Lord willing. As from now on you should always urge your children to come over. Don’t let them stay in the Netherlands and if you feel like it, come too. However, if you are successful, stay for a while yet.

I would have written sooner. First I waited for a letter though and once I received it I was well informed and pleased again. I was looking forward to a letter and it will be no different this time. The letter dated August 25 we received on September 22 and the one of October 15 was received on November 6. We get them within about 24-25 days. And it will be the same at your end.
I enclose two notes, one for T. Hogendijk and another one for Oebele Terpstra. Hand them to them because I figured it would be better this way than to write each a letter. Also tell Jan Smit’s son that he can make a lot of money here and if he feels like it, I will support him as much as I can and he can stay at our home for a month. You wrote me about the horse that you bought from B. Hoekstra but I don’t know. Couldn’t it be just bad luck which may have to do with the past winter?

Now something about the weather. It started snowing and freezing here in November but not very hard. It goes up and down with some very nice weather. They say that the winters last long here, sometimes with 4 or 5 feet of snow and the days are almost 7 quarters of an hour longer right now than with you whereas in summer they are shorter.

As to my business I had to learn some lessons but now I am allright again. Dirk and my partner are on their way to Buffalo with 21 cows and 10 sheep. We have to have them slaughtered there and sell the meat by quarters or half or whole. At present one can only sell the odd livestock and only the best. Might as well keep them for yourself, that I know very well being a butcher.  There are no cattle markets here. I traded my horse and in exchange got 50 guilders and another horse. With the money I bought a milk cow again and that’s how I try to stay in business.

You asked about the public worship services. We can make use of it every Sunday and do so most of the time, weather permitting. There is only one service and afterwards what they call School but that is for the youngsters. It is similar to your catechism. As to the minister, he is German but I can understand him well. He is not very good and is an old-fashioned Christian Reformer. That’s how he preaches too and thus one reads a sermon at home.

Now brother, I wish that you will enjoy many blessings and prosperity for both the soul as the body in the new year to come along with your children. Do write me all and let no one hold you. Also write me about the old London merchants and let me know if they are used to the fact that I’m away. And about Jan Blok and what he does for a living these days and I sometimes wonder how that old stinker Pas is doing and what else is going on in Hallum and who lives in our house now.

I would also offer half of the money from Zalomen to  …… (illegible) after which you can have it if you agree in which case I would like to request you to hand 25 guilders to Luiwe Boersma. I want to pay him my debt each year for 25 guilder. If you are able to get a hold on that money from that molendijk from the ….. (illegible) and you can afford it, give him as much as possible because he is the best of all. Give my greetings also whenever you can.

Best wishes from us,

G. de Groot
H.R. Lettinga
A.G. de Groot
 

Give our greetings to all the family, acquaintances and friends