Letters from Lida - 75

<Page> 5

…helped in everything, probably baked tortes too, worked as at home. Wear <unclear>  to your happiness , <unclear> for you so <unclear> and may God make everything  happy and good. And you don’t forget that at home people are waiting for you. Write how do you live, how is it going with the boy you are taking care for, did he stop making you mad? Lisa’s coat is not ready yet, so she is wearing hers, and I am wearing mine. Lisa made a couple of dresses for herself, and I am going to <do the same>. I am also thinking about going to Vilno for couple of weeks, I have not been there since you left. I remember everything so vividly, as if it was yesterday, but so much time already passed. Yes, a lot of water has flowed since that time<Russian saying, meaning that a lot of time passed>. I sat down to write and could not start, and see, wrote a lot. Mama is very unhappy with that, she says that I have to write fewer but in more understandable handwriting, but I am sure that you got used to my writing.

<Page> 3

Abram works as before, and the boy is wonderful (not too harm him with my words). (1) Hope, God will make him look like Boris, then there will no need in more happiness. So be really happy. Kissing you with love, your Frida.

Everybody loves my rugs, write me how much will it cost in Palestine. Kissing you one more time, Frida

Dear Fanechka!

I was planning to write you a letter in detail today but do not have time now, it is late and I have to take it to the post office and then I have to go and check on Dora.. She is, thank God, better but she is still in bed. Today Olia is planning to leave. Dear mine, how do you manage to do everything? Do you work over your strength? I know that over there you have to work for 7 hours, then you have to do something for yourself, to fix some clothes, to read, then to study, and to write so many letters. Please, take a good care of yourself because there is nobody to look after you. You had only Olia and she is gone now. (2) Abram was going to write you all this time. His child is soon going to be 5 months old. (1) He is a smart boy, not to harm him with my words. Maybe Olia will write you about him. Lisa also is going to write you, she is busy with the groom’s sister who is still in Lida (3). Dorka also did not have time to write you because of the guests. Since Lisa became a bride, she <Dora> is going out. On Friday there was a party at Taiba’s (4) where we spent the whole evening. Then yesterday there was a party at Shimshin, where they played in 9^th <-vanch  unclear> and she was playing too. I write terrible, and I will try to send you one more letter this week. Be healthy and happy by the wish of loving you mama Revekka.

(1) Abram/boy – Fanya’s brother Abram married in 1925. His son was born in 1926 or 1927.
(2) Olia was briefly in Palestine with Fanya. This sentence makes it clear that Olia is going on some other trip, not to Palestine.
(3) Lisa is either recently married or celebrated her engagement.
(4) Taiba – possibly Taiba Pupko nee Shapiro, wife of Revekka’s nephew Abraham [much older than her son Abraham]. Nephew Abraham was the son of Kalman’s brother Zelig, but possibly someone else. In the letters,  in-laws are not usually mentioned without also mentioning their spouses.