Edith Toennies

Notes

Your package made us so happy we gave Marie half of the package.

Hope you are in good health.'

8 Sept 1947

My dear good Aunt Maude,

Today I am sorry to write bad news. My dear Mother passed away. She was sick 5 weeks. At the end she could hardly see - had several operations and dropsy and her liver gave out. She had no appetite so she lost all her energy. It was very hard to see her so and not be able to help her. She suffered so much and we could give her no relief. It was hard to watch her those last hours our beloved mother. You probably understand.

We were so close to each other and so much love for each other - we had lived together so long.

Our mother had so much love for us all and she always wanted to help everyone she could.

I was today at her grave again - she is in the family mausoleum where her husband is. She is better off now and no longer suffers.

How often she said during the war 'I wonder if George is still living' and her thoughts for him were in the past from her youth. They were both musical.

When she heard violin concerto on radio she could name them all and said 'George played that'.

She was mentally alert even at her advanced age. She always had the right answer.

She was so happy over your lovely package although she was unable to eat any of the food. She wanted so much to write to you. I have found it hard to write to you about her. I am very busy - too much work, Agnes always helped me until she could no longer do so.

Thank God things are better now with my husband - he feels much better - needs a lot of rest and no work and good care. I have a big garden which makes a lot of work. Now the crop is in and it takes a lot of work to can all the vegetables. It is such a help for the whole year. I always spent so much time in the garden which I neglected when Agnes and my husband were ill. I got an old man to help in the garden and now I can accomplish more. We also have some livestock which needs care.

Potatoes are very small because of lack of rain. Laundry, darning, cooking and care of house keep me so busy I have no time to be lonesome.

Please excuse poor writing I write in so little time. Even with hard work I can hardly make things go as they should. My responsibility is double what it was. We make everything count I do not waste anything.

We are having hard times. The mean Russians will not wait long - we cannot see what this winter will bring. Very little food and wood - it will be a catastrophe.

Our factory is closed and work was less and less so it closed.

Life is not a small problem anymore. It must be better with you, thank God.

How is all your family? Hope all are healthy and happy.

How is the small child (Robert M. Beckwith) - how old? Uncle George wrote about him and his music. It runs in the family.

Now dear Aunt Maude, do not be angry with me because it took me so long to write.

I would be very happy to hear how you're getting along.

Very best to you,

Edith

Source: Last letters to Maude von Beschwitz.