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English translation
Square brackets mark uncertain words or editorial explanations. Songs are translated for meaning; their speakers are not necessarily the writer.
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Brühl, November 24, 1850 [best reading]
Dear Brother,
You will forgive me this time for [not] prepaying this letter as well. [The word “not” is crossed out in the manuscript; the later postscript says he did prepay it after all.]
At this moment it is no longer possible for me, for my one great appeal to our sister to help me has remained unsuccessful up to this afternoon. I urged her in a letter to send me at least something of my money at this moment. But no—not even an answer, much less this last great act of a sibling's love, to help me! No! It is bad and dreadful to have such a sibling.
As I was still hoping until today, I did not want to write to you sooner, in case another letter should arrive today. Because time is now too short to write to you again and appeal to your kindness, I have therefore handed my belongings to Mr. Hoffmann so that I may have a little money in my hands. [The arrangement appears to involve borrowing against his belongings.]
I cannot yet tell you how much I shall have against them, since he is not here today. But I shall let you know in my next letter. If I should not return, you can take them against the debt I still have to pay, and you can deduct that amount.
Tomorrow morning I shall report—
Page 2
—and if I see that I shall remain in Cologne for a few days, I will write to you with the details. The regiment marched out today, and I will probably be sent after it.
But do me a favour: write home about it. I was very angry and indignant at such meanness. You can believe me that today I can scarcely write for anger. But they at home shall see that I [manage for myself?—wording uncertain], if I should one day fall [in the course of the war?—the phrase following “bleibe” is not securely read].
I cannot ask anything of you either, for you will probably have to leave soon too, since the army reserve here has been ordered to report.
Do not be anxious about the thaler. You shall suffer no loss, whether I remain alive or not.
I shall write to you again in the next few days. You can then act accordingly concerning my belongings.
And my address is:
At master shoemaker [Gaa?],
[auf dem Bach?—street/location wording uncertain], behind the Malzmühle.
[Cologne is the context of this address; the city is not repeated in the address lines. No house number is given here.]
Postscript: I have prepaid this letter for you after all, but not the next one [the last wording contains a deletion].
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Fare very well until we meet again.
I do not have much money, nor much hope and courage.
Your faithful brother,
August Hilpert [family spelling]
We shall see one another again!
Those who parted in tears
Clasp one another again, breast to breast.
Into the heart flow new joys;
Into the soul, heavenly delight!
[The first verse line appears to read “Was mit Thränen ist geschieden”; its precise spelling is less certain than the general meaning. No author is supplied.]
