“I had a letter from Mother and she is not coming. She seems to go right on with that hateful business. How I wish she would sell it! I know she had to work and worry to manage that large house, and I don’t like it all. I wish she would settle down and take it easy in her old age. Poor Mother! She seems just as suspicious and pessimistic as she always was. What an unhappy nature is hers! Always seeing everything from its blackest side and worrying about things which mostly never come to pass. I wish I could do something to make her old age more happy, but it is impossible so far away.

I write to her with every post. I have not missed a single steamer in all these six years since I am gone. I knew that helps her bear my departure better. I send some things quite often and have sent her photos of our house, the church, Lobethal, scenery, and other little remembrances. We had our photo taken only lately and I sent her one. I have had a large one taken lately and am going to send it to her. It must go parcel post and will cost 2s-10d. But never mind. It is for Mother — she had to do much more than that for me.”

Source:
Emma Eberlein Kriewaldt’s diaries, extract from entry for ? July 1901, on page 93 of the typed transcript produced by Ernie Kriewaldt.