Blomberg Letter -  English with corrections

Dear Cousin,

Your letter and the little bottle of medicine arrived some time ago. Please excuse my lack of gallantry in not answering for so long, acknowledging the receipt of the bottle and thanking you for your well meant wishes. Neither my laziness in writing nor lack of friendship for you or your father’s family are to blame, but my illness, from which I am slowly recovering. It was entirely my own fault, since I visited a beautiful Opera at the local Opera house at night with several friends without regard for my health. More than likely I caught a cold, causing me to be bedfast for 5 weeks. This reminded me of an old saying: Only the good die young. (lit.: Weeds don’t disappear) My health has now been restored and I have been able to return to the store since the day before yesterday. Well, dear Amalie, I want to thank you for the favor you have done for me and thank you for the good wishes and will now close with greetings for your dear parents and your brothers and sisters.

With best wishes,

Your Cousin