128 WANDERINGS AND MEMORIES 



the estate, otherwise the estate goes. Our's cannot 

 pay itself, without the wood, any thing, and as we 

 cannot find 3000 p. to pay the jews, we must try 

 to sell the wood itself at least, and try to get a little 

 bit of money more than that we owe the jew, so as 

 to pay this years per cents. It is such a horrid 

 envoi ved business, though the actual bying of the 

 wood would be simple enough, that I am ashamed 

 to write it to you, but I keep looking at your face, 

 and it gives me courage. I can't go about and look 

 for wood merchants, show them the wood, protect 

 them from the lies of the jews — and do something 

 I must or I will suffocate. But it just struck me, 

 perhaps you dont believe me? I never thought 

 of that; and you have our address and my name, 

 you could come prove it yourself. I may be a bad 

 physiognomiste, but to me it seemed that you would 

 either think it an amusing adventure, or feel it 

 natural that people should appeal to you for sym- 

 pathy. Perhaps you know somebody who would 

 bye it, perhaps you would help and bye it yourself. 

 I should have liked to have send you photographs 

 of us, but it would not do — if you like I can take 

 some photos of the wood for you ? If you have a 

 spare moment I should like an answer. I shall 

 not mind a no, because the request was so impossible, 

 but I should like to know if you got my letter and 

 if you read it to the end. The letter is very badly 

 written, but every day is valuable, so I cannot 

 rewrite it, no time, it must go like that. 



"M.I. 



" To come to us, one must first go to Riga, from 

 there there are 3 hours by the Mitau train, till the 



