V O L U M E 8 , D O C U M E N T 3 1 9 a 4 7
I
think.[14]
Was the infection already present at birth or was there only a disposi-
tion? The second package could still arrive; I hear that mailings are frequently in
transit for weeks on end. There is, of course, also some theft. Things generally are
astonishingly topsy-turvy. The second package also arrived. Hallelujah! Once
again, most hearty thanks for your friendly assistance!
Vol. 8, 319a. From Hans Albert Einstein
[Zurich, between 1 April and 22 April
1917][1]
Dear Papa,
I want to write you one more time because I just thought of it. I haven’t written
you until now because I didn’t have much time at all and because I don’t like to
write at all. It’s always such a major business for me, a letter like
this.[2]
At the be-
ginning of the
holidays[3]
the weather was tolerably nice, but now it’s raining when
it’s actually not snowing. In this way, a game we’ve been playing has been made
impossible. Namely, we made little aerial ropeways from one house to another
where a child happens to be living. So we always sent each other things; but the
installation was really the nicest part! Over telephone cables, below telephone ca-
bles, and even above the tramway
cables.[4]
At school we had quite a lot of homework toward the end but, this way or that,
it’s always the same thing! Vocabulary, and more vocabulary, etc. I think that it will
be more interesting in the 2nd form [2nd year of Gymnasium], in which I am going
to be
now.[5]
I can’t write anything about the summer holidays yet because it’s still not clear
how circumstances will permit it
then.[6]
Now I’m not taking lessons with the
carpenter,[7]
nor taking piano
lessons;[8]
even so, I always have something to tinker away at, although “the mess” does not
quite appeal to the others. I also play music & I’m playing a lot of Mendelssohn
songs and Mozart sonatas, also a few pieces by Schumann and a few old
ones.[9]
Mama assigns them to me and corrects me when I make a mistake. Everyone says
that I play nicely. Now I’m taking care of Mama, too, because we don’t have a
nurse; Mama was too annoyed with
them.[10]
We still have enough to eat, although
it is a bit expensive; we are all fat and plump. Are you too?
Mama asks you please to send us the money directly, because otherwise it takes
so long for us to get
it.[11]
Many greetings from
Adn and Tete.