Early in the morning, a letter from Hans from Hal in Tyrol; he informs me of his great (huge) loss and also that he has suffered a mild stroke, the consequences of which he cannot yet foresee; once again the sword is twisted in my heart and all wounds are torn open anew — how often yet will this happen. I reply at once, setting forth the estate I shall be able to leave my children, imploring him to abandon his plan — which he still clings to — of going to America in order to scrape together a certain sum for the children. With this sorrow I must receive the first of our singers (Hill – Lehmanns).
Revised English translation by Jo Cousins.