where you write that we will meet again soon. The fulfilment of this would be the satisfaction of one of my main wishes. My first main wish, the confirmation of which the good Lord will always let me know, is your welfare, so dear to me, and the welfare of our dear ones. May the first soon pass away into truth. and the second always be truth, then nothing remains to be wished for now.
Your eternally loving
Salomon.
A thousand greetings to your dear parents‐in‐law.
Letter from Babette Bing shortly before her passing to parents,
siblings and relatives.
Memmelsdorf, 3 May 1847.
My beloved parents, brothers and sisters, brothers‐in‐law and sisters‐in‐law !
Before I leave this world, I must tell you, my beloved ones, my last warmest wishes, since unfortunately I cannot say everything to any of my relatives. First of all, do not leave my good husband, he did not deserve it for me, he was a loving husband to me and a caring father to his children, he earned heaven for himself during my illness: therefore, see to it that you go to him with everything on your hands, he is still very young and not yet so experienced. Our fortunes are thankfully good, and if the Almighty has left us together, we could not wish for more happiness. But if he has decided otherwise, we must willingly submit. ‐ So, my beloved ones, do not be indifferent to my pleas, if my dear Bing wants to marry again, then go to him with advice and action and do not blame him, it does no good otherwise, although he always spoke of not marrying. ‐ But it is not good.
My dear children, do not forget that my dear boys are always in need, so see to it that you help them through the world. You are doing it for your sister! My dear Bing will do his part, but lighten his yoke, you have more opportunity. ‐ My dear Ida, do not forget to marry off the pearl in your family. To you, my beloved sister Gelle, I can't say much today, don't give in to grief, you have already wept for me once, there will be a reunion, and I will be the first to find our beloved Elise there. Be comforted, my beloved sister, you have duties to your family, and see to it that you are preserved and continue to do good for a long time. ‐ May the great Judge reward you for what you have done for me and may you continue to experience all good things. ‐ Furthermore, my good sister, be a loving sister to my dear Bing, go to your hands with advice, for he deserves only respect and love, repay him for the love and respect he has for you and be mother and sister to him. His own are unfortunately too far away from him. I am also concerned about my dear children. When you see that they are to reach a goal, take care of them in a motherly way. They are even good children, and my good Ida must stay with her father; if she only learns what a capable housewife must be able to do, that is enough.
Now farewell, beloved sister. To your daughter, her husband and her new‐born child, my heartfelt wishes for their well‐being. May the All‐Glorious make everything prosperous for them. Farewell now, all of you, and I will pray for you all there.
To you, my good sister Jette, my heartfelt thanks for everything, God reward what you have done for me; continue to be a loving sister to my dear Bing, assist him in word and deed. Admittedly, it will soon be time to die, but the Almighty has decreed it so, the madness was short, the remorse long. I am only concerned about my good husband, the children are growing up, remarriage is hard for him, and what good will it do? Our economy needs a wife. Well, the Almighty will do it.
Farewell, be comforted, we will meet again, farewell again, beloved sister, visit my dear Bing often. I wish you all the best, dear sister Gelle, be a loving sister to my Bing and do not forget that your sister was in Memmelsdorf.
Babette Bing.
