Terrible as was the plight to which the teacher had descended, the case in which the German servant found herself was infinitely worse. Thierichens and she had met after their first interchange of letters and they had entered on a liaison of a character that became so base it cannot even be suggested.
All this while Thierichens was in correspondence with at least eight other misguided women. Fortunately for them the strong hand of the law intervened and Thierichens to-day is safely behind prison bars for his crimes. In the midst of this promiscuous correspondence he was receiving letters of affection and devotion from his wife and children, two of which may well be reproduced to make clearer the depth to which he fell. One is from his little daughter Christel, the other from his wife. They are as follows:
Kiel, November 26, 1916.
My Dear Father:
My darling, to-day the day of my 6th birthday, I will thank you all alone for the pretty things, lovely kisses for same. I hope my next birthday you will be with us again. I am praying every evening and morning to the dear God that he will protect my dear father, and that the war will soon be ended, and you come again to the dear Fatherland.
Many hundred thousand kisses sent you,
Your thankful daughter,
Christel.
Kiel, Germany, 23rd March, 1917.
My Only Muckicken:
I want to chat with you again a little to-day; had very little time yesterday; did some shopping morning, and some stocking mending in the afternoon; some linen work in the evening; went early to bed; had love pains; had a little cold. This morning I went with Christel to Karestadt, bought some stockings, a school hat and gloves for her; also a leather hat for Elly; very neat. I am dressing Elly still like a child; she also is still wearing her hair down her back; she is any way a child yet. To-morrow I will get some bones from the war kitchen for Fritz, and then I shall ride together with the children to Aunt Niemann. To-day is a sunny day, but still a little cold. And now I shall answer No. 50. From Christmas Eve, 24–12–16. No, darling, we want to hope that we shall enjoy the 6th Christmas evening together; a description of our Christmas evening you probably received. You darling, you’re writing so as if we were hungry, no, my darling, we have not had any hunger here in Germany yet. We are having our butter, eggs, meat, bread, and potatoes every day; only not so much of it as in times of peace. Well, of course, then everything was extravagantly used. So now everybody has to learn to be economical which is a good lesson for days to come, so please don’t listen to the talk of our enemies,—we are all right; nobody will conquer us; God, the Lord, won’t leave us alone,—we are all brave. What did Russia gain by the revolution? Something of that kind is impossible in Germany. The responsibility for same rests with England again. We shall wait to see how everything turns out. England will be punished surely. Now, my darling, enough for to-day. Please remain healthy, and retain your humor. Be thankful and bravely greeted from your three sprouts and Thiere.