Fredericksburg

In the following work, I will present to my distinguished readers a picture out of the most important segment of my life. Most important because of my influence on the fates of many thousands of Germans who needed my care back then. It was the period when I served as colonial director for the settlements of the Society of Noblemen in Texas and when I was permitted to come to the aid of my countrymen who had immigrated there, in their hour of need. Although I have woven the threads of a romance novel in as seasoning, the story is faithful and true, taken from real life. The individual moments portrayed here are based on real occurrences as well. The story does not interfere with or distort the historical accuracy of the work in any way but serves much more to lend living color to the sketch and shine a brighter light on the picture. How so many bonds of relationships, friendships and love stretched out to the distant wonderland, how so many warm wishes went with friends urgently crossing the wide ocean to the promised paradise and how so many intimate, dear greetings must still wander over from the old German homeland through immeasurable space to the pleasant, sunny, evergreen Texas! And therefore, I must also hope that the following true depictions of the situation and conditions of the German colonies in Texas back then, as well as the country and its original inhabitants and their culture and customs, will still find interest now among my distinguished readers. The Author