A telegram

"A big day for us. I was woken up at seven o'clock in the morning by a telegram. I opened it with hesitation and not without the oppressive feeling that telegrams now instil in us during war. I read, while my hands trembled: "H.M. the Emperor has awarded Lieutenant von Richthofen the Order Pour le Mérite. Jagstaffel Boelcke." That was marvellous! That was marvellous! I still don't have the details. I only know that he defeated 16 Englishmen in aerial combat and that this number puts him at the top of Germany's fighter pilots. What a comrade once jokingly called out to him on his departure from Russia came true: ‘Don't come back without the Pour le Mérite!’ My great joy drove me to telephone all my relatives about the event. Ilse gave a punchbowl in her military hospital for her fosterlings and the six sisters. She read out the telegram and gave a Kaiserhoch. - One of the soldiers immediately stood up and raised a toast to Manfred and, of course, to Sister Ilse. The following days brought many lovely letters, congratulations and telegrams. The neighbourhood, the whole of Sweidnitz rejoices with us, everyone talks about him; we don't go into any shop without being congratulated. All eyes are on him, and how many prayers accompany him!"