Sluppen den 6 September

Gode kusine Alma!

Jeg vet ikke hvordan jeg skal utrykke mig, men jeg blev saa forbauset naar jeg fik dit brev for det kom uventende  jeg trodde det var noget med onkel John.  Jeg skulde ha skrevet før men vi har malere her hos os og saa er manden min sykmelt for han er plaget av ansigtsros som er en ond sykdom.  Jeg ser av dit brev at du har lyst og høre om dine kusiner og fættere.  Vi har været syv søsken 3 piker og fire gutter  1 gut er død som følge av tubertler i høire haandrot som han pådrog sig ved at han falt ned fra bryggen han arbeidet paa og forstuvet haanden  han laa tilsengs i over 2 aar saa det var synd paa ham  han var 21 aar da han døde.  Som du kanske vet mistet vi far paa en trist måte  han blev overkjørt av toget og drept på stedet  du maa tro det var en frygtelig tid  vi trodde vi gik i fra vet og forstand alle  det var jeg som måtte ta mig i sammen for de andre var små og ingenting forstod og mor blev syk  du skulde ha set hvor ondt det var og se hende men gudskelov hun blev da frisk og har hittil i dag hjulpet sig selv.  Erling som er 24-25 aar er et eksempel av en gut  han er saa staut og ordens gut i bunden men han er ikke sterk stakkar han har for stort hjerte og det fik han efter gigtfeberen, og saa er det tvillinger som var 21 aar den 12 september  den ene gutten har plads som jungmand ombord paa prinssesse “Ragnhild” han er heldig men den andre har intet arbeide, han heter Karl.  Den yngste heter Maja  hun er 19 aar gammel hun har huspost  har bare 20 kr mnd men har nu været der en 4-5 aar saa det er best og vær i ro der som hun har begynt.  Min tredje søster heter Karen  hun er gift og 3 barn  hennes mann er rørlegger  han har bestandig arbeide saa dem har det bra, hun er 30 aar.  Min mand arbeider paa Renholdsverket her i byen, vi har 3 barn i alderen 13 til 5 aar 2 piker og 1 gut de heter Mary Gerd og Kjell.  Jeg var hos onkel Ole  han er nu kommet hjem fra sykehuset og rigtig kjæk  jeg skulde hilse dere alle saa flittig fra ham.  Du spør mig om priser paa kjolerne, men det er ikke noget utvalg her i byen  jeg maa da skrive til oslo men dem svarte mig det at dem brukte mest og sy sig selv av hvit silke men hvis du vil kan jeg faa fat i et blad som det vises hvordan fasongen paa kjolerne er og slør og blomsterbuket i haanden og slæp av blonder brukes paa sløret  jeg skal sende dig et hefte hvis du vil skrive straks til mig og snak om det, hils hende fra mig  har du ikke billede av dere, for jeg blev saa (det står egentlig “sy” kry) kry naar jeg fik brev fra dig saa du gjorde mig en stor ære.  Hils din svigermor fra bestemor (jeg lurer på hvorfor hun sier det, var det en forbindelse mellom Burt Williams og Klara’s bestemor?)  det er dumt vi ikke kan snakkes med for det har været morsomt.  Hils dine barn fra mig og skriv snart.  Hils onkel John og tante fra mig

din kusine Klara Krogstad  Sluppen  Trondhjem

Lev vel

Sluppen the 6^th of September

Good cousin Alma!

I don’t know how to express myself, but I was so surprised when I received your letter because it was unexpected  I thought there was something with uncle John.  I should have written before but we have painters here and then my husband has been on sick leave because he’s bothered with “ansigtsros” which is a painful desease (“knutros” is mentioned in another letter, I believe it was Klara saying her son had it.  It’s a form of illness which causes painful sores on the skin among other symptoms.  In this case she says “ansigtsros” which means he has it on his face – ansigt=face).  I see from your letter that you would like to hear about your cousins.  There were 7 of us  3 girls and four boys  1 boy is dead as a result of “tubertler” (I don’t know what this means – she may mean “tuberkler” which is “tubercles”) in the right hand (she actually says “root of the hand”) which he contracted by falling down from the quay he was working on and spraining his hand  he was bed ridden for over 2 years so he was pitiful  he was 21 years old when he died.  As you may know we lost our father in a sad way  he was run over by the train and killed on the spot  it was a terrible time  we thought we were all going to lose our minds  it was I who had to pull myself together because the others were small and didn’t understand what was going on and mother got sick  you should have seen how painful it was to see her but thank god she got well and has up until now taken care of herself.  Erling who is 24-25 years old is an example of a boy  he is such a nice boy but he’s not strong poor thing  his heart is too big which is a result of rheumatic fever, and then there are twins who were 21 years old on September 12  one of the boys has a position as a junior seaman on board the princess “Ragnhild”  he’s lucky but the other one has no work, he’s named Karl.  The youngest is named Maja  she’s 19 years old  she has a domestic position  only has 20 kr. a month but has now been there 4-5 years so it’s best to stay put where she has started.  My third sister is named Karen (this would be the Karen Kolstad who also wrote letters to Alma and John)  she’s married with 3 children  her husband is a plumber  he always has work so they are doing well, she’s 30 years old.  My husband works at the Cleansing Department here in town, we have 3 children from the ages of 13 to 5 years old 2 girls and 1 boy  they are called Mary Gerd and Kjell.  I went to see uncle Ole  he’s now out of the hospital and quite well  he sends his best regards to you all.  You ask me for the price of the dresses, but the selection here in town is no good  would have to write to oslo  but they told me that they (meaning people in general) usually make their own from white silk but if you want to I could get a hold of a magazine showing the style of the dresses and the veil and bouquet of flowers in the hand and a train of lace is used on the veil  I’ll send you a pamphlet if you reply immediately and let me know, greet her from me  do you not have a picture of you all, because I was so proud when I got a letter from you so you did me a great honor.  Say hello to your mother in law from grandmother  (I wonder why she says that, was there a relation between Burt’s mother and Klara’s grandmother?)  It’s too bad we can’t talk together because that would have been fun.  Greet your children from me and write soon.  Greet uncle John and auntie from me

your cousin Klara Krogstad  Sluppen  Trondhjem

Live well