823 – 16^th Wilmette Ill.  May 15

Dear old Pal’s Alma & Grace

I am thouroughly ashamed of myself, but oh boy are we ever going round in circles in this house hold – but they are getting along fine towards getting ready  they have the birth Certificates the pictures for pass ports and the pass ports are ordered  now they are taking the preperation shots and selling the furnature  it will take a month or 6 wks yet – then I am going to go see all the folks and then home to get the little home fixed up to be a realy comfy home for me  Dick was in Hong Kong last time he wrote  was going on to Shanghi then on to ports he has not been in before  he is surly getting around, and Jack wrote me  he was at wold?-Chamberlin at Minneapolis  run on to 2 of the fellows he was in service with  they had re-enlisted and of course wanted him to  he said now mom don’t be surprised if I do.  I told him I would be praying for him and what ever he does decide to do I am sure would be right, altho he is making good with the Soo? Lines Rail Road one can never tell when they will call a strike and throw him out of work and he thinks he can’t afford that  Well any way Im sure of one thing  he will have to make up his mind before June 30 if he wants to get back in on his old rank, and of course he will will if he goes back.  Well Ive still not heard what they did at the Easter meeting  no one has wrote me any thing so I guess I never did get anything – Well I’m so thankful you let them come to your house for the March meet.  I sure did hate it I couldn’t get there – but well anyway Ill be wherever?  Can come some of these days.  I had nice card from grandma Shieve? for Easter  enjoyed it a lot.  I get the Tribune but I know there is a lot of gossip they don’t dare print so you must write me all the news of that sort ha, ha, Hank I suspect your school days are about over, then for the fight with the big bad world all the rest of your life – Well I do wish you a lot of success as you go along the road of life and may God bless you abondantly in all you do – and don’t ever forget to thank mother for you owe it all to her – and God, for giving you such a grand mom.

Erma Blow(?) is still around here  she is in a beautiful home in Winnetka  gets $ 35.00 a week  they send the laundry out  she gets Thur after breakfast and Sunday after dinner off  the home she is in is a lovely big dutch Colonal and georgous  she said she never dreamed there were places like this out side of a story book.  I told her I tried to tell her the kind of place I had worked in but she say mom? well, it was hard to believe but it isent now for she is in one  Im glad for her  she wants to be here another 3 or 4 wks then will go on to Ky to Merritts (next word missing from page) but she hates to leave as long as Im here  she is so lost by herself  we go out a good bit togather and she just dont know straight up she is so turned around  says she would be afraid to start out alone if she hadent been there before.  I get a bang out of her  she is like a little kid at a circus  we do have fun.  She says why aint you afraid of getting lost  I told her as long as I could talk and ask questions I’d not get lost – I took her down in the loop and it just did me good to see how she did enjoy every minuet of it.  I am wondering how your mom has gotten  do hope able to get around by herself by now – its sure raining again now  it was (next word missing) Eastern? stor? – (could be: I was at Estern star, or store,  and they gave me etc.) and they gave me a red American beauty rose bud  I brought it home put it in the ground and its beging (beginning) to grow  Im so glad  hope I can keep it.  Well I sure hated it I could not get Windy the white pants but I seen where Sears have them now  maby if they would order them they might get them or better yet if they still want them I can order them to come here  they deliver out here  then I could send them on  maby I’d better do that as they may not have them in stock very long  I may even be to late now but I’ll try  Well I must get to my little bed so Ill say night to all and you too miss Grace  I love you so hope you dont for get the old pest  tell Inez Im still waiting to hear from her  loads of love your Pal Miranda  

29-10-38

Goddag min kjære kusine.

Tusen tak for dit længe ventende brev, du skal tro jeg har syntes det var rart at jeg ingenting hørte og jeg har sent dig en 3-4 billeder av min datter Gerds konfirmasjon, men jeg hører du ikke har fåt dem jeg kan ikke forstå det.  Her er alt omtrent som paa det gamle  jeg stræver hver dag for mine barn.  Jeg har tænkt meget på dig og snakket om dig til barna at du må være syk for det glær mig frygtelig og faa brev fra dig saa du ser jeg er stolt over at jeg har faat høre fra dig.  Hvad har du ligget paa sykehuset for?  jeg plages med maven for jeg tåler ikke brunet mat og sterke sauser, men man maa være glad for at jeg faar være oppe hver dag.  Jeg skal hilse fra mor  hun holder på og vasker på skolen enda, det blir 24 aar nu siden hun begynte saa det er mangen dag og vri kluten.  Igaar var jeg hos en nabo i selskap  de er saa hyggelig mot mig for det er saa trist om aftenen naar jeg er alene endskjønt det er sjelden.  Du maa hilse onkel Jon og tante fra mig det er morsomt og se at de er bra friske.  Min bror Olaf har vært på langreise og er begynt paa en annen baat, vi fik en liten ting hver naar han kom igjen.  Onkel Ole er det længe siden jeg snakket  min datter har snakket med en av hans døtre  det er bare bra der  alle hans døtre har gode poster.   Erling min ælste bror fiffer op stuen til mor kjøper nye stoler og ny Radio  han er en slik mamma gut.  Jeg maa nu slutte mit rot for denne gang håper paa svar snarest mulig.

Hils dine fra os

Hjertelig Hilsner

Klara og barna

29-10-38

Goodday my dear cousin.

Thank you so much for your long awaited letter, I can’t tell you how strange I thought it was that I didn’t hear anything and I’ve sent you 3-4 pictures of my daughter Gerd’s confirmation, but I hear you haven’t received them  I can’t understand that.  Everything is more or less as usual here  I toil every day for my children.  I’ve thought about you a lot and talked about you to the children that you must be sick because it pleases me terribly to get a letter from you so you see I’m proud to have heard from you.  What have you been in the hospital for?  I have problems with my stomach because I can’t handle fried foods and spicy gravies, but must be happy that I can stay up every day.  My mother says hello  she still cleans at the school, it will be 24 years now since she started so that’s many a day wringing that rag.  Yesterday I was at a neighbour’s at a party  they are so nice to me because it’s so miserable in the evening when I’m alone though that’s not often.  Say hello to uncle John and auntie from me  it’s fun to see that they’re quite healthy.  My brother Olaf has been overseas and has started on another ship, we got a little thing each when he returned.  I haven’t talked to uncle Ole for a long time  my daughter has spoken with one of his daughters  they’re all fine there  all his daughters have good jobs.  Erling my oldest brother is fixing up mother’s living room  is buying new chairs and a new Radio  he’s such a mama’s boy.  I must end this mess for this time  hope for a reply as soon as possible.

Greet yours from us

Hearty Greetings

Klara and the children   

Sluppen den 14-4

Gode kusine Alma!

Tusen tak for brevet jeg fik fra dig, for længe siden.  Jeg har tænkt jeg skulde  ha  skrevet for længe siden men jeg har hat saa meget og gjort for vi har konfirmant i mai saa har vi malt og tapetsert stuen vor og kjøpt os nye spisestumøbler saa nu må du kom og besøk mig faar du se hvor fint jeg har faat det.  Jeg ser av dit brev at det er daarlige tider i Amerika  det er likedan her ogsaa saa  vi forstaar det vist ikke vi som har arbeide hvor godt vi har det.  Du har været litt uheldig med barna at dem er daarlig ser jeg, men haaber det retter fort paa sig, men slik er det Alma, endel skal ha bare motgang  jeg synes synd baade paa dig og barna for jeg saa hvordan mor plagdes naar min bror var syk og laa i 2 aar og 3 mnd.  Men vi som var konfirmert hadde da arbeide og tjente penger saa vi hadde det godt i den veien, nu begynder mor (Gjertine) og blir træt og klar  hun fyller 60 aar den 18. Juni, vi var hos henne i gaar  vi hørte konsert fra Chikago for min bror Erling kjøpte sig Radio ifjor til 400 kr  han arbeider der min mand arbeider det er bare om sommeren han skifter i ferien, det er så stødig en gut  han er støtten hennes mor nu.  Du skal få et billed av os og hele konfirmasjonselskapet naar vi er færdig med det styre og saa skal vi fotografere min bestemor altsaa oldemor til konfirmanten og mor og jeg, det blir 4 ledd  du skal faa et, saa snart som mulig.  Vor datter er nu 15 og et halvt aar er stor og lang og saa flink paa skolen, men hun kunne ikke fortsette for naar jeg fik lillegut saa trængte jeg henne, nu er han 2 aar.  Vore barn heter Mary er 15 og et halvt aar og Gerd er 13 aar og Kjell er 8 aar og Svein Alfred er 2 aar.  Du tror min svigermor lever men hun døde den sommeren  jeg sørget saa på henne  hun var verdens snilleste dame tror jeg.  Men hun var klar for hun har hat det trasig og tungt, hun har hat 13 barn og en liten gaard som dem hadde hus-dyr saa dem skulle greie sig  manden hennes var skrædder han er frisk og kjæk ennu, det er en datter som steller for faren nu, min mand senner dig sine hilsninger og ber dig komme til os den 12 mai  hvad sier du til det.  Hils dine barn saa hjertelig fra os, hvordan er det med onkel John  jeg skrev sist men intet svar faat, du maa skrive til mig, for du aner ikke hvor glad jeg blev naar det kom amerikabrev for det er en stor glæde.  Jeg har mer og skrive om næste gang.

Hilsen saa hjertelig fra os, deres Klara.

Sluppen 14-4

Good cousin Alma

Thank you so much for the letter I received from you a long time ago.  I should have written a long time ago but I’ve had so much to do because we’re going to have a confirmation in May and then we have painted and wall papered our living room and bought new dining room furniture so now you’ll have to come and visit me so that you can see how nice it is.  I see from your letter that times are bad in America and it’s the same here too  I guess those of us who have jobs don’t understand how lucky we are.  You’ve been a bit unlucky with the children in that they’re sick I see, but hope that will be sorted out soon, but that’s how it is Alma some have only hardships  I feel bad for you as well as for the children because I saw how hard it was for mother (Gjertine) when my brother was sick and bedridden for 2 years and 3 months.  But those of us who were confirmed were working then and earned money so we were fine as far as that, mother is starting to get tired now she’ll be 60 years old on June 18, we went to see her yesterday  we heard a concert from Chikago (her own spelling) because my brother Erling bought himself a Radio last year for 400 kr. he works where my husband works  it’s only in the summer time that he changes jobs during his vacation, he’s such a good boy  he’s mother’s support now.  You’ll get a picture of us and all the confirmation guests when we’re done with all that hubbub and we’re also going to take a picture of my grandmother, that is the great grandmother of the confirmee and mother and me, that’s 4 generations  you’ll get one as soon as possible.  Our daughter is now 15 and a half  is big and tall and so good in school, but she couldn’t continue because when I had my little boy I needed her, he is now 2 years old.  Our children are Mary  is15 and a half and Gerd is 13 years old and Kjell is 8 years old and Svein Alfred is 2 years old.  You think my mother in law is alive but she died that summer  I grieved so for her  she was the world’s kindest lady I think.  But she was tired because she’s had a tough life, she has had 13 children and a little farm with some animals so that they could manage  her husband was a tailor  he’s still healthy and doing fine, a daughter looks after her father now,  my husband sends you his regards and asks you to come and see us for May 12  what do you say to that.  Give our best wishes to your children, how is uncle John  I wrote him last but have received no reply, you must write to me, because you can’t imagine how happy I was when the America letter arrived because that is a great joy.  I’ll have more to write about next time.

Heartfelt greetings from us, yours Klara