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  

Sluppen den 29 okt

Godeste kusine Alma.

Skulde for længe siden ha skrevet men jeg har været saa uvel en tid men nu har jeg faat mig medisin og da haaber jeg at jeg blir bedre   det er overgangs alderen sa doktoren.  Du maa ha hjertelig tusen tak for pakkene  det blir brukt all sammen.  Svenn tok paa sig den blaa buksen og den gaar han i hver dag, og Mary bruker blusen og jeg holder paa og syr meg forklær av noget saa det kom godt med alt sammen Alma.  Tusen tak.  Jeg var hos Laura den dagen hun fik brev fra dig, og da snakket vi om at du og vi skulde ha bodd i nærheten av hver andre  bor onkel John i samme hus som dig?  jeg forsto tante Laura slik.  Nu lakker det mot vinter her og jeg gruer for den.  Min datter Mary skal gifte sig den 29 december og flytte et stykke i fra mig og det er min store sorg, men Alma baade du og jeg vet at vi har ingen andre end dem og holde os til, men slik er livet  det var vores tur engang ogsaa.  Onkel Aksel er 60 aar den 14 november, hans frue ligger bare og jeg tror ikke hun kommer op noget mer, hun er paa Hegra sykehjem.  Hans yngste søn som er 19 aar blev gift i sommer, og en søn som har været arrestert er løslat og har faat baade bakeri og gaarden av Aksel.  Han er i godt humør og har et spøkens ord til alle.

Har du faat mit brev og foto.  Skal hilse dig og dine fra mor, jeg har snakket med onkel Ole  han har hat brev fra onkel Johan da hørte jeg.  Min søster Maja har været uheldig  hun har brukket armen, og vi deler paa arbeide hennes.  Mor synes hun er skyld i det for hun var der og vasket rundt naar hun gjorde det.  Her er det godt i mat nu, men ingen klæder å faa kjøpt enda, jeg er buden paa en stilig fest den 25 november.  der vor jeg vasker har jubileum, i dag fik jeg innbydelse men kan ikke gaa for jeg har ikke klæder og strømper, men derfor ingen sure miner.  Jeg er gla for det er fred og ingen fly alarm mere.

Jeg skal kjøpe dig en bok og sende dig av Norge saa du faar se hvordan vi har det, som en jule-gave til dig fra mig.  Nu er klokken så mange og jeg maa slutte for jeg er saa trætt.  Jeg venter brev fra dig  haaber snart det kommer.

Hils dine barn fra os alle, og ha det rigtig bra.  Hils onkel Johan med det at han må huske sin brordatter med nogen ord.

God nat.  Lev godt.

Deres Klara

Sluppen the 29^th of Oct.

My best cousin Alma.

Should have written a long time ago but I’ve been so unwell for a while  But now I have some medication so I hope I’ll get better  the doctor said it was Menopause.  Thank you so very much for the packages  everything is in use.  Svenn put on the blue pants and wears them every day, and Mary wears the blouse and I’m making myself aprons out of some of the things so everything was useful Alma.  Thank you so much.  I was at Laura’s the day she received a letter from you, and we talked about how nice it would be if you and we lived near eachother  does uncle John live in the same house as you?  that’s how I understood it from Laura.  Winter is approaching here now and I’m dreading that.  My daughter Mary is getting married on Dec. 29 and will move a ways away from me and that’s my great sorrow, but Alma you and I both know that we have nobody but them to lean on, but that’s life  it was our turn once too.  Uncle Axel turns 60 on November 14, his wife is bedridden and I don’t think she’ll be able to get up ever again, she’s at Hegra Nursing Home.  His youngest son who’s 19 years old got married this summer, and a son who was arrested has been set free and has taken over both the bakery and property from Axel.  He’s in good spirits and has a joking word for everyone.

Have you received my letter and photo.  I have greetings to you and yours from mother, I have talked with uncle Ole  he’s had a letter from uncle Johan then I heard.  My sister Maja has been unfortunate and broken her arm, and we take turns doing her work.  Mother feels it’s her fault because she was there cleaning her house from top to bottom when she did it.  We have a good supply of foods now, but no clothes to be had yet, I’ve been invited to a formal party on November 25.  The place where I work has an anniversary, I received the invitation today but can’t go because I don’t have clothes or stockings, but no sour face over that.  I’m happy we’re at peace and no more air raid sirens.  I’m going to buy you a book on Norway and send it to you so you can see how it looks here, as a Christmas present to you from me.  It’s very late now so I’ll have to quit because I’m so sleepy.  I’m expecting a letter from you  hope it gets here soon.

Greet your children from us all, and keep well.  Greet uncle Johan and say that he must remember his brother’s daughter with a few words.

Good night.  Live well.

Yours Klara

Stjørdal den 10-7-1946

Kjære broder John og alle dere.

Tak for brev som jeg har foet for flere dage siden.  Tak for pakken jeg fikk i går, den innholdt 2 korte bukser, 1 drakt, 1 kjole, et silkesliv, 1 pose frimerker. hjertelig tak.  Tak for pakken vi fik idag til fruen  den innholdt 1 teppe, en snelle trå, 1 nøkkel 1 brekjærn.  Skal hilse Tusin tak fra mor, teppet blir meget varmt og godt.  Har veret hos hende idag skal hilse dere alle  hun hadde 38.1 i feber (temp).  Så hun er efter meneskerness beregnin dårlig, så hun kommer vel ikke hjem til os i livet.  Det beror på Herren, hans vei er ikke våre veie. så hun er i hans hånd  han svikter ikke sine på nødens dag.  Her er det surt og kalt  en meget dårlig sommer vad varme angår. men det vokser fint så det serut at her blir gode åringer.  Vis bare folket nu var fornøiet men stadig klage over for dårlige priser, så det er vanskeligt og få noget gjort.  I Finnmark betales det 5 kr timen 40 kr om dagen for gjenopbygningen. aldeles håbløst, efter mitt vett.  Samfundet kan ikke leve under slike forhold.  Det må bli et krak økonomisk om nogle år, slik går det aldrig.  Her er nok arbeide men få vil arbeide, men få bidrag av staten og leve i sus og dus, i drik og dans, i (synd) og blir det forlite så krev mer, og staten trekker skatt av di nøisomme og arbeidssomme, mens slarken lever fritt.  Det går aldrig bra med landet, og vad tid skal folket vokne, og det styrende bruke fornuft.  Matte Herren forbarme sig over os så vi ikke kommer uti en ny og vere ulykke end den vi netop er ferdig med.  Hos Olav er det bra.  Hos Olava likeså  Odd er nu hjemme i Norge, han har veret lit syk men er nu bra, er kommet hjem fra Sykehuset.  Laura er dårlig  hun har forlite mavesyre.  tåler ikke mat, men for nu syre så nu er det bedre.  Arne vores har begynt eget bakeri i Opdal  du må besøke ham til sommeren når du kommer, du synes vel du er litt for ungdommelig idag til og tage dei en Norges tur iår.  Kaffen er varm.

Så for di lev vel alle derover, og tak for alt.

Beste hilsen Helga og Axel.

Herborg gjikk sig ut en tur nu skal hilse tusin tak fra hende, Herborg er en stor høi dame.  god natt

Stjørdal the 10-7-1946

Dear brother John and all of you.

Thank you for the letter which I received several days ago.  Thank you for the package I received yesterday, it contained 2 short pants, 1 suit, 1 dress, a silk ladies undershirt, 1 bag of stamps, thank you so much.  Thank you for the package we got today for the wife  it contained 1 blanket, a spool of thread, 1 key 1 crowbar.  Mother says a Thousand thanks, the blanket will be very nice and warm.  I’ve been to see her today  she sends her regards to you all  she had a fever of 38.1 (temp).  So according to human calculations she’s bad, so she probably wont come home to us alive.  That depends on the Lord, his way is not our way, so she’s in his hand  he wont forsake his own on the day of need.  It’s cold here  a very bad summer as far as temperatures.  but things are growing nicely so it looks like there will be good crops.  If only the people could be satisfied but constant complaints about bad prices, so it’s difficult to get anything done.  In Finnmark they pay 5 kr. an hr.  40 kr. a day for the rebuilding.  completely hopeless, in my opinion,  Society can’t live under such circumstances.  There’s bound to be a crash economically in a few years, this will never work.  There’s enough work here but few will work, but be supported by the state and live in a whirl of pleasures, in drinking and dancing, in (sin) and if there’s too little then demand more, and the state takes taxes out of the frugal and hard working, while the riff-raff live for free.  The country will never survive, and when will the people wake up, and the authorities use common sense.  May the Lord have mercy on us so that we don’t end up in a new and worse situation than the one we’re just finished with.  At Olav’s everything is fine. Likewise at Olava’s  Odd is home in Norway now, he has been a little sick but is fine now, has come home from the Hospital.  Laura is not well  she has too little stomach acid.  can’t handle her food, but is now getting acid so now she’s doing better.  Our Arne has started his own bakery in Opdal  you must visit him next summer when you come, I guess you feel you’re a little too youthful today to take a trip to Norway this year.  The coffee is warm.

So live well all of you over there, and thank you for everything.

Best wishes Helga and Axel.

Herborg just went out for a while  she said to tell you thank you very much, Herborg is a big tall lady.

good night.