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

Kjære kusine Alma!

Mangle tak for brevet jeg fik fra dig, du maa tro jeg har ventet og tænkt hvorfor du slapp op og skrive, jeg synes det er en hel begivenhet og høre fra Amerika i fra folket hans far saa du forstaar jeg er dig inderlig taknemlig for brevene.

Siden sist du fik fra mig har jeg faat en søn som nu er 6 mnd en søt liten kubbe, han heter Svenn Alfred er opkalt efter svigermor hun het Sofie og efter min bror som er død han het Alfred.  Du skulle ha bodd saa nær at jeg kunde ha besøkt dig og du mig tænk saa morsomt det har vært Alma, jeg fik sent en kalender fra onkel John og den kom uventende saa det var morsomt å faa.  Her i Trondhjem er det en daarlig vinter det blaaser og sner og regner om hverandre saa det er sykdomsvær.  Sykehusene er overfylt sier dem, du maa hilse din datter at hun maa bare skrive paa engelsk til mig det bor en ungdom som læser og skriver engelsk i huset ved siden av vort.  Her i byen er det megen arbeidsledighet og fattigdom vi forstaar det vist ikke vi som har arbeide hvor godt vi har det, mor har ogsaa to gutter som er ledige det er nu litt en gang i blant til den ene men det er tussi og være mor hun skal være baade forsørger far og mor og du føler vel det samme som henne men jeg forstaar du har snille og flinke barn og det er mor svært heldig med ogsaa og det er jo en lettelse i ensomheten.  Hils onkel John fra mig og tante Anna tror du jeg kan skrive til henne bor hun langt fra dig eller er de nære hverandre.  Jeg ser av dit brev at hun har det ikke godt jeg kan ikke forstå dem som faar til å være slik mot sin mor jeg synes dem maa faa samvittighetsnag naar det kommer den stunn dem skal sie henne farvell det har ikke blit mig som har kunne tænkt paa det.

Nu vaagner lillegut og da maa jeg slutte for denne gang, med en hjertelig hilsen fra mig til dere alle fra deres Klara.  Skriv til mig Alma det er saa morsomt å faa brev fra dig.  1000 hilsen Klara og hennes alle.

Dear cousin Alma!

Many thanks for the letter I received from you, I have really been waiting for it and wondering why you had stopped writing, hearing from America from my father’s people is such a big event for me so you understand I’m deeply grateful to you for your letters.

Since you last heard from me I’ve had a son who’s now 6 months old  a sweet little thing, his name is Svenn Alfred  he’s named for my mother in law  her name was Sofie  and for my brother who is dead  his name was Alfred.  I wish you lived so close that I could visit you and you me  what fun that would be Alma, I received a calendar from uncle John and it came unexpectedly so that was fun to get.  Here in Trondhjem we’re having a bad winter  it’s blowing and snowing or raining so it’s sickness weather.  They say the hospitals are overcrowded, tell your daughter she can write to me in English there’s a youth living in the house next door who can read and write English.  In this town there’s a lot of unemployment and poverty  those of us who have work probably don’t understand how lucky we are, mother also has two boys who have no work  there’s some now and again for one of them but being mother is hard  she has to be the provider as well as mother and father and you probably feel the same way as she does but I understand you have good and kind children and mother is very lucky in that respect too which eases the loneliness.  Say hello to uncle John from me and aunt Anna  do you think I can write to her  does she live far away from you or are you close to eachother.  I see from your letter that things are not good there  I cannot understand those who can treat their mother like that  it seems to me they would get a guilty conscience when the time comes for them to tell her goodbye  I wouldn’t have been able to handle that.

The little one is waking up now so I must stop for now, with a warm greeting from me to you all from your Klara.  Write to me Alma it’s so much fun to get a letter from you.  1000 greetings Klara and all hers.

Dear brother

Jeg vil sende dig nogle ord, og lade dig vite at denne “Tools” kom ikke med “Tyrefjord” den var her forige uge, men det var ikke noget med til mig, men den kommer vel med nogen anden Baat, saa vi for ta det med ro, og vente, saa kommer det vel.

Vi har noksaa haard vinter allerede, og en stille tid.  Jeg vet ikke hvad jeg skal gripe til i vinter da mit arbeide skal indstilles og jeg maa slutte, og arbeide er ikke og opdrive, jeg beklager at jeg ikke har et shop for mig selv, for da kan man finde paa mangt og gjøre, men det koster penger og starte op, og vanskeligt om hus til det ogsaa, haaper at jeg kan faa istand noget til vaaren, og da er det mere rush med Autos.  Du burde komme hjem til vaaren, saa vi kunde starte et ordentlig “repair shop” og det er ikke tvivl om andet end man kunde tjene penger.  Ja du maa tænke over det broder og du kunde ha godt af og opholde dig i Norge en tid for det er deilig her om sommeren særlig, og du har nu ogsaa slit ondt længe nok derborte.

Jeg har ingen nyheter alle vores har det paa det gamle.  Smaajenterne mine snakker saa ofte om onkel John, dem spør mig nu om du forstaar norsk.  Vi har fortalt dem forskellige historier om dig. 

Jeg sender dig en af dagene en “lommealmanak”.  Ja jeg vilde bare sende dig disse ord, og saasnart noget kommer skal jeg skrive.  Haaper alt er bare bra med dig, lev da saa vel, og vær paa det kjærligste hilset fra os alle.  Fruen ber mig hilse saa meget, hun sitter og læser og dovner sig for øieblikket men det er ikke ofte, hun hænger i sent og tidlig, for hun har et stor hus og holde styr paa. Vi har et room til dig naar du kommer, og hun siger at det skulde være moro og stelle for dig.

For slutte for denne gang, med det bedste hilsener

Din Olav

Rosenborgsgt. 14

Tr.hjem

Dear brother,

I want to send you a few words, and let you know that this “Tools”, did not arrive with “Tyrefjord” she was here last week, but there was nothing on her for me, but it will probably come on another boat, so we’ll just have to take it easy and wait, and it will come.

We have quite a hard winter already, and a quiet time.  I don’t know what I’ll be doing this winter as my job will be cancelled and I have to quit, and work can’t be found, I’m sorry I don’t have a shop of my own, because then one can find a lot of things to do, but it costs money to get started, and it’s also difficult to find  a place for it, I hope I can get something going this spring, and then there is more rush with Autos.  You ought to come home this spring, so that we could start a proper “repair shop” and there’s no doubt one could earn lots of money.  Well, think about it brother and it could do you good to live in Norway for a while because it’s lovely here especially in the summer time, and also you have worked too hard long enough over there.

I have no news all of ours are the same as usual.  My little girls often talk about uncle John, and they are now asking me if you understand Norwegian.  We have told them various stories about you.

I’ll send you a “pocket almanac” soon.  Well, I just wanted to send you these words, and as soon as something arrives I’ll write.  Hope everything is ok with you, live well then, and be lovingly greeted by all of us.  The wife asks me to say hello, she’s sitting here reading and relaxing right now, but that doesn’t happen often, she works hard all day, for she has a big house to keep up.  We have a room for you when you get here, and she says it would be fun to take care of you.

Will end this for now, with the best regards

Your Olav

Rosenborgsgt.14

Trondheim

Trondhjem Oct.19-14

Dear Sis,

Paa forlangende af vor Svigerinde og mig selv tillader jeg mig at meddele den triste nyhed at vor Broder Markus omkom ved et ulykkestilfælde med øieblikkelig død tilfølge han blev overkjørt av et stort Godstog under arbeide i byens nærhed.  Hans legeme blev totalt knust og sønderlæmmet, begge ben afskaaret over laarene samt den ene arm og underlivet og bakhovedet, og alt var gjort paa et øieblik.  Jeg tror ikke han blev opmerksom paa toget før forsent.  Stakkels Markus hvilken ende han fik.  Jeg talte med ham kvelden førud, paa en visit derude.  Han har 6 ukonfirmerte børn med (mener han men?) Hustruen for vist bra pension af Staten samt understøttelse af Foreningen og private som (mener han saa?) hun blir bra forsørget.  Her hjemme er alt bare vel foresten  “Fader” trives godt hos M. Dybvad, og har det bra, forøvrigt bra med alle andre.  Det er stor arbeidsløshed, og dyrtid, her saa det er ikke greit og klare sig.  Jeg har vært arbeidsløs i hele høst, og vær blir det vist her, saa længe Krigen staar paa.  Haaber at alle Tyskere snart maatte Myrdes saa det blev fred.  Haaber alt er bare vel med dere, og at alle har det bra.  Hvordan er tiderne der borte?  Haaber dere skriver og forteller mig hvordan i har det.

Greet all the young generation, hope Hilda or Cleo(?) writes me soon.

I have no other news so I must close for this time

with the heartiest regard

Yours Ola

Adr. Rosenborgsgt. 14

Trondhjem

Norway

Trondhjem Oct. 19-14

Dear Sis

On behalf of our sister in law and myself I take the liberty of informing you of the sad news that our Brother Markus has died in an accident resulting in his immediate demise he was run over by a large freight train while working near the city.  His body was totally crushed and mutilated, both legs severed above the thighs as well as one of his arms and abdomen and the back of his head, and it all happened in the blink of an eye. I do not think he became aware of the train until too late.  Poor Markus what an end he got.  I spoke to him the night before, while visiting out there.  He has 6 unconfirmed children but it seems his Wife will receive a good pension from the State and also support from the Union and privately so she will be well provided for.  Here at home everything is otherwise fine.  “Father” likes being at M. Dybvad’s and is doing well, all the others are also fine.  There’s a lot of unemployment and high prices here, so it’s not easy to keep it going.  I have been unemployed all through this fall, and things will probably get worse here, as long as the War goes on.  Hope that all Germans would be murdered soon so that there could be peace.

Hope everything is fine with you all and that everybody is doing well.  How are the times over there?  Hope you will write and tell me how you all are doing.

Greet all the young generation, hope Hilda or Cleo(?) writes me soon.  I have no other news so I must close for this time

with the heartiest regard

Yours Ole

Adr Rosenborgsgt. 14

Trondhjem

Norway