StinaK

August 4th 1849

Dear my beloved mother.

I got your letter yesterday, and I admit that I started to cry. You were right, you said that I would cry myself to sleep for weeks, and I denied. But I did. That is the reason that I haven’t wrote to you at home. I miss you too much. You wrote that Polly is gone? I hate to say it, but that was for the best for that poor dog. I hope you’ll be alright after a while.

I am alright now. At first, it was a nightmare. I cried a lot, because I missed everything in Norway. Your food, the water, the language, and last but not least, the nature. Everything was though the first week, but it is much better now. I have got a job in the local bakery. The people here are very nice, and they treat me friendly, like I was in their family. I am very pleased for that. I don’t earn that much money, but that’s ok. Money is not the most important thing in this life. I have also got a place to live. Mrs Jackson, a nice old lady in the bakery let me stay in the basement until I got enough money to get my own house.

I hope you are impressed, a job and a place to live after just a couple of months! You might be worried, how am I going to earn enough money? Well, I have something more to tell you. I’ve met someone. I’ve met a man.

It started on the boat to where I am now, New York. The boat was crowded and filled up, and I was nervous and scared. I had to go out and get some fresh air, and on the hallway I met Harold, a tall man with nice eyes. He looked confused, so I asked if he was ok. That was the start of a long and meaningful conversation. He told me anything, about where he was going and his past. Harold got married when he was 26, but his wife died, only 16 years old. She fell off her horse and knocked her head on a stone in the wood. Now he wanted to move back home to New York after 6 months with her wife in Washington. He was sad, because now he hasn’t got any wife to show his mother. He only wanted to make her proud of him. We talked for hours, and I swear, I have never met a man who is that nice and understanding. It was like I have known him for years, when I had only spoken to him for some ours. He was also very funny, I think you would like him, mother. When we finally got to New York, he suddenly disappeared. It isn’t that surprising; New York is crowded, VERY crowded. It is not like Norway at all, but it is so interesting, so much to see! I had Harold out of my minds for a week or two, but the first day at work on the bakery, he dropped by. I can still feel the shaking in my knees when he opened that door, and when I was giving him his bread. Sadly, he had so little time, and so much to do that day, so we couldn’t talk that much then, but he dropped by the day after. And the day after that, and the day after that he dropped by. We got to know each other just more and more, and I found out that he has so many good sides! He is almost perfect except when he is mad. Then he gets really mad, and I’m scared then. Luckily it has just happened one time, and that was when I served him dinner from the day before. I totally understand him, who wants old dinner when he comes home from working in the factory? It’s just that I haven’t got that much money yet. I promised that it would never happen again, and I have kept that promise since then.

The factory is doing well and Harold begins to get a good economy. That’s why I’ll hope we get married soon. He said to me yesterday, than when we’re getting married, I am going to be the perfect wife. That’s why I’m looking forward to the future. We are going to be fine. We will get our own house and maybe, one day, I’ll get you a grandchild. His economy will save the both of us.

I hope you and grandmother are doing fine in Norway, and I really miss you. I have drawn a picture to you, the statue of liberty. It is a giant sculpture here in New York. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, I wish you was here and could see it with me. It is gorgeous.

Write back soon.

Love from your daughter, Lucille.


 * __February 29th 1865__**


 * __Dear James__**

I am so happy too hear from you. I was just coming home from the new neighbor, Mrs. Hemington when the postman spoke to me. “I have good news”, he said. I can’t describe the gladness I felt when he showed me the light-yellow envelope in his hand. We both knew it was good news. You know the postman Harrison as much as I do, and we both remember you would write on yellow paper if you were OK. My hands were shaking as I lifted up Nora on my lap, and I show the picture of you, that you send. “Papa”, she said. You don’t even have to wonder, the tears were coming down on both of our cheeks. Nora cried, and I cried, of happiness.

You told me that you are ok and safe, for so long. I am so thankful to hear that. I have pray for you, and so has the rest of this town, even Mrs. Hemington, which you don’t know yet. I hope you’ll get to know her; she has helped me more than you can ever imagine.

I bought the newspaper the other day, even if I know you say I shouldn’t, because you don’t want me to read and see the distress in America. I couldn’t help it, so I bought it. It said that 34000 were dead, and it showed many shocking pictures. That explains my nightmares that I’ve had.

After all this, I look at the bright side. This war has last for so long now, shouldn’t it soon be over? This enslavement bothers me a lot, and I find it unnecessary to fight about it. Slavery is inhumanly. I hope you’re coming home soon. It is so many things I want you to see.

Our daughter has just turned 2 years old. We were both sad, because you weren’t here. Nora needs you. She has turned good at talking though. She is a smart girl, who makes me live through the days without you. Before, when I looked at the picture of you, I turned sad at once. But Nora just smiled. She has though me to smile when I look at the picture of you, because you are still alive, and you are getting home soon. And I know that for example the Ku Klux Klan will get their punishment in the end.

Everyone says that Abraham Lincoln is in danger, but I don’t know. How should I know? Do you? I am just 20 years old, all I think about now is you, and if you’re still alive. I send a picture of me and Nora, and I hope you calls us some time, when you have the time off. I will prefer you call before you get home. Nora plans to make you a “kokolate-kate” /chocolate-cake” Look forward to it or not, I promise, I will not make you regret that you left the war!

See you soon! I love you. Forever yours, Ashley (and Nora)