ErlandHT

Dear Mum! New York, October 28, 1825

I’m sorry that I deserted from you without saying anything, but one of my friends told me about a man named Cleng Peerson, who wanted to make as many people as possible to join his migrate to America. He said that Cleng had been there for three years, and told me that it was a beautiful place to live. After being persecuted by the Lutheran Church through many years, I thought to myself; “This is an enormous chance to get rid of the persecution. Maybe, if I migrate to America, I’ll get a much better life!”. And I had right. What a beautiful place! The sea voyage was far from without problem, but definitive worth it! Here in America a bagger do almost eat more than a normal Norwegian, and there’s no Lutheran fools persecuting us all the time. You can’t imagine how free I feel here in America!

I’m so sorry that I didn’t write any note or anything other to you before I left, I got so busy when I heard about it. If you hadn’t been at your holiday in Jotunheimen, everything could have been OK! In any case, I’ve heard that Cleng will travel back to Norway and get more people over the Atlantic to America. I hope you’re able to throw you and our family on board when he comes back to Norway. Or if you don’t want to, I admit that I miss my native country. In spite of how beautiful and amazing the life in America is, I would gladly travel back to Norway.

All for now, say hi to the rest of the family from me and other folks knowing me, like your parents and so on. Give Paul a hug from me, I’ll spare the others to next time I see you. Hope we’ll meet soon!