Letters from Sweden

I have a friend that writes at least one love letter a day. She sent me one yesterday….written in a Moleskine postal notebook I gave her. So much love in one little package. Truly touched.

I love the art of handwriting. This is a letter written by my great-great-great-grandfather Sven Nilsson to my great-great-grandfather Carl August Swenson. Carl immigrated to the U.S. in 1880. The economic times were so hard then that most people barely got by. Sven saw his son and grandchildren get on a boat for a slightly better future in a new country. I couldn’t imagine seeing my family get onto a boat and not even really knowing if I’d see them again.

Here’s the translation:

Jonsbo uder Tjuk, May 18, 1885

My dear August,

Thank you for your dear letter which we received from you where we see that you have health and feel well, which is worth the most of all we people have here on earth. Even we have fairly good health, Praise God, considering our circumstances for one when one gets old everything becomes a burden and unpleasant and difficult. Sight dims and memory weakens along with the weakening of the body. We soon find ourselves too old to keep our home and do justice to it. The local farmer (owner) is beginning to not be satisfied with my daily work. I don’t know how long it is possible for me to manage. Johan was so kind to promise to send me a little toward my taxed for the year but that he has likely forgotten. He is no longer alone and is responsible for his own affairs. For that reason things have gone wrong. I cannot, myself, earn anything longer for I have all I can do each day to see after my little place so it takes all my time. If I could figure out how to make a living, I would give up the little acreage anytime, but I cannot see how we can possible make a living. And it is, what we get hardly keeps us going, and how would it go if one just sits and not have anything from the soil? That seems to me entirely impossible. We also had an unfortunate accident last spring. A year ago we bought a calf and he became sick last spring and died. He was real pretty and big. I wouldn’t have taken 20 crowns for him before he became sick. And I now I have to be satisfied with the hide from him.

For almost six weeks this past winter, I have waited to hear from you. However, I want to let you know that Anders Adamsson of Skrãdaren (tailor) at Spångstugan (a certain cottage) has been here this winter. Anders Adamsson appeared almost like “Patron [the Lord] of Allenskog” so that one thought that he suffered no need where he was [or came from]. “Skrãdaren” [the tailor] is just the same now as before. They are now on their way back to America again. A few days after Adamsson left, I received a letter from Johan that we should arrange so the girl, little Lina, which it pains us to tell, should travel with him [Anders Adamsson] to Johan [in America], so we wait now until we can arrange for her to travel with someone else who is coming to America.

I also want to tell you that Karí Anders Petter is Bygget is presently at home but he will apparently leave for home next week. He has been in Germany for 16 years. He is large and looks like a German. He seems to have it good. I want to tell you a little from “Djurbacken.” Lina has received another son this spring. His name is Knut Edvard. They have their hands full to manage, with all their small children. Johan and Anna at Djurbacken have “confirmed” both of theirs this year. Johan’s Tilda in “Kãllstugan” has another son. You likely know that she has two more with Resall; they have very meager means. His eyes are so week that he can hardly do anything.

I have to tell you a little on our Tilda. She is still on her place. She was able to keep it and received an increase of 50 crowns on her wages. When she had her exam with the children at “Everbada” last summer, she received 60 [not translated] and 12 crowns in cash from the schoolchildren, by which you can see she is well liked. She and her little Ammeli Wallentina have their health, as far as we know, and feel well.

Greetings from us all to you and your children.

Sven Nilsson

(Note on the side of back page): From “hofestugan” can we greet you. “Gröf at Tjuk” sends greetings; also from his daughter.
(Note on side of front page): With today’s mail a letter was sent to Johan and Knut and August. You write that you have many animals. Don’t forget to write.

 

This letter was written 8 years later:

Translation:

 

10 November 1893.

Dear, dear children;

I have today decided to write a few lines to our children in Amerika, and let you know that we are still alive and older, and tired of the whole world.

We understand that you August were with John last summer.  We wonder how you liked it there, and how you were received.  I am sure it was fun for both of you to meet.  When you write next time we want to know how you liked it at Johan’s, also at Eric’s, Gustaf and Aunt Anna.  I imagine that they are now married.  Now it is a long time since we heard from you.  It was not a long time but it seemed that way, as the years are longer.  Write a letter at least once each year.  We trust that these lines will find you in good health with you and your children.

They tell us around here that there has been a big tragedy. They say that all factories and all activities have come to a halt.  So the working people go on the streets without work.  Also, I must tell you that mother is very poorly.  She has this terrible Russian [non translated] a few years ago and from it she became weakened in both her chest and her head.  It still troubles her.  Fortunately, it is not as difficult every day.  If it [were] always just a bad it would be impossible for her. I must say that my health is good for my age.

Linstrom in Jordsten suffers from the same illness.  I think he has been bed ridden for two years and apparently he will not improve.  They have tried to get help for him but to no avail.  He has not been able to work for two years to provide for himself.

Yes, I must now close for this time with dear greetings to you, our children and grandchildren.  God bless you.  Greetings from [not translated] the house down the road in the garden.  They are all well as far as we know.

Anna Lisa, August’s mother lives with them.  You likely don’t know how many children they have, two in America, one works here in Sweden, there are three boys and three girls still at home.

A little about Tilda:  She is married and has two girls and one boy.  She works with her school during the days.

Sven Nilsson

This one letter is my favorite about their faith though: Paid in Flour and Potatoes……

…..and what I think would be a typical day for my family after immigrating.