[Martha, Alert's oldest sister, is about 28 years old at this writing. Alert has been gone for almost 3 years.]

Bortnem 18th February 1912

Dearest Brother [Albert]

It has been a long time since I last wrote to you, and even longer since we spoke to each other. Guess it will take some time still before we can meet again, but I really hope we`ll live to see that day. Surely there is a lot of pain and misery for us to face in this world, it`s almost strange all the things we have to fight against. The first I have to tell you is that ... health, and that has to be ... be happy for when we are to … life.

I have been cruel, not writing to you earlier, but to tell you the truth I have not wanted to do anything ... last time I wrote to you as I got myself a little girl, she was a big and beautiful baby, but when she was half a year old, God wanted her back, she was too good for us to keep, and too good for this world. You can imagine the pain we felt losing her, I hope she is peaceful and knows no more pain and trouble. There is nothing more that can be done.

But now I can tell you that I am having another (baby), I hope the fortune brings us a girl, I`ll write and tell you another time if God lets me live and keep my health. Here isn`t much news, ANDRES BORTHEIM is getting married, don`t know anything else to tell you this time. How are you these days? I guess it will be a long time until we can speak together, I reckon you are struggling on your own, like you have done. Will there be any (money) for your struggle, hope you can put aside something for your work. Was it a good year this one? Some say it was a bad year in America and some say it was a good one, I don`t know.

When you write back you must tell me how you manage, I`m sure you aren`t happy over there on your own. Of course, if Uncle had been alive it would have been much better for you, I can understand that. [Uncle Ole Waagseth, who homesteaded in North Dakota, died 8/23/1910] Well,well ... comes to an end ... too, and when you are finished(?) you must come up (back) again, think about it.

Now I have to stop for this time, hoping that you will write back to us, and if I can keep my health and everything goes well (with the baby), it won`t be as long as this time until I write back to you. I don`t know much how things are at home now, they are ... think. Then I have to ... us all. OLAV and ALFRED have grown to be big and handsome boys, you`ll see when you return.

Best wishes
From Danker and Martha Bortnem
Live well!