1928-8-15 Letter from Albert Solberg to Olga Eikelid (Ltr30)

Dodson, Montana
August 15 1928

My beloved Olga ------

Yes tonight I must write you some words, since I have certainly let some days pass (without replying) since I received your letter. Nice good beloved Olga! You are so kind for sending me such a letter. (I) Am so glad that you have no objection to coming over here, or to come to me. I am certain that you have not made a mistake in that (decision). I shall be so good to you, and you shall become everything good. Such a good home as anyone can give you, I think (I will give you).

You say you are wondering what your Mother will say when she gets to hear of your decision. But I am so very happy because I do not think that she will have any objection to your wish. It is truly so that when one person shall go to America, then one is considered to be a nobody from that moment on. It has been seen as if one has been laid in the grave, but that is not the case. We have it just as good as those back in Norway. Yes maybe better. So if your sisters can have it as good as you shall, yes then your parents will not need to have any sorrows for any of them. But you know how it is, everyone wants his (family) around him. I shall tell just to you that in autumn,

FINA will leave me. It looks as if she also has found herself a home. Which is a good thing for her, she has (really) deserved it. She is going over to the nearest neighbor, only a 5 minute walk from here. So you will see her every day, which is a good thing for you. You shall not be longing back to the Skor valley.

Dear Olga, I would have liked it very much if you could have come over here in spring if you could, I do not like being alone so long. ( I ) Have so much to do, as things look now. To do my own cooking, I do not like that much. I have had so much of that, you know, (but) this winter I will strive as good as I can. (I shall) Live in good hope, you know. In your last letter you wrote that you had heard it would take 12 years before anyone were admitted in here (in USA). Yes as you know, there have been many sorts of laws, and that will be so (in future) also. But as I understand it has been decided that there will be no change in the Emigrant law until we have had presidential election, and that will be in autumn in November. But on the other side it doesn't matter what laws are passed, anyway. No one in the land of Norway can hold you back from coming over here to me for such an reason. Nor will they do so here in this country, because I have my American papers (Citizenship), so I have the same rights anyone has.

I will tell you what you shall do first. Go to the Consulate in Bergen before you go home to Skor. You may know here it is. Go down to Torvet (Marketplace) and then southwards a tiny bit, then east a few meters. There you will find the building. ( It) Can be read (at the sign) at the door. Then you have several stairs to climb. (You should) Always ask someone where the house is. Tell them the reason for your coming, and whatever they say that you wish to travel in March next year. Tell me what they are saying. You may get a piece of paper, a sheet, with many questions printed on, which you have to fill in. As you may know, if you get such a paper then write down that you have a house (to live in) in the countryside on a farm, and that you wish to travel or shall to a farm here in Montana. If that shouldn't work, I will write later.

Dear Olga, I see from your letter that you think (you) don't have enough of various things. Dearest you, you do not need a thing. Not a thing, you know. I shall send you a ticket, you know, if you so wish, as I know you do. You should not be anxious about the voyage over here, because you will like it. You can travel with the Norwegian ships, STAVANGERFJORD or BERGENSFJORD. There it is all Norwegians on board, you know. And I will come to New York on the pier, if you so wish.

That's halfway, you know. 3000 miles across the ocean, but that is just fun. Will write more later. When you go home to Skor and you do not have the opportunity to mail the letters yourself, then you can send them to Sister (Fina) and I will get them. Would you be so kind and send me a measure of your finger, so I can send you a pearl ring. Yes, live then so truly well, and then you should not stay so long, since you have no more time for that now.

And then you must be so truly kind and write me a few words as soon as you can. And then to end, a loving greeting from your Albert.

- I am getting slow, I do not know why.-