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Subject: Diary of Elisabeth Koren - 150-157
Date: Fri, 22 Aug 2003 09:36:41 -0700
Acknowledgment
The following selection is taken from "The Diary of Elisabeth Koren"
translated and edited by David T. Nelson and published by the
Norwegian-American Historical Association (NAHA) in 1955. The Volume is
still in print and available from NAHA at http://www.naha.stolaf.edu
where you will also find the first 33 volumes of Studies and Records
online as well as Theodore C. Blegen's 2 volumes on Norwegian Migration
to America. This chapter is published with the kind permission of NAHA.
The book this selection is drawn from is under copyright and permission
has been granted for educational purposes and it is not to be used in any
way for commercial purposes.
10 Our Appetites Seldom Fail
Sunday, January 29. Today the whole household was on its feet early
because of Vilhelm's departure. He got away at seven-thirty, but Suckow
did not go with him, and I wonder how he will manage to find his way. It
is not cold today --- cloudy and mild.
It is already evening. The forenoon passed quietly in reading. Helene
expressed a strong desire to visit some hadelændinger when she had tidied
up after dinner, and I thought of going along. {1} But Erik saved us the
trip because he himself went out after dinner. Helene could not be
persuaded to go alone. She went to Sørland's for water, and it looked as
if she might have changed her mind on the way and decided to pay some
visits, for it seemed that she would never return. I had just opened my
writing case to write when there was a knock at the door. It was Sigrid
Suckow. She stayed (though I cannot say I enjoyed it) until dark, when
both Erik and Helene came back.
Then there was a lively conversation and some surprise over an English
Sunday school conducted by a Methodist today at Katterud's. He lets the
children recite some verses of the Testament from memory, whereupon they,
or rather, he, explains them. Now the explanation can scarcely be
correct, because the explainer is a Methodist; therefore Sigrid dared not
let her boys go there until Suckow himself had been there. And she
thought it strange that Katterud should have the school at his place, for
Mari surely must be sufficiently enlightened to know it was wrong. {2}
After airing her views on sectarians at some length, Mother Suckow left
at last and we lit the light and ate our evening meal. Since then I have
been writing. It is not yet eight o'clock, but the whole family is fast
asleep. I, too, shall bring the day to a close; it has seemed unusually
long.
Monday, January 30. Just as I was about to drink my coffee this morning,
Embret came very opportunely and gave Helene some milk, so that I got an
excellent cup of coffee. They are very good about furnishing us milk.
I have had a visit from an old man, who brought his certificate to the
pastor. He handed me both that and a passport and said, "You will have to
look at them yourself; I am not sure which is the certificate." He sat
and smoked his pipe, chatting busily with Helene about horse trading,
land, and I know not what.
There is an air almost of summer here today. Helene, at the washtub, has
beads of perspiration on her face. The door is wide open, to the great
joy of Kari and Per, who are very busy carrying chips from the stove and
throwing them in the face of a cow that apparently intends soon to pay us
a visit in the house. But they are suddenly frightened from their play by
hearing Helene stamp the floor and cry: "Stop carrying out my chips! Have
you ever seen such youngsters? I'll just teach you a good lesson."
Thereupon they look at each other, somewhat bewildered, Per with the most
smiling expression, and then begin to shout, "Sørli, Sørland!" to
Sørland, whom they see driving back and forth in his field.
Today I must try to take a turn outside while the floor is being washed.
Vilhelm, fortunately, has very fine weather; there is a little wind, it
is true, but it is very mild. I wish the sun would shine for a moment so
that we might set this tiresome clock, which is never wound at the right
time and is always stopping. We live in constant ignorance of the time
while Vilhelm is away.
I had just begun to eat my pork at noon when I heard someone driving in,
and who should it be but Vilhelm. I rushed out, calling, "Are you crazy,
coming home so soon?" And the answer was, "Well, well, that was really a
beautiful welcome!" No doubt he was right about that, too; but I was
really just as much frightened as pleased for the moment. Fortunately, it
was only that he had found time to come home for a little visit;
tomorrow, of course, he leaves again. Still, there had been something
wrong; he turned his ankle yesterday and had to stay in bed after the
services were over. Today, God be praised, it was much better and he was
able to take a walk with me.
Tuesday, January 31. What lovely weather Vilhelm has for his trip! It has
been just like a spring day. I sat by the open door all day. This morning
I wrote to Mrs. Bech and began a letter to Mrs. Lund. {3} Suckow paid me
a little visit; tomorrow, at last, he is going to Decorah. If he does not
get anything else, I hope he will at least bring Vilhelm's table back
with him.
A few moments ago I came back from a walk. I had almost given up the
idea, for Helene did not return from Suckow's, where she had gone, and I
dared not leave the children. Just as the sun was going down I left,
strolling along the cattle path toward Sørland's. I was thinking that it
was a long time since I had seen a really beautiful sunset --- nor did I
see one today; but if the sunset was not beautiful, the evening sky was
so much the lovelier. It was beautiful in the woods; I sauntered about
quite slowly, as is my habit on summer evenings, and instead of flowers I
examined the withered stalks and tried to make out what species they
were. It was so quiet; I did not see or hear a solitary person all the
way. On my return I dropped in at Eli's to quench my thirst, but found
neither human being nor water. How I wish Vilhelm had been with me, and
there had been a mountain from which we could have surveyed the whole
lovely scene! And how I also hope he will go there with me some moonlit
evening, for then everything must be very beautiful! If only he could
stay home and find time!
Now I shall have supper. Erik is at Suckow's, as usual. Helene is baking
potatoes and has just threatened Per with a whipping; he therefore has
retired under the table and begun to call, "I am sitting under the table,
ma, I am!" {4} Now he has ventured out, after having pulled off one of
his stockings; he has wrapped it very carefully around a warm potato on
which he is gnawing with much satisfaction. Kari is howling. It is very
warm inside, and so every few moments I open the door and gaze at the
beautiful stars, which tonight are unusually brilliant. Such is our life
here this evening. Now I shall sit down to my knitting and a book.
Wednesday, February 1. After a nap and a rest after ironing this morning,
I put on my shawl and my high boots and went over to Katterud's. It was
well I had on high boots; galoshes would soon have drowned in such
plash-plash. There were great puddles that I had to cross; but that was
not the worst. In order to avoid the deep ox tracks, which were full of
water, I had to follow the runners of a sleigh, and as it is not easy to
walk a crack, I had a very difficult time until I got into the woods,
where the sun had left a little piece of passable road.
The Katterud family was well. Nils sat yawning over Maanedstidende, and
complaining that he felt lazy. {5} Liv wished very much I would stay
there overnight. I declined with thanks, but could not escape taking off
my things. Fortunately I had my crocheting in my pocket, so I did not sit
altogether idle. Mother Katterud and her daughter were soon busy at the
stove, and set the table with cakes and flodegrod. She loves to
entertain, does Mother Liv. The food tasted very good, too, and would
have tasted even better if it had been a little later than five o'clock.
But Liv was considerate; she decided, since I was not to be there
overnight, that they ought not to keep me too late.
I have been disappointed, sad to say, in my hopes for the letters and the
table. Suckow was unable to ford the river because the water was too
high, and therefore did not bring the table with him; but as for the
letters --- I can't understand that --- not a word from anyone.
Everything looks as usual here this evening. Erik fills the room with his
awful tobacco; Helene, yawning over her stockings, blows her nose, and
sighs a bit. Per at last has talked himself to sleep, having experienced
many kinds of misfortune throughout the course of the day --- he
overturned a mug of beer on the floor, and fell down in the mud outside
the door; he was picked up out of this and, amid many an angry
exclamation, was wiped off with the dirty straw which serves in place of
a doormat, and then was chased into the house with a whack which sped him
swiftly to the other end of the room and gave me a good laugh. I sit here
writing and rejoice in the thought that Vilhelm will be home tomorrow. I
wish I knew how his foot is.
Thursday, February 2. It is already six o'clock and no Vilhelm. He is not
likely to come this evening; it was not certain he could come today, and
moreover he has told me he will always start early enough to reach his
destination while it is light; so I will not be alarmed. I wish I knew
whether his foot is all right. But it is annoying that he does not come;
now he will hardly be home at all before going to Minnesota.
I have just returned from an unexpected drive. It happened that I walked
up the road toward Decorah, to meet Vilhelm if possible, and I went in at
Aarthun's to make sure of the road. The horses stood there harnessed for
a quick trip to Rognald Belle's, and they invited me to go with them. {6}
I did so, thinking we would follow the road to Decorah. I was mistaken in
this, but I did not regret the drive, for Vilhelm had not yet arrived
when I returned. I should hardly like to have him do that. The weather
was beautiful and the road to Rognald's interesting; it goes through a
long, narrow valley with those remarkable, exposed bluffs which one
generally finds only along the rivers. We drove as if our lives were at
stake. Knud's horses were so wild that it was just good fortune that we
missed bouncing out of the sleigh, each on his own side. Knud was not far
from it once.
At Rognald's I was much surprised to find the same little person who
always sings her hymns so fervently on Sundays. Since they were in full
swing with their floor scrubbing after having washed clothes, it was not
altogether pleasant, though the house is a large new one. We stayed there
only a few moments, during which I talked to an old man lying on a bed,
and made an effort to get down a bowl of boiling hot milk which the old
mother gave me. Full gallop we went on the way home, first to Aarthun's
with Anne, then Knud drove me here. The weather was fine and it was a
brisk drive.
Now, I see, Helene is setting the table. She apparently decided that
Vilhelm is not likely to come this evening, and I am forced to believe
the same.
Friday, February 3. I had no more than sat down to the table yesterday
when there was a knock at the door; in came Vilhelm and happy was I. He
was cold and stiff after a twelve-mile ride, all of it on my account. He
had not wanted me to become alarmed when he did not return as agreed, for
he had stated so definitely that he would come while there was still
daylight. This arrangement must now be changed, for difficulties can
arise so easily that it is impossible to decide beforehand when he will
return. I believe our arrangement will have to be this; I must try to be
as brave as possible and not be too anxious if he is not home on
schedule. He had broken his sleigh in a thousand pieces on an open
prairie, had managed with great difficulty to carry his things to Jørgen
Lomen's, and he had ridden home from there with my brown shawl (which is
useful for everything) as a saddle.{7} God be praised, he has come. It
was certainly considerate of him to ride that long way in the cold. His
foot is well again, and out there to the west he lives high as far as
food is concerned. He wounds Helene's heart by telling about the
flodegrod, apple charlotte, roast chicken, and I know not how many other
glorious things he has had.
We cannot say that we live so exceptionally well here. The dishes vary
from boiled pork to fried pork, rare to well done, with coffee in
addition (milk when we can get it), good bread and butter. To this are
added now and then potatoes, which are now all gone; fried onions, once
in a while; and, above all, the glass jar of pickles. That is our meal,
morning, noon, and evening. But our appetites seldom fail. And even
though we might find food twice as good at many places, I have not found
any other place where I would rather live.
This afternoon we took a walk to Katterud's in the lovely weather.
Vilhelm has to borrow a saddle, since he now no longer has an equipage.
Well, so long as he does not have to ride horseback to Minnesota, it may
be all right to ride on short trips. We set out across the field ---
Vilhelm, in order not to be altogether too unsociable, pulling Peter, who
had no special desire for the expedition, behind him; and thus we came to
a creek where Peter was to have refreshed himself with a drop of water;
but he found, unfortunately, only ice, at which he became so offended he
turned his nose homeward and would hardly obey his master and follow. {8}
At this point we discovered that the garment that had served earlier as a
saddle was gone; but with confidence in Iowa's safe roads (safe because
no one ever travels them) we let it lie wherever it might be and
continued our way, with Peter, who now was meek enough, limping along
ahead down to Nils's spring, where he found the water he wanted so much.
As Nils was not home, Liv and Vilhelm ransacked the loft and found the
wished-for saddle. We did not stay many minutes and had not gone far on
the way home when we met a man with a sleigh. He turned out to be Peter's
old master; he desired to have his treasure home again, and had brought
along a pretty, frisky little pony in exchange. I rode back with Mr.
Norsving, much afraid that I should fall out of his precarious sleigh and
very busy in conversation. "Had it ever occurred to you it would be cold
in America?" he asked. I have heard that question often. I wonder what
sort of ideas these newcomers have of the country. I believe that even
after they hear of something disagreeable, they must first see it with
their own eyes before they can believe that all is not roses in their
dear America. {9}
Anne, Helene's stepdaughter, was here when we returned. {10} Vilhelm
walked over to see Halvor (the dapper bachelor), from where he returned
this moment and said Halvor would take him to Minnesota with his horses
and buggy; so now he will have a good conveyance.
<1> Hadelændinger are people from the Hadeland district north of Oslo,
Norway.
<2> On Mari Katterud, see chapter 7, footnote 3
<3> Mrs. Bech entertained the Korens in Poughkeepsie; Mrs. Lund was the
Korens' hostess in Hamburg.
<4> The exclamation "ma" was a favorite with Helene Egge, and as used by
Per does not mean "mother"; it is the dialect equivalent of maa du vite,
or, in English, "you must know," or "you know." This information was
supplied by Mrs. C. A. Naeseth, daughter of the Korens. Mrs. Naeseth
(Caroline Mathilda Koren) was born January 21, 1857 and died in 1945.
<5> Maanedstidende was a Norwegian-language church paper published by the
Norwegian Synod, 1851-53. Under the name Kirkelig maanedstidende it
resumed publication in 1856 and continued until 1874. From 1874 to 1917
it was published under the name Evangelisk luthersk kirketidende.
<6> Rognald Belle (Vesle Rognald) was from Sogn, Norway. He lived on the
northeast quarter of Section 5, Frankville Township, Winneshiek County;
information from William Linnevold and from Mrs. Henriette Vikesland
Roberts of Decorah, a great-granddaughter of Rognald Belle.
<7> Jørgen Lomen had a farm north of Conover in the southwest quarter of
Section 10, Calmar Township, Winneshiek County, which is now the Puffer
farm; Bredesen in Symra, 99 (1907); and information from Professor S. S.
Reque. See chapter 7, footnote 4.
<8> Peter was a horse obtained by the pastor from Knut T. Norsving.
<9> Knut Tollef Norsving, from Valdres, Norway, settled in Section 30,
Frankville Township, in 1850, about five miles south of Erik Egge's
property; Linnevold in Decorah-posten, June 14, 1929. Norsving's
grandson, of the same name, was the operator of oil and other properties
in California.
<10> Anne Egge, daughter of Helene's first husband, Anders Egge, by his
first wife, later married Mons Grinager, an immigrant from Hadeland,
Norway. Grinager worked for a time for Erik Egge. In 1861 he enlisted in
the Fifteenth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and was chosen captain of
Company K. See Linnevold in Decorah-posten, June 7, 1929.
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