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Subject: Diary of Elisabeth Koren - 158-165
Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2003 09:03:04 -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.
Saturday, February 4. While we were eating last night, Knud came over
with Vilhelm's friend Erik Sleen, the schoolteacher from Minnesota who is
to go with Vilhelm. He is said to be well informed and intelligent. They
sat and talked until it was very late and I was very sleepy, as were the
others, too, I think. Helene shows no embarrassment, but goes to bed no
matter how many guests are here.
I wrote industriously all day in the belief that Vilhelm would be going
to the post office; but the worthy pastor decided differently and went
only for a short ride on his new horse. The latter did not seem to meet
with his approval, but what the trouble was, I do not know. At any rate
he soon had enough of riding and asked me if I cared to take a little
walk; nor did I need to be asked a second time. Vilhelm was going over to
his special friend Halvor, who is to be his driver tomorrow. I had not
been there before and was pleased to find a clean, orderly cabin,
although a veritable crowd of people live there. His place is well
situated, and he is the neighbor nearest to the parsonage land. The
evening was beautiful; it is really a joy to have Vilhelm with me for a
walk; most of the time I have to go and philosophize alone.
Sunday, February 5. Well, I am alone again and will no doubt be alone all
week. How I long for the time when there will be a little less traveling,
a little more reasonable arrangement, for this one is really all wrong,
and, what is worse, is not likely to get better soon. {11}
Vilhelm did not get away until late, because he had to wait for his
things to be brought from Aarthun's. At last Erik had to go after them;
he came back with the news that the boy who was sick there had died the
night before. So it was to end that way!
While I was writing this afternoon, I was astonished to see Anne
[Aarthun] and her old aunt in the doorway. It seemed strange to me that
she would care to visit strangers just after such a sorrow; but they must
feel or bear their sorrow in a different way from what I could. As I
listened to their way of talking of it, I was not able to say a word. "It
is a good thing there are no small children," said Anne, "after all, it
will not be so difficult for them to manage." It seemed as if the main
thing they were thinking of was that the father would not now have his
son to help with the work. The mother, too, sat calmly and took part in
the talk. They stayed a long time, ate and drank, and left only when it
became dark.
It will really be good to have one's own home --- how trying such visits
can be sometimes, especially on Sunday! Here I sit; I cannot read or busy
myself with anything if I am not to offend the guests. I can indeed talk
to them, and do so, too, . and it is probably my own fault that I find
these conversations of so little interest. This is not always true, to be
sure; but at times the wish to have a cultured person to talk to becomes
very strong. My thoughts prefer to linger elsewhere, and find it
intolerable to have to turn back to cattle and swine. Perhaps it will be
no different when I have my own home and have similar visits. Oh, yes, it
will surely be different. Then I shall be mistress in my own home! Yes,
that will be glorious! And then when the pastor returns from his
journeys, there certainly will be rejoicing!
Vilhelm has really fine weather for his journey today. I wonder if he has
arrived yet; I am glad there is moonlight. It is very quiet here this
evening, for Per and Kari have behaved better than yesterday and are now
resting with their mother on the bed. Her cough is better, too, and
causes less disturbance. Erik is away and Anne [Egge] is studying
Missionsbladet, and reads half aloud of course, as most of them do. It is
a curious custom. {12}
Monday, February 6. Today I dispatched my big batch of mail. I hope it
will not be too long en route. I was really glad when I had sealed all
the letters. When that was done I put on my things to get a little fresh
air after the soap and lye odors I have been breathing all day. I took
the road to Sørland's, my favorite walk, but came close to turning back
when I came down the hill and met all Erik's cattle pursued by Ingebret's
dogs. The dogs barked, the cows bellowed and tried to gore. I plucked up
courage and got safely past the whole herd and into the woods. It was not
so pleasant there today, for the air was heavy and gray, but it was very
quiet --- I heard the sound of Ingebret's ax for a moment but saw not a
person on the whole walk.
When I was out of the woods, I took the road to the parsonage land. Here
to my joy I found tracks made by Vilhelm and Peter. I amused myself by
following them until they suddenly turned off I know not where, and I
then found myself on the knoll on the parsonage land with that fine view
before me. There is a marvelous blue color which at times settles down on
the hills at the horizon. Today it varied from a deep sea blue to the
loveliest light sky blue. Then I wanted to see how the spot looked where
the house was to be placed; I found the spot, too, but not the little
valley with the spring. I went on across the hard crust of the snow,
which at times carried me and at times let me plump down up to the tops
of my high shoes. I walked about amidst the withered foliage and examined
the trees to see if I could find some grapevines, but found not a one,
unfortunately. On the other hand I discovered that all the high flower
stalks and raspberry stalks were full of delicate vines.
I made a wide circle through the woods and found the tracks of a man, but
they stopped suddenly; and so I left the woods and crossed the hard snow,
looking for a road, for I did not care to return the way I had come. At
last I found a sort of lane I thought would probably lead me to the
dapper bachelor's. I was not wrong, and soon came to a regular road and
at last to a human habitation. I wonder if Vilhelm has taken this road
over the bridge under the high trees which leads to Halvor's; there is a
rather wide brook and it is quite romantic. This is another pretty summer
walk for me.
Now I hurried home. I had been walking so long it was beginning to get
dark, and the moon could not penetrate the dense air. Helene thought I
had gone in somewhere for the evening. As I came in, I met the
foster-daughter; she looked distressed and worn with weeping, poor thing,
and had come to ask Erik to make a coffin for her brother. Think of
sending the sister over to get the carpenter to make the coffin for her
dead brother!
It is late (according to the time schedule of this house). A bed has been
made for Anne [Egge] and Kari on the floor; they are all sound asleep
save Erik, whom the missionary paper keeps awake.
Tuesday, February 7. Knud has gone to Decorah in Erik's stead and has
just driven away with my letters and Erik's wheat. The wheat today
brought the whole household into activity. There was the machine, of
course, to clean it. The cattle made use of the opportunity whenever no
one was watching and ate heartily. This caused the children to cry out,
"The cows are stealing, ma, they are," which brought Helene from her
washtubs in a hurry and out the door scolding and swinging about her with
the wet clothes. This was repeated time and time again and brought first
one, then another, outside, so that it was exceptionally lively here
yesterday morning. While I sit here writing, I am constantly interrupted
by Helene, who is quite in despair over Per's increasing fatness, does
not know how she is ever going to get his pantaloons large enough, and
asks my advice about it.
It is now past eight o'clock. I am waiting for Erik and Helene to come
back from Aarthun's, where they went for the funeral. Helene had been
invited, and Erik had brought a message that if "the pastor's wife"
should care to come with her, she would be very welcome. I did not care
to do this, much to the astonishment of Helene, who was unable to
understand why I did not grasp the opportunity with open arms. They seem
to go to a funeral as to a feast. Instead of that I took a very
melancholy walk in the Sørland wood; it was not I, but the woods and air
which were melancholy. I dropped in on Eli [Sørland], had cake, and
talked with her and also with Kari at Katterud's.
When I got home, I was surprised by Halvor, who brought me a greeting
from Vilhelm. That was very pleasant. I had no idea he had returned so
soon and would gladly have talked longer with him if he had not had to
hurry so because of his restless horses. It was good of Vilhelm to send
him.
It is taking a long time for them to return from the funeral. I sit here
with sleeping beings on all sides of me. Kari and Per rolled about on the
mattress on the floor until they fell asleep; they are still lying there,
Per with his nose in the air. Anders, Helene's stepson, who came here
this forenoon, laid both his arms on the kitchen bench, buried his face
in them, and sits snoring full blast. {13} Anne sits with a book in her
hands, nodding until her head touches the book and rouses her for a
moment. Such is the scene this evening.
Knud got only halfway to Decorah; he met a man on the road who told him
the mill had had a breakdown; so he turned back again, and brought us
neither table nor chairs, nor Emigranten, nor letters. How tiresome!
Wednesday, February 8. We have just finished supper. Helene made soup,
which might have been good enough if she had not put in some lumps of
meal which were supposed to be dumplings. I thought of "die schönen
Klöse," which we despised aboard ship; they were matchless indeed,
compared with these. {14} However, I ate a little of the soup and almost
laughed aloud when, after I had refused the meat, Erik said, "Perhaps you
liked the soup so well you filled up on that." Rognald's brother is here
helping Erik. They both very eagerly scan Emigranten, which Erik brought
from Decorah; he was there this morning, but afoot, so we have not yet
obtained our things, which it seems will never get here. No letters. I
wish I could stop expecting them; then I should not be so disappointed
every time Erik comes home empty-handed.
There have been many people here today. Eli, with her milk pail, was
first, then Sigrid Suckow; both of them spent all forenoon here. Several
men also came to talk to Erik. Helene had no more than cleared the table
before she had to set it again, and so all day long we have had a
constant smell of pork. Anne, from her place by the window, spied out who
was coming, one after the other, whether walking or driving. Of course
this is not something that happens every day, so it is not strange that
both large and small have felt impelled to run from window to window to
figure out who the next ones might be. We have also had a visit from two
peddlers, or whatever one calls such itinerant people. They had a great
deal of trumpery for sale, which Helene and Anne went outside to examine,
while I stood at the window with the children and looked at the pretty
horses, which ought to be used for something better than this.
Erik brought candle snuffers with him from Decorah, to the great joy of
Per and Kari, who do not tire of looking at them, and of me no less; I am
thereby relieved of the necessity, every time I have snuffed the light,
of going over to the stove to throw the wick into the fire. Per is giving
our laughing muscles no rest; he was told to be quiet and go to sleep;
but instead, like a little brownie in his red cap, he is lying in the
middle of the large bed, acting like a clown, as he often does, and
mimicking everything that is said.
Thursday, February 9. This time Vilhelm has beautiful weather for his
travels. It is a lovely evening. Just as the sun was setting, I took a
walk to where Halvor lives and came home by moonlight. Vilhelm really
must go over there with me at sunset; it was lovely this afternoon. There
are many charming walks hereabouts. I thought of crawling under a fence
to a road at the left of Halvor's which probably led to Ingebret's; but
as I did not know how far it might be, I took the same road home, gazed
at the moon, and watched the stars come out.
I have been very industrious today --- ironed, cut out a basque and apron
for Kari, finished my waist, read for a long time after dinner --- and I
marvel that tomorrow is already Friday. This week has gone remarkably
fast, and that is unusual, for Vilhelm is away; when he is gone the days
are long, as a rule. Yes, Sunday was long enough this time, too, but now
Saturday will be here day after tomorrow.
I ate some time ago, fortunately; otherwise I should have quite lost my
appetite watching Erik and Tollef. They are eating soup with pork and
dumplings swimming in fat and are conscientiously licking the backs of
their spoons after each mouthful. {15}
That poor clock dangling on the wall can never, it seems, be left in
peace. Yesterday Helene could not get the clock to go fast enough, so she
moved it ahead one half hour after another, and this evening she has
fussed and tinkered with it until it stands completely still. Well, now
we shall have to use the sun for a clock, if it will only be kind enough
to show itself! That clock causes Helene endless trouble. At a moment
when we are sitting quite peacefully, she is likely to cry out, "Can't
you be quiet, children, so I can hear if the clock is running?" If, as is
usually the case, it is not running, she takes it down, gets on her knees
before the table, and begins to shake and wind it endlessly until she has
it running again after a fashion --- as long as that lasts.
Friday, February 10. I just returned from my usual walk and brought back
a splendid appetite, which fortunately will soon be satisfied, for Helene
is already setting the table. My walk took me to Aarthun's; I went in for
a while to assure myself that the old aunt was not offended because I had
not come the other day. She had not been; and I was glad I had not gone
when Helene finally came home that evening (which was not until after ten
--- Anne had fallen fast asleep) and told me there had been a great many
strangers. "It was well that madam was not there," she added, "for she
would not have felt at home, the floor was so dirty, and the room was so
warm and filled with children." That might not have been so bad, but to
see a lively party on such an occasion would not have been pleasant. From
Helene's account it seems that they had visited and enjoyed themselves as
best they could.
I had company home in the person of my little friend Karen, who was going
to Erik's to get an auger, and talked and prattled the whole way. There
has been a great rummaging about in the loft today to move the clothes
and set up a quilt frame for Helene, who is going to tie a quilt; in this
work I am to have my share. {16}
It is really a pity Erik did not go for the table and chairs as he said
he would; now we shall not have even them when Vilhelm returns. Tomorrow
by this time he will be here, I hope. Today he was to be at Erik [Sleen],
the school master's. {17} This week I have done hardly any writing save
in my diary; I had no special desire to do so, and since there was no
hurry, I preferred to put it off.
<11> On this trip Pastor Koren went to Minnesota, where he conducted his
first service at Spring Grove on February 9.
<12> Missionsbladet was a semimonthly missionary magazine published in
Norway, 1827-60.
<13> Anders Anderson Egge was Helene's stepson, the son of her first
husband by an earlier marriage; information received from William
Linnevold.
<14> See chapter 2, footnote 10.
<15> Tollef has not been identified. He may have been a carpenter working
for Erik Egge, who put up a number of buildings in the settlement.
<16> Karen was possibly one of the Aarthun children.
<17> Erik Ellefson Sleen was the first treasurer of the Spring Grove-Big
Canoe (Minnesota) congregation, 1855; O. M. Norlie, Norsk lutherske
menigheder i Amerika, 1843-1916, 1:454 (Minneapolis, 1918). Norlie
erroneously spells the name Steen. According to Professor S. S. Reque of
Decorah, who met a descendant of Erik Sleen at the hundredth anniversary
of the Big Canoe congregation, Sleen lived in the Big Canoe neighborhood.
He later moved to Lansing, Iowa, and then to South Dakota, where he
became somewhat prominent in politics.
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