New House, New Life - Sepia Saturday 670

In last week's post, I showed a photo of my grandparents (Sally & Gustaf) at the well on the property where they were going to build their house. My grandfather purchased the plot in March, and the well was finished towards the end of April. A few months later (late summer or early autumn) the house was "taking shape". I'm guessing that this photo was taken as part of celebrating having got the roof in place. It was probably my grandfather who took the photo, as he's not in the picture himself.

Family gathered at the New House (in progress), late summer 1930. Standing: Olle (engaged to Sally's sister Hildur), Sally, Mother Selma, Carin & Nils (Sally's brother and his fiancée). Sitting: Gustav (older half-brother to Sally and Nils), Hildur - and I think probably a brother of Carin's to the right (he looks vaguely familiar to me).

(Unless, possibly the unknown man is the builder? I know they had one, by name of Richard Andersson, as I have his bill, or receipt, for the finished work...)

The finished house (year unknown) 

Olle, Hildur's fiancé, may have helped with details on the house too, I suppose, as he was a carpenter by trade - and for the first few years, he and Hildur would be living there too. From what my father told me in the past, I know that originally, the house had two flats: One room + kitchen downstairs and the same (somewhat smaller) upstairs. Sally and Gustaf (who got married towards the end of September 1930) moved into the downstairs flat. (From about a year after their wedding also shared by baby Bertil, my father.) And a few months later, newly wed Hildur and Olle moved into the upstairs flat, together with Mother Selma (who slept in the upstairs kitchen). 

I'm not sure exactly how long they all continued to live together in the same house - maybe a few years. Olle and Hildur then built their own house only a few minutes walk away; so the two families always remained very close. (Hildur and Olle never had children of their own.) Selma I think alternated between living with her daughters in winter, and spending the summers in the small cottage on the farm (which I think was hers for the duration of her life). She lived until 1941 so was very much part of the household during my dad's early childhood. After Hildur and Olle moved to their own house, Sally and Gustaf made the upstairs room their bedroom; and later, the upstairs kitchen was converted to a bedroom for my dad.

Below is the last letter in my collection of letters written from Sally to Gustaf in 1929/30, between their engagement and wedding. It has no date, so I've been hesitating about exactly where it belongs in the chronology. But most likely it was written while it was still wintry; as gloves, socks and firewood are mentioned. The most interesting part is that it shows some of Sally's "mixed feelings" about the upcoming changes in her life after their marriage. She realises that in his career as a journalist, Gustaf has to meet and mix with "all sorts" of people - and is sometimes also expected to socialise in contexts in which she herself will feel timid and not quite comfortable...

Storegården, Thursday night

Darling!

Now you'll be getting a letter anyway, but it won't be a long one this time either. And please excuse me for writing in pencil. As you know, I have no ink here in our room, and I don't want to go into the men's room tonight, so I use what I have. It's past 9:30 pm and I'm rather tired. I've had a busy day, sewing gloves and also on that dress I was working on last night.

Olle is here working tonight and Hildur has gone down to him, so Mum and I are alone at the moment, and I'm grabbing the opportunity to write to you.

Have you heard anything more about Mr & Mrs K's party? I've been contemplating today whether I should come with you or not. I guess we'll talk more about it on Sunday. Of course I'd like to accompany you for your sake, and perhaps in a way it would be good for me as well. I suppose I must try to overcome my shyness at least to some degree. I guess sooner or later I'll have to get used to meeting ”society” ladies and gentlemen, even if the thought of it intimidates me a little.

I too am looking forward to the day we'll be united; but my joy is also mixed with some apprehension at the thought of my responsibility to be a good wife to you. With the help of God I still want to get started, and if I can only trust in that, I know I shall succeed. I'll leave both of us in his hands.

I would have written more, but I can't tonight, I'm so tired.

Lots of love from your Sally 

PS. Gustav won't be going into town until Tuesday or Wednesday next week, Miss L does not want any potatoes until then. I hope you'll be all right for firewood until then.

Mum sends her love. It's now past 11 but she is still knitting away at her socks. The sound of the spinning wheel has stopped for tonight.

Linking to Sepia Saturday 670 

(because sometimes you feel like crawling into a corner and hide - but you know you can't...!)

Storegården torsdag kväll

Älskade!

Nu får Du allt brev ändå. Men det blir inte långt denna gången heller. Och så får Du vara snäll och förlåta att jag skriver med blyerts. Jag har, som du vet, inget bläck här inne i vårt rum, och jag vill inte gå in åt herrummet i kväll, utan då tog jag vad jag hade. --- Kl är ju också redan över ½ 10 och jag börjar vara en smula trött. Jag har haft så bråttom i dag. Har sytt dels på vantarna och dels på den där klädningen jag höll på med i går kväll.

I kväll är Olle här och arbetar. Hildur har gått ner till honom nu så mamma och jag äro ensamma för tillfället, och därför skulle jag passa på och skriva till Dig.

Har Du hört något närmare sedan om Herrskapet K---'s förestående bjudning? Vet du, jag har tänkt mycket på det i dag om jag skall följa med Dig dit eller ej. Vi få väl tala mera om det på söndag. --- Nog skulle jag gärna vilja gå med för Din skull, och kanske vore det bra för mig också på sätt och vis. Jag måste väl försöka att övervinna blygheten åtminstone i någon mån. Och jag måste väl också en gång för eller senare sammanträffa med respektive societetsdamer och dito herrar, kan jag tro, fastän jag bävar en smula vid blotta tanken därpå.

--- Jag emotser, även jag, med glädje den dag då vi skola förenas. Dock är ju glädjen blandad med en viss bävan vid tanke på det ansvar som vilar på mig som en god maka åt Dig. Med Guds hjälp vill jag likväl börja och kan jag blott fullt och fast lita därpå, vet jag också att jag skall lyckas. I hans händer vill jag lämna oss båda.

Jag skulle skrivit mera men det går inte i kväll, jag är så trött nu.

Hjärtevarma hälsningar, Din Sally

Gustav reser inte till stan förrän på tisdag eller onsdag i nästa vecka. Fröken Larsson vill ingen potatis ha förr. Hoppas att Du klarar Dig med ved till dess.

Mamma hälsar. Kl är över 11 nu men mamma stickar lika flitigt på sina strumpor. Spolrocken har tystnat för i kväll. 

I Did Not Know You Were Coming - Sepia Saturday 667

This letter from Sally to Gustaf has no date, but from its content, I conclude it must have written only two days after the previous one (cf. last weeks post for Sepia Saturday 666). 

On the day in between (5 March), Gustaf signed a contract to buy the plot of land where he and Sally were going to build their own house. Comparing the two letters, it seems that the plan was that Gustaf would inform Sally by letter about the outcome of that meeting. However, it seems that after the meeting, Gustaf had instead decided to go to the farm and tell Sally the good news in person. But when he got there - she wasn't at home... (Must have been a disappointment for him!) 

Storegården, Thursday morning [6 March 1930]

Darling!

My heartfelt thanks for your letter. I'm so sorry I wasn't home last night, but that's because I didn't know that you were coming! I didn't stay long at Komlösa, and if I had gone straight home, I'd had been back before you arrived. But they wanted me to come in at Källeberg on the way home too, and as I did not know you were coming, I did. They invited me for coffee before we went to Komlösa, and then supper and coffee afterwards as well. Annie then accompanied me part of the way back home, and I did not get home until after the last train had left. But had I known you were here, I'd have hurried straight home! [1]

Well, my friend – this Saturday we're all invited to Stommen, including you. I hope you'll be coming then, and will come with us. Couldn't you arrange to switch your work shift this Sunday with one of the others, and then work the two next Sundays in a row instead? Then I could go into town and visit you there. And you would not have to leave so early this Sunday. [2] [3]

Darling, I'm sorry for my sloppy writing, I'm in such a hurry because I'm about to start washing soon. I'm happy that it's all settled now about the plot. 

Thankfully my throat is well again, but I still have a runny nose. I hope you are well.

Lots of love from your Sally

Do please come on Saturday at 6. If I can find the time, I'll meet you at the station.

[1] Komlösa is a hamlet in the neighbourhood mentioned quite frequently in Sally's letters, and I think there must have been a chapel of some kind there back in those days. For all I know, the family may also have had friends living there, but I can't recall any personal names connected with the place. Källeberg on the other hand is the name of a farm where they had friends, situated somewhere in between where Sally lived, and Komlösa. 

[2] Stommen I think refers to a neighbouring farm, fairly close. 

[3] Gustaf was a journalist at a small newspaper in town, and from the letters I get the impression he probably had to work every other Sunday. 

Sally & Gustaf

Hildur, Selma, and Sally

Linking to Sepia Saturday 667

From what I know of my grandmother Sally, I think she preferred church gatherings to dancing, tough. (Or just chatting with friends over a nice cup of coffee in the kitchen, or on an outdoors picnic.)

Storegården torsdag f.m. (6? mars 1930)

Min Älskling!

Hjärtligaste tack för brevet. Vad det var tråkigt att jag ej var hemma i går kväll, men jag visste ju ej att Du skulle komma. Jag var inte länge i Komlösa, hade jag fått direkt hem så hade jag gott hunnit hem tills Du kom, men så ville de att jag skulle gå med in på Källeberg i hemväg också, och då, när jag inte visste om att Du skulle komma, gjorde jag det. De bjöd på kaffe innan vi gingo till Komlösa och sedan bjöd de på kvällsmat och kaffe återigen. Annie följde mig en bra bit på hemvägen, jag kom inte hem förrän sista tåget gått. Men tänk om jag vetat att Du var här, vad jag då skulle skyndat mig hem.

Nu är det så, min lille vän, att vi är bjudna till Stommen allesammans på lördag kväll, och Du är också bjuden. Hoppas att Du då kommer och går med. Kunde det inte gå för dig att få byta bort arbetet på söndag till någon av de andra, så kunde Du ju vara inne 2 söndagar i stället, då kan jag hälsa på Dig. Det skulle vara så roligt om Du kunde fått det ordnat så, så sluppe Du att resa på dagen på söndag. Det är så tråkigt tycker jag.

Älskade, du får ursäkta att jag skriver så illa, men jag har så rysligt bråttom. Skall börja tvätta sedan. Det var ju roligt att det nu är ordnat med tomten.

Nu är jag bra i halsen, som väl är, men jag har lite snuva kvar. Hoppas du är riktigt kry.

Slutar med hälsningar i mängd.

Din Sally

Kom säkert på lördag kl 6. Hinner jag, möter jag dig vid tåget.

"Thinking of Our Cottage" - Sepia Saturday 666

Continuing the series of letters written by my grandmother Sally to my grandfather Gustaf in the year before they got married. (Sally still living at the family farm in the countryside; Gustaf in town because of his job as a journalist.)

Storegården, 4 March 1930 [Tuesday]

Darling!

This time you're getting a letter from me earlier than we decided, but I hope you won't mind. Towards the end of the week I'll be rather busy. We're going to organize washing again on Thursday or so. Tonight I'm having an evening off. I.e. I have allowed myself time off to write to you. Otherwise there's work enough to be done. Mum, Gustav and I are home alone tonight. Hildur has gone to Mölarp, and Nils is away on other business. It's almost six o'clock, and in an hour or so I'll be going out to milk the cows.

"It's almost six o'clock, and in an hour or so 
I'll be going out to milk the cows."

My cold has not quite given way yet. In the daytime I don't feel it much, but in the evenings my throat has been sore. Not sure yet how it will be tonight, not feeling anything much just yet. Yesterday we were at Länghem and while I was sitting there my throat was hurting, and also during the night.

I also did not get a lot of sleep. Mum was so worried about Nils. He went away on business in the morning and was supposed to get back home in the evening. But evening came, and night, and he still hadn't turned up. I thought he might be visiting Caj, but towards 2 a.m. I started to realise that he would not be staying there that long on a Monday night, so then I got worried too. The roads are so slippery now, making driving difficult. But when the clock had struck 2 he arrived. He had been to Gullered and that neighbourhood.

Photo from Gullered
(different year, different season)

I suppose you still haven't got your tax form. I forgot to talk to you about that. Where could it have got to? It must have got lost somehow. And dear, I forgot to send your shirts and collars [with Gustav]. I hope you won't have to go without until your next visit here.

Tomorrow night I suppose you will be visiting Bylander. How wonderful if things could be arranged soon. I'm looking forward to your letter tomorrow. [*]

Darling, on Sunday there is a [church] celebration at Komlösa and I'd be happy if you'd like to come accompany me there. Now I can see you looking glum, but I hope that will pass, as it usually does. Reverend Hasselrot will be preaching, which is why I'm keen to go.

Looks like it will be raining soon. I'm wondering if you're out walking tonight.

Well, time is ticking on and soon I'll have to go down to the cowshed.

Welcome on Sunday, my darling!

Heartfelt greetings from your Sally

Mum sends her regards. She's sitting here on the sofa, knitting socks, and thinking of our cottage, she says. She's rejoicing with us about it. [*]

[*] 

Purchasing contract for the piece of land where Gustaf and Sally were to build their "cottage" - signed 5 March 1930, by my grandfather and the seller Otto Bylander, in the presence of two witnesses. 

If not for Sally's sore throat, she might have burst into song at the news! ;-) 

Linking to Sepia Saturday 666

Storegården d. 4-3-30

Älskade!

Nu får Du brev från mig tidigare än vi bestämt, men hoppas Du inte ser illa på det. I slutet på veckan får jag rätt mycket att göra. Vi skall ställa till med tvätt igen fram på torsdag eller så. Nu i kväll har jag lite ledigt. Dvs jag har tagit mig ledigt medan jag skriver till Dig. Annars har jag ju arbete för all del. Vi äro ensamma hemma i kväll, Mamma, Gustav och jag. Hildur har gått till Mölarp och Nils är ute i andra angelägenheter. Kl är snart sex, så om en timma eller så skall jag gå ut och mjölka.

Min förkylning har inte ”gett” sig ännu. På dagen känner jag ingenting särskilt, men på kvällarna brukar jag få så ont i halsen. Vet ej hur det kommer att bli i kväll, ännu känner jag ingenting vidare till. I går kväll voro vi på Länghem och medan jag satt där fick jag så ont i halsen och sedan i natt var det rätt så ont. Jag sov heller inte många timmar i natt. Mamma var så orolig för Nils. Han reste bort i affärer på f.m. I går och skulle komma på kvällen. Kvällen kom och natten bröt in, men han kom ej. I början trodde jag att han var hos Caj, men när kl belv 2 började jag förstå att han inte var där så länge en måndagsnatt, varför även jag börjde bli orolig. Vägarna äro ju så sliriga och usla att köra nu. Men så när kl slagit 2 kom han. Han hade varit i Gullered och där bort igenom.

Du har väl inte fått Din skattsedel. Jag glömde att tala vid Dig om det. Var kan den ha blivit av? De ha väl slarvat bort den på något sätt. Min lille vän, jag glömde ju att skicka med Dina skjortor o kragar. Hoppas Du inte är utan tills Du kommer härnäst.

Ja nu kanske Du är hos Bylander* i morgon kväll. Det vore väl roligt om det bleve ordnat snart. Väntar nu brev från Dig i morgon. Älsklingen min, på söndag är det visst fest i Komlösa och då skulle jag bli bra glad om Du ville följa med mig dit. Nu ser jag hur trumpen Du blev men jag hoppas det går snart över, det brukar ju göra så. Det är kyrkoh. Hasselrot som predikar där och därför vill jag så gärna gå. 

Det ser ut som det skulle bli regn snart. Undrar om Du är ute och ”går” i kväll.

Kl går och snart måste jag gå till ladugården.

Välkommen på söndag middag, min älskling!

Hjärtevarma hälsn från Din Sally

Mamma hälsar Dig. Hon sitter här i soffan och stickar strumpor och tänker på vår stuga, säger hon. Hon gläder sig med oss åt den.

*5 Mars 1930 tecknades ett köpekontrakt mellan min farfar Gustaf och Otto Bylander, för köpet av den mark där mina farföräldrars hus sedan uppfördes under året. Köpeskillingen var 1000 kr. 

Hard Work - Sepia Saturday 663

Continuing the correspondence between my grandparents in the year before they got married. 

Introduction: Sally (born 1900) and Gustaf (born 1904) were my grandparents. They got engaged in September 1929. In January 1930, Sally is still living on a farm in the countryside with her mother (Selma) and three grown-up siblings (Gustav, Hildur and Nils). Gustaf (who grew up in the same village) is working as a journalist in the nearest town, some 15 km away. He is renting a room or small flat there, and goes back to the village (by train) perhaps once or twice per week. 

 

Storegården,  16 January 1930 [Thursday]

Darling!

My heartfelt thanks for your letter. Yes, I did expect you last night, and was hoping that you might come. But then I understood of course that you didn't have time – and besides, the weather was so horrible that it would have been difficult for you to travel anyway. (Although I know you well enough to suspect that if you had found the time, you'd have come anyway, never mind the weather.)

Yes, you are very busy, and so am I. This week I've had so much to do that I've hadly had a moment to myself. Mum's back is still not well, so she has difficulties doing what she wants, even if she tries to help us the best she can. So now we are made aware of how much she normally does! - Well, we're glad that at least she is up and about.

Today I'm baking. I'm sitting at the kitchen table writing to you while at the same time baking buns in the oven.

Have you got shirts for Sunday and next week? We've not had time to do any washing  this week either, and I can't say when we will get round to it. We can't organise that kind of work just now when mum is not well enough to do the cooking and other chores. [1]

Tomorrow I think you'll be getting firewood. Gustav was talking today about going into town tomorrow. [2]

I can also tell you that I found your pen today. It was on top of the cupboard in your kitchen. You probably put it there yourself. [3]

On Tuesday night, Hildur, Hedvig and I went to visit Caj. Hildur asks me to tell you that you must come on Saturday night and walk with us to Källeberg. And I really hope you will, too. Please do try to come – I'll be sad otherwise... [4]

Please excuse my untidy writing – I've been writing very fast. Greetings from everyone – and do please come on Saturday! Yours, Sally

[1]  It's so easy for us in modern times to forget that washing clothes and bedlinen was really heavy work  in the past - and very time consuming as well. The procedure often took several days. I haven't got any photos of that, but I remember my dad telling me memories of it from his own childhood + I've read about it. First of all, of course, they did not have running water, but would have had to get that up from a well. Clothes would be soaked in cold water first, then in water with soap or lye, then washed in heated water with help of wash-boards; and for the final rinsing - especially with the bigger items like bedlinen, I think - usually transported  to the nearest lake or stream... And then back home again to be hung outdoors to dry. And at last also ironed, I suppose - with irons heated on the stove. Possibly they may also have had a mangle of some sort, but I'm not sure. (Definitely not electric, anyway!) 

[2] Gustaf's room or flat in town was obviously heated by an iron stove of some kind, for which his future brother-in-law by the same name (Gustav) used to bring him firewood from the farm, when he had other errands into town.

In one of my grandfather's albums I found these two photos (below) of people cutting firewood. Neither is from Storegården, though. The first photo (winter) is from a place where I know they had friends (Gullered) and used to visit. With second photo in the album there's just a family name that does not ring any bell with me (Rosqvist). 

"Vedhuggning i Gullered"

"Vedhuggning hos Rosqvists"

[3] Sally's brief comment in this letter that she found Gustaf's pen "in your kitchen" probably gives me the answer to something I've been wondering about. I know that my grandfather had (rented) his own room at the farm in the mid/late1920s (probably from after he left his apprenticeship with the village shoemaker to pursue a career as a journalist instead). But since the main farmhouse was not really all that big, and they were several grown-ups living there already, I've been wondering about the arrangements. I know there was also at least one additional smaller cottage on the farm; but at the same time I have the impression that even while the oldest brother Carl was alive, the family all lived together in the main farmhouse: Carl, his step-mother Selma, and her three children: Hildur, Sally and Nils. (And periodically also Carl's brother Gustav - who also took over the running of the farm after Carl died in 1928.) That Sally now mentions "your kitchen" when writing to her fiancé Gustaf seems to confirm to me what I've been thinking for a while now - that his room was not in the main house, but in the tiny cottage. That makes much more sense in a lot of ways. 

[4] Källeberg. This was another farm in the area. I remember it from my own childhood in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Those living there then were friends of my grandparents - three unmarried siblings, one brother and two sisters. Very old in my eyes, obviously - i.e. probably the same age as my grandparents... (Who were 55 and 51 when I was born...) I know I have photos of them but can't recall just now which album, so I think I'll save those for another time. Having "read ahead", I know that they will be mentioned in more letters to come.

Linking to Sepia Saturday 663

Storegården d. 16-1-30 

Älskling!

Ett varmt tack skall Du ha för brevet. Det var så kärkommet. Jo, nog väntade jag på Dig i går kväll, tänkte att Du kanske kom. Men sedan förstod jag ju att Du inte hade tid, och så var det ju också så ruskigt väder tidigare på kvällen, så det hade ju varit svårt för Dig att resa även om Du hade haft tid. Fastän känner jag Dig rätt så hade Du nog kommit, om Du haft tillfälle, hurudan väderleken hade varit sedan. 

Ja, Du har bråttom, jag likaså. I denna veckan har jag haft så rysligt mycket att göra så jag har knappast haft någon liten stund ledig. Mamma är inte bra i ryggen ännu, så hon har så svårt att reda sig som hon vill, fastän hon försöker ju så gott hon kan att hjälpa oss. Ja, nu får man sannerligen veta vad hon uträttar när hon är någorlunda kry. Det är ju ändå roligt att hon kan vara uppe. 

[Här har jag hoppat över en linje, som du ser, jag måtte visst se dåligt.]

Idag bakar jag.Sitter vid köksbordet och skriver till Dig samtidigt som jag bakar vetebröd i ugnen. 

Hur har Du det med skjorta nu till söndag och nästa vecka. Vi ha inte hunnit att tvätta i denna veckan heller, och jag törs inte säga när det blir. Det går inte för oss att ställa till med sådant arbete nu när inte mamma är kry så hon kan laga maten eller så.

I morgon tror jag Du får ved. Gustav talade om i dag att han skulle fara in i morgon. Så kan jag tala om för Dig att jag hittat Din penna i dag. Den låg på skåpet inne i Ditt kök. Troligtvis har Du själv lagt den där.

I tisdags kväll voro Hildur, Hedvig och jag hos Caj. Hildur ber särskilt om sin hälsning till Dig och säger att Du skall komma på lördag kväll och gå med till Källeberg. Och jag hoppas så innerligt att Du kommer på lördag. Kära du, försök göra det, jag blir så ledsen annars. 

Hoppas att Du har överseende med de många och stora bristerna i detta usla brev. Men det har gått fort må du tro. Hade jag någon gång lite mera tid på mig kanske det bleve något bättre.

Hälsningar fr alla. Kom säkert på lördag, beder

Din Sally

Up to All Sorts - Sepia Saturday 662

Letter from Sally to her fiancé Gustaf, 
[Thursday] 12 December 1929

Introduction: Sally (born 1900) and Gustaf (born 1904) were my grandparents. They got engaged in September 1929. When writing this letter, Sally is still living on a farm in the countryside with her mother (Selma) and three grown-up siblings (Gustav Hildur and Nils). Gustaf (who grew up in the same village) is working as a journalist in the nearest town, some 15 km away. He is renting a room or small flat in town, and goes back to the village (by train) perhaps once or twice per week. 

Storegården 12-12-29  

Darling!

Lots of thanks for the ”surrogate”! It was both anticipated and welcome – even if it had been even better if you had come in person! But when you couldn't, your ”surrogate” served as a substitute. I read bits of it aloud, and we all had a good laugh together – i.e. we womenfolk. [1]

Now I'm sitting at the table in the bedroom, in my usual spot, and before me I have a big pile of big grey gloves – bigger than those you've seen here before. Mum is sitting in her usual spot on the sofa at her spinning wheel, and Hildur at the table, alternately singing and sighing while stitching up a big grey glove. [2]

So you see that things are as usual – fortunately. Caj went back home to her own place again on Tuesday. She was then feeling better, although looking a bit tired. She wanted to go back to work yesterday, in spite of our protests – and she did. Nils was there yesterday evening to check how she was doing. I hope she continues to get better so that she gets back to feeling quite well again. [3]

I'll be coming [into town] on Sunday with the 3 o'clock train. I expect you to meet me, and then we'll go and have a look at the Christmas displays in the shop windows, if the weather allows. Perhaps it's best that I get off the train at the”upper” [= north] station, in case it's raining. Well, meet me there anyway, and we'll see where we go from there.

It's Lucia night tonight [12^th December], but no "pranksters" have turned up yet. I don't suppose anyone will, in weather like this – raining more or less non-stop. [4]

Tomorrow I'll be going to fetch my new coat and dress.

Signing off now, with warm greetings from ”everyone”, but first and last from myself.

Yours, Sally

PS. Please excuse me for writing in pencil. The ink is in the other room, and I don't want to disturb Gustav, who is in there at the moment. 

[1] The "surrogate" seems to have been a letter or some other piece of writing from Gustaf, sent to "represent" him when he was unable to come in person.

[2] This letter gave me a clue to the photo below, in one of the albums. I'd never been able to figure out before what's in that pile on the table, but it's obviously the gloves mentioned. From another letter, I also gather that they were making the gloves to sell in town (I suppose at a market). 

Left to right: Nils, reading aloud to the others from a book. Mother Selma. Hildur, and her fiancé Olle. Sally, busy sewing. Gustaf, with a newspaper. (And the other Gustav, the older brother, behind the camera?)  Probably a typical evening at the farm, in the winter of 1929...

The gloves also made me think of the photo below, showing that they also had sheep at the farm. I think it is Nils holding the sheep in the photo; I can't identify  the woman doing the shearing though. But the text underneath the photo in the album says it's from the farm. Putting things together, I think they probably produced the gloves all the way "from scratch"  - i.e. using wool from their own sheep. 

[3] Caj I think must be a nickname for Nils' fiancé Carin. I never heard that nickname before, but one or two more old letters seem to confirm it.

[4] Lucia night: While nowadays Lucia celebrations in Sweden are more ceremonial - with Lucia wearing a crown of candles, and her maidens (sometimes also boys included in the choir) singing Christmas hymns and other traditional songs of the season. Back in the 1920s (at least in this part of the country) it seems still to have been celebrated more like the British/American Halloween, with people wearing masks and dressing up to be unrecognisable. I've read about this, but also have one photo (below) to confirm it. Year unknown  - and I  can't tell who's who! -  but the text beneath it in Sally's album says  "Lusse i Hillared". I know the family had friends in Hillared (another village). Whether they had been invited there or paid them a surprise visit, I don't know!

Further back in history, Lucia night (12-13 December) was considered the longest night of the year; which would be the root of traditions to celebrate in various ways relating to light vs darkness. (One of those nights that were considered "haunted" until the light took over again.)

Linking to Sepia Saturday 662

Storegården d. 12-12-29 [torsdag]

Älskling!

Tusen tack skall Du ha för ”surrogatet”! Det var både efterlängtat och välkommet. Fastän nog hade det varit bra mycket roligare om Du hade kommit själv. Men när nu inte det lät sig göra, var det väl roligt att få någon sorts ersättning, och som sådan var ju Ditt ”surrogat” alldeles förträffligt. Jag läste högt en bit, och vi fingo gemensamt ett gott skratt. Vi fruntimmer förstås.

Nu sitter jag vid bordet i sängkammaren på min vanliga plats, och har framför mig en stor hög med stora grå vantar, större än dem Du sett här, dvs stora fingervantar. Mamma sitter på sin plats i soffan vid sin spolrock [?] och Hildur på sin vanliga plats vid bordet, än sjungande, än suckande och pustande, och syr på en ”stor grå vante”.

Så nu hör Du att det är sig likt – dessbättre. I tisdags gick lilla Caj hem till sitt igen. Hon var då rätt kry fastän hon såg ju lite trött ut. Hon ville så gärna börja att arbeta i går, trots våra protester, och hon gjorde det också. Nils var där i går kväll och hörde sig för om hennes välbefinnande. Hoppas hon fortsätter att krya på sig nu, så att hon blir riktigt kry igen.

Jaha, nu kommer jag på söndag med 3-tåget. Och då möter Du väl mig och så skall vi väl ut och titta på stan och julskyltningen, om det blir vackert väder.

Kanske det är bäst att jag säger att jag stiger av vid Övre [stationen] ifall det skulle bli regn, och i vilket fall som helst kan du ju möta mig vid Övre, så för vi se ”sedan” hur vi går.

Ja, nu ha vi ”lussekväll” i kväll, men ännu ha vi inga ”lussegubbar” hört av. Det kommer väl ingen tänker jag, i sådant väder. Det regnar ju nästan jämt.

I morgon skall jag gå och hämta min kappa och klädning.

Nu slutar jag med hälsningar många från ”samtliga” men först och sist är Du värmt hälsad av

Din Sally

Ja, som sagt, då är Du snäll och möter mid vid 3-tåget vid Övre.

Hoppas du är snäll och förlåter att jag skriver så illa och med blyertspenna. Bläcket är inne i det andra rummet, och jag vill inte störa Gustav, han är där inne för tillfället.

Sally's Long Hair - Sepia Saturday 660

Nearly all her life, my grandmother Sally had really long hair. She always wore it rolled up at the back, though - so not obvious at first glance how long. 

Sally and Gustaf at the lake, late 1920s

The third photo here is the only one I've seen of her with her hair let down. However, from staying over at my grandparents' house in my childhood, I also have images "in my head" of seeing her letting her  hair down before going to bed at night. On the occasion that has stuck in my mind, she was doing her "evening toilet" at the kitchen sink (where they also had a tiny mirror on the wall)* - while I was to sleep in the kitchen sofa. 

* (Back then, the only bathroom/toilet in their house was a W.C. and a clawfoot bathtub down in the cellar - a room of grey concrete, totally devoid of any other decorations or comforts. In summer, they still used an "outhouse". There was also a small wash-basin upstairs in the room next to their bedroom, though - which in my childhood served as my grandfather's study.) 

Anyway, on this occasion she and I were in the kitchen, and I was watching her letting her hair down and brush it, and then braiding it for the night. I'd never seen anyone with hair that long before - it reached down to her waist at least. She must have been in her early 60s then, but her hair was still dark brown and shiny, with no hint of grey. I also recall her commenting: "Your grandfather never wanted me to have it cut short..." 

This memory came back to me when I read the letter below, written in October 1929 - a couple of months after she and Gustaf got officially engaged. At the time, Gustaf was living in town - working full time for a newspaper then, I think. She was still at the farm with her mum and siblings. 

From the first paragraph of the letter, it seems Sally too was looking for a job away from the farm, though. Changes were coming up for the whole family: The oldest brother, Carl, had died the autumn before. Their brother Gustav (the one who lived in America in the first decade of the century) had taken over. All three of the younger siblings - Hildur, Sally and Nils - were now engaged to be  married and planning to move away from the farm within the next year or so. Finding ways to earn and save as much money as possible for their future needs seems now to have been a priority.

- - -

Fristad 29-10-29

Darling!

Sending you a few lines in all haste. [---] I was disappointed today when Hildur got back from the post office. I had been hoping to hear back about that position, but no such luck. I'll check again tomorrow, but after that I suppose it's no use giving it further thought. There are probably lots of people applying, and perhaps some with previous experience as well.

Now, dear, I must tell you what I have done – but don't get upset. Yesterday I did something I never thought I would do. Believe it or not! I had my hair cut!

That decision was so sudden that I don't quite know myself how it came about. Sometimes I almost regret it. The result wasn't as good as I thought it would be. I even cried for a bit today. But it's done now, and I hope you won't reproach me. You did tell me before that you don't mind. 

More when we meet. I don't know if we'll be coming [into town] tomorrow, but if you don't hear from anyone before 4 pm, I hope you will come [here] tomorrow evening.

Closing now, with my warmest greetings - Yours, Sally

- - -

How Gustaf did react to her haircut, I don't know. But as far as I know, she never had it cut really short again - until, when for the last few years of her life (some years after her husband died), she moved into an old people's home up in the village. Then she did not only have it cut short, but also permed. And at that point in time, I think she was quite pleased with the change!

Sally at 76, with short and curly hair

Linking to Sepia Saturday 660

Fristad d. 29-10-29

Älskade!

Vill i all hast sända dig några rader. --- Vet du, jag blev så besviken när Hildur kom från posten idag. Jag hade nämligen ett svagt hopp om att få höra något om den där platsen, men det hoppet slog tyvärr fel. Kanske kan det komma ännu, skall höra efetr i e.m. och i morgon bittida också, sedan är det väl ej lönt att tänka på det mera. Det var väl så många om den platsen, kanske sådana som hade vana förut.

Kära du, nu skall du få höra vad jag gjort, men bli inte ledsen. Igår kväll gjorde jag något som jag aldrig trott att jag skulle göra. Hör och häpna! Jag lät klippa mig.

Det beslutet skedde så hastigt och oförmodat att jag ej riktigt förstår själv hur det kom sig att det verkligen blev av. Ibland ångrar jag mig nästan. Det blev inte så bra som jag trodde det skulle bli. Jag har gråtit en stund i dag. Men nu är det ju gjort och jag hoppas du inte klandrar mig. Du har ju sagt förut att du inte bryr dig om det.

Mera när vi träffas. Vet inte om vi kommer i morgon, men hör du ingen av före kl 4 i morgon e.m hoppas jag du kommer i morgon kväll.

Slutar nu med hjärtevarma hälsn.

Din Sally

A Valentine's Post (Sepia Saturday 659)

G.046.03

My Valentine, Think of Me.
My air-ship is light,
my heart is free.
Young Cupid shall bear
my love to thee.

Min Valentin, Tänk på Mig.

Mitt luftskepp är lätt,

mitt hjärta är fritt.

Unge Cupid skall bära

min kärlek till dig.

To: Mr Gust Ekman, Galeton, Pa - Box 342
From: Gerda (Chicago, 14 Feb 1910)

Hjärtligaste hälsningar från syster Gerda

Lots of love from sister Gerda 

I'm going "off theme" (cars) this week, and doing a Valentine's post instead. Looking in the old postcard albums for a Valentine's card to serve as illustration, I found this airship, from 1910. The card was sent from my great-aunt Gerda to her brother Gustaf, while they were both living in America. 

. . .

Followers may remember that back in the autumn, I shared a series of letters written by my grandmother Sally (younger half-sister to Gerda and Gustaf above) to another Gustaf - my grandfather - while he was away doing his military service in 1925. At that point in time, they were still just friends.

Easter 1926 brought about a change in their relationship, as Gustaf then decided to reveal, by letter, that he had much deeper feelings for Sally than just friendship. That weekend, he wrote her two very long letters, declaring his love for her. It seems she responded to the first one in a face-to-face conversation, in which she "rejected" him. He followed up with an even longer letter, full of despair; to which he got a written reply, wishing for them to remain friends. How long it took them both to sort everything out between them, I still don't know. But because of one photo, also including Sally's older brother Carl, I know they must have become a "couple" before he died in September 1928, though.

The letters from Easter 1926 are long, introspective and full of heartache. I'm not going to render dem in full, but will summarize briefly what I learned from reading/transcribing them. 

On Thursday morning at 2 a.m. (that would be 1 April, 1926), Gustaf - obviously sleepless - decided he could not keep his feelings for Sally to himself any more. He had to tell her; and as it seemed he was never able to be alone with her for long enough, he must write a letter instead. 

A budding journalist, at age 22, he was a man of words - and put all his dramatic talent to use in this love letter (4 pages). He starts off cautiously with "Perhaps this letter will surprise you, perhaps not" but the more he writes, the more he gets carried away - I'd say to the point of emotional blackmail: "I don't want your compassion, but all your love, and I won't settle for less --- then I'd be left with ruined illusions and broken dreams..."  And then, at the end, suddenly a suprising confession of other kind: He asks her forgiveness for having taken (stolen) a letter of hers, which he's now returning. Whether that letter was written by Sally to someone else, or by someone else to her is not clear. But obviously there is a rival in the picture! Which I suppose may have been what made him decide to tell her his feelings in the first place...

The next letter is also from Gustaf to Sally, and written on Easter Monday (7 pages). In between, on Easter Eve, they've obviously had a talk face to face, but he hadn't felt able to express all he wanted then. It also seems Sally had then indicated that if he had confessed his feelings for her like two years earlier, she might have given him a different answer. 

Gustaf now puts renewed effort into convincing her that he has loved her for much longer than that - and also that the Rival can't possibly love her more than he does. And while the letters she wrote to Gustaf while he was away at military service the year before had made him increasingly aware of his feelings for her, he had indeed even felt jealous of some other boy courting her as far back as when he himself was only 16... (Sally was four years older than Gustaf - who was a childhood friend of her younger brother, Nils.)

He also again expresses utter despair at the thought of what to do with his life if she rejects him - now also realising that if he must stay away from her, he also won't be able to enjoy the company of the rest of her family any more - which would leave him feeling all alone in the world... (G. was born out of wedlock; his mother had mental health problems and was in an asylum since many years; his grandmother who raised him now dead; and he did not get along very well with his grandfather.) Towards the end of the letter, he also asks Sally to pray for him - as his own faith is gone. 

In reply to this letter, there is one from Sally (4 pages), written the next Thursday, and starting: "I too had a lot more to say to you on Saturday night, but I couldn't then. I'm also not sure I'll be able to express in writing how I feel."  She goes on to explain that she had had no idea that he had loved her for that long, and she doesn't think he had ever showed that, as he'd been dating (or showing interest in) several other girls over the years. (Thea is mentioned by name in this context - she was also mentioned more than once in the letters Sally wrote to Gustaf while he was away in military service; and when I was reading those letters I did have a feeling that she was probably feeling some jealousy towards Thea.)  

Sally then goes on to write about her own faith in God, and the comfort it gives her. She is glad he asked her to pray for him, as that request means a lot to her. She also confesses that the disdain he has sometimes shown for spiritual matters has indeed sometimes hurt her and made her remain silent rather than argue. 

Towards the end, she asks him not to stay away but to keep coming to visit them just as he used to. She'd be devastated if he stopped coming because of her - and what would the rest of the family think?! Her brother Nils (Gustaf's friend since childhood) probably suspects something already. And as for herself... "I'll never want to lose your friendship, Gustaf. Your friend, Sally."

. . .

While I don't know how long it took them after this to sort things out between them, at least I know that they did eventually get there. :)

I have one set of letters left to explore, written by Sally in 1929-30,  the year between their engagement and their marriage. It  seems Gustaf was living in town then, working full time for a newspaper; so that some matters had to be dealt with by letter. I only have hers to him (not his to her), but as Sally often writes about "everyday" things (about life on the farm etc) I'll be sharing at least parts of some of those in posts to come - also hoping to find some photos in the albums to match.

Linking to Sepia Saturday 659

The Lost Letter - Sepia Saturday 655

The Lost Letter - or  'Two Men on the Bummel', Part 3

In October 2022, I wrote two posts based on letters that my grandfather Gustaf wrote to my grandmother Sally from a bicycle trip together with her brother Nils (his friend since childhood). 

'Two Men on the Bummel' - Sepia Saturday 643

'On the Bummel', Part 2 - Sepia Saturday 644

At the end of the second letter, Gustaf closed with: 
"I can't wait to get to Falköping and receive your letter!" 

I thought that letter was missing, though, and had either not arrived yet when Gustaf reached the post office at Falköping, or had just not been saved for posterity. But recently I found it, among some others of later date. Unfortunately, just as Gustaf's letters to Sally from the bicycle trip lack date and year, so does this one from her to him. I can narrow it down to between 1926-29, though. (In 1925, they were still just "friends". They may possibly have become a "couple" in the spring of 1926, but I'm not sure - it may have taken longer. They did not get engaged until the autumn of 1929; and got married in the autumn of 1930.)

Fristad, Sunday a.m.

My dear friend,

I can't start by thanking you for your letter, as I don't know if you sent one or not. Hildur did not find time to go to the post office today. 

I'm so wondering how you are – and where! Here, it's raining quite heavily today. I'm thinking it must be difficult for you if it's raining where you are, too. I'm hoping it will change for the better again in the afternoon. 

The house feels empty with the two of you away. I hope your journey goes well so that you both get back safe and healthy. I've asked God to protect you, that's all I can do now – as always. Then I'm at peace in spite of all my worries. Now I know you'll find me childish and you may be laughing to yourself at me while reading the letter. But you did once ask me in a letter to pray for you, and even if you may have forgotten about that, I have not, and I'll never stop praying for you as long as I live.

Mum misses you both a lot. She's all right as long as she is working, but as soon as she sits down for a while to rest, she gets anxious and sad. Yesterday evening, she and I had to comfort each other best we could. We were sitting on the sofa in the living room. Hildur and Olle were in the glass veranda as usual. While we were down milking, I was wondering to myself where you might be just then. Now I'm hoping to hear from you tomorrow.

This afternoon I'm going to the party at Mölarp, if it's not raining too much. I'll be going alone today – I mean, not having you accompanying me, as I hope I would have had if you had been home. 

Best wishes to both of you from all of us here.
Say hello to Nisse [Nils] for me.
And I'll close this letter with my warmest greetings from me to you.

Yours, Sally

One thing I want to ask of you both: ”Be careful” and do not cycle too fast.

Childhood friends,
and brothers-in-law-to-be:
Gustaf and Nils

Mother & daughters:

Hildur, Selma and Sally

Linking to Sepia Saturday 655 - Open Theme

SVENSKA

Det försvunna brevet eller 'Två män på Velociped, del 3'

I oktober 2022 skrev jag två inlägg baserade på brev skrivna av Gustaf till Sally (mina farföräldrar) på en cykeltur han gjorde tillsammans med hennes bror Nils. I det andra brevet skriver Gustaf att han hoppas på att ett brev från Sally ska vänta honom när han kommer till Falköping. 

Jag trodde inte att detta brev från Sally fanns bevarat, men nu har jag hittat det (bland andra brev av senare datum). Liksom Gustafs till henne saknar det årtal, men måste vara från mellan 1926-1929.

Gustafs brev till Sally återfinns här:

'Two Men on the Bummel' - Sepia Saturday 643

'On the Bummel', Part 2 - Sepia Saturday 644

Och här följer det brev från Sally som antagligen väntade Gustaf i Falköping:

Fristad söndag f.m.

Käre lille vän!

Nu kan jag inte tacka dig för något brev därför att jag vet om du skickat något eller ej. Hildur hann ej gå till posten idag. 

Undrar så mycket hur och var Ni befinner Er nu. Här regnar det rätt mycket idag, häftigt nog. Det skulle väl vara svårt för Er om det skulle bli regnigt nu när Ni ändå äro i väg. Hoppas dock att det ändrar sig igen så det blir vackert tills i eftermiddag. Det är så tomt efter Er här hemma. Gott om resan ginge lyckligt så att Ni kommo friska och välbehållna hem igen. Jag har lämnat Er år Guds beskydd, det enda jag nu, så väl som alltid annars, kan göra. Då är jag lugn trots all oro som jag annars kan ha mången gång. Nu vet jag att du anser mig för barnslig och kanske till och med skrattar för dig själv åt mig när du läser brevet, men en gång har du själv i ett brev bett mig att jag skall bedja för dig. Det kanske du nu glömt bort, men jag har ej glömt det och jag skall aldrig upphöra att bedja för dig så länge jag lever. 

Mamma saknar Er mycket. När hon är i arbete går det rätt bra, men sätter hon sig stilla en stund blir hon så ängslig och sorgsen till mods. I går kväll fingo Mamma och jag trösta varandra bäst vi kunde. Vi sutto i soffan i rummet, Hildur och Olle i verandan som vanligt. Kvällen var så ovanligt lång i går kväll. När vi voro nere och mjölkade undrade jag var Ni voro just då. Hoppas nu få höra från Er i morgon. 

I eftermiddag har jag tänkt gå till festen i Mölarp om det inte regnar för mycket. Nu får jag gå ensam i dag, jag menar jag har inte dig i sällskap, vilket jag hoppas jag fått om du varit hemma. 

Hj. hälsn. Till Er båda från oss alla här. Hälsa Nisse så hjärtligt från mig.

Du är nu till sist varmt hälsad från mig. Din Sally.

En sak vill jag be Er om och det är: ”Var försiktiga” och kör ej för fort.