SIVERTSDATTEN, Annie Rasmussen: Letter to Parents in Norway

    Thanks, dear folks, for the two pretty spoons that shall be kept as a remembrance for the grandparents in Norway. I had not expected such an expensive gift as those silver spoons, but I am more thrilled to think that you are thinking about me and my sons, than just the value ofthe silver spoons.
    • May 30, 2022
    0 1
    Read Time:2 Minute, 58 Second

    The following is a letter from Annie Rasmussen Sivertsdatter to her parents in Norway. [Annie was also known as Annie Trondheim].

    Fairview, Utah January 12, 1871

    I will begin by sending a greeting to you for a Happy New Year from your daughter, Anne. Dear Father and Mother, I want to thank you for the sweet Christmas gift that you sent my two elder sons. Such an unexpected gift and such happiness that filled my heart that I cannot describe it. Thanks, dear folks, for the two pretty spoons that shall be kept as a remembrance for the grandparents in Norway. I had not expected such an expensive gift as those silver spoons, but I am more thrilled to think that you are thinking about me and my sons, than just the value of the silver spoons. And thanks, Father, for the lock of your hair that you sent to me. It really brought tears to my eyes to see it and how gray it has become since I left you some 13 or 14 years ago if I remember correctly. And you can certainly imagine how I have changed since you last saw me. I will be 36 now on the 19th of April. Time goes so fast and you can imagine just how my sons have grown and they speak of you so often. You would be very pleased with them if you could see them, but that is almost an impossibility.

    As I mentioned in letter to Moster I have just had another son. He will be 1 year old now on the 10th of May. His name is Ingebrigt; You probably think that his strange, Father, that I haven’t named any of my sons after you, but I shall tell you how I feel about this. I have been here in Utah for 8 years and during that time I have only received one single letter from you and I have felt as though you must have almost forgotten about me. At least that you think very little of me. This may be due to my leaving you at Skaun and taking this course which brought me to Utah and which you deemed as senseless and directly against your win, and with this in mind, Father, I haven’t felt right about naming my sons after you. However now when I hear that you do think about me and do not hate the teachings of God, I feel very happy. And it may still be that if I am blessed with other sons, which I believe will happen, as this is my mission here on earth, I yet may feel that I should call a son by your name. Father, be not displeased with me because I love you and wish you well always. And also Mother for the kindness she has shown me. She shall not lose her reward for the kindness she shows to me and my sisters and to the servants of the Lord as I have heard through letters that she had befriended these servants or Elders.

    We have thought of sending you a portrait of our children this summer if we can get to Salt Lake City. Mother, I was very pleased to receive the picture of your son and as everyone says, I have a very handsome half-brother. Mother, please fulfill my desire by sending me a portrait of you and Father. How that would thrill me, but maybe it is too much for me to ask for you as the times are hard indeed.

    About Post Author

    Brother Joseph

    randy@rkbaker.com
    Happy
    Happy
    0 %
    Sad
    Sad
    0 %
    Excited
    Excited
    0 %
    Sleepy
    Sleepy
    0 %
    Angry
    Angry
    0 %
    Surprise
    Surprise
    100 %

    Related Tags
    You May Also Like

      CHAPMAN Julia Ann

      Other than for Julia's health, Isaac was well equipped to travel. In the heat of the late spring, Julia gained some weight and felt pretty well. Deciding that they could safely make the trip, Isaac loaded the wagon, making a special bed for his wife. At first she did very well, cheerful that at last they could go west and be with their relatives. But as the trip continued, the strain began to tell. Some mornings she was unable to get up. When they crossed Loup's Fork they again pulled out of the line, getting one of the Elders who lived at the Fork, Isaac and he administered to her. She seemed to relax and feel better, but during the night she lapsed into her last long sleep. After they buried her, Isaac was so grief stricken that he sat for days, staring in front of him, felled by his tragedy. One evening James Walsh came to his fire and said, "I have seen many tragedies along the trail, and I respect you for your grief, but life must go on. Now you owe your little ones an even greater responsibility than before. Now you must be both father and mother to them. Crying tears of anguish over your lost wife is right and proper, but you must never allow your grief to immobilize you. What would Julia want you to do? You have begun a great quest, which, unfortunately, she was too weak to finish. Now you must finish it for her." Out in the night Isaac walked for hours, asking why? Why? But with the coming of midnight, a peace enveloped him like a cloud. His beliefs taught him that although her body was dead, she, herself was still alive and would wait for him. He must not fail her. The next morning, 10 July 1852, he gathered a bunch of wild flowers and placed
      View Post

        ANDERSON, Editha Morgan

        Whatever else she was, Edith, like many other mature single Latter-day Saint Women, had internal strength and strong religious beliefs sufficient to tolerate an environment that was unsympathetic toward mature single women, as exemplified by Stout’s comments.Editha established a private school in her small log cabin that was located on 1st North and about 70 West in American Fork. It served as a bedroom, living room, and a tightly packed class room. The dwelling featured one door, one window, two beds, a wood stove, and a rest facility located out back of the cabin. Her rudimentary school attracted a dozen or so students, about the same number of youngsters as attended another school that met in a community-owned building that served as a place of worship and education.
        View Post

          WASDEN, James Brooks

          Early day settler and pioneer of Northern Wyoming; Built the first house in Penrose, WY; Bridge builder in Yellowstone National Park; Met U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt; Lacked formal education however, excelled as a scriptorian and a prolific reader.
          View Post

          Elihu Marcellus Allen

          Elihu and his family experienced severe persecution while living in Missouri because of their religion. Elihu executed an affidavit on 18 May 1839 in Quincy, Adams, Illinois itemizing a bill of damages against the State of Missouri for $1,000 for property lost and expenses incurred during the expulsion.
          View Post

            GREEN, Robert Kenyon: Biography (1806-1884)

            Winter in Ponca CampOn July 1st, 1846 a ferry was completed to cross the Missouri River. On the western side, a place called ‘Cold Spring Camp’ was established on recommendation of Bishop George Miller. It was late in the year, and the Green family pioneers had been delayed by heavy rains. They waited for instructions to either press on to the Rocky Mountains or find a place to spend the winter. Companies organized by Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball at the Cold Springs Camp combined with Bishop Miller's Company and became the advance party for the church.
            View Post