Letter from Ole Rolvaag to Jennie Rolvaag, 1931 April 2
Dublin Core
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My dear girl!
Now it is not carefree because I am not sulky. The letters from home have been much rarer recently. Fritjof has stopped writing. You have been especially great; Tulla just so-so.
But life’s passage is just like that. Fritjof is quite a problem. His future is becoming everything but bright. It is not possible for us, either, to get gray hair over it. He is now grown up and gets to sail his own sea. It is easier said than done that this time there are 7,000,000 unemployed in the country.
To let him begin at St. Olaf in the fall, I believe, is just to make life worse for him. He has not thrown himself into books and homework through the 4 years in high school. How will he be able to do when he comes into college? There, a long, large freedom is to reign. If he could work for a year’s time, I believe it would be best. Should the desire for books awake, it is not too late to begin at college. One thing is sure: I do not want to throw him without getting an unbreakable promise that he will take the spoon in another hand.
For two days now I have struggled with translation. Everything I have wondered over is 12 pages. This seems to be about as bad as the first paragraph was good. This work is utterly killer; it takes both the power and the strength from a person. I never want to try to translate another book to English. If I write more, it can be in English.
Monday morning Mrs. N and Caroline and her two children are coming back. I have then my room and can get all the work done I need. Hope to go out and swim. I have not been in the sea more than one time. All the same I have gotten much good out of my swimsuit. If it is clear and warm in the morning, I put it on and go outside for at least half an hour’s time. This, I know, has not hurt me.
The 4th of April they are selling a return ticket between Kansas City and Missouri, good for 15 days, for 58 dollars! It is possible there are points further north where this ticket can be bought from. Tomorrow I want to go down to the office and find out. If I see you can use the opportunity, I will telegraph you. But presumably this will not suit our plans.
Tomorrow I am sure to get a letter from home. They usually come Thursday and Friday. So far I have not heard more from Boe than that letter I sent you. Yes, yes, him about that!
Tragic that it would go like that for Rockne. His wife and children had not long left Newburger’s new house.
No, now I will stop. Tonight I want to go to bed early.
Yours
Ole