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Translated from Danish by Eleanor Freeman.
Cathrineberg, 13th October, 1904
Dear Paul,
I received your letter today and thank you for it, and I will write to you at once and tell you about your dear old parents' Golden Wedding, which I think you would like to know a little about. I can say that it was a lovely day for the two old people. The old home was polished up both outside and inside as well as we knew how, and the wedding couple had for the first time wallpaper on in the parlor and small curtains up, which your mother had said would never go up but which she permitted for this occasion.
The loom was moved out and the room put in order and decorated also in there, and a table was set for coffee and chocolate in both rooms for the forty guests who were invited. Dorthea's kitchen was also made pleasant so the guests could sit there if they wanted to. At three o'clock in the afternoon the guests came. Niels Holst with family, old Mads Krestensen, Sandager's, Niels Smed's, J. Bruhn, my brother's, Tulstrup's, Vrang's, your father's family, Berg's, Knudsen's, Fru Juhl, and we from Cathrineberg. The weather was beautiful, and the two old people were in their best finery. Your mother looked fine. On the other hand, your father has declined, although he was fairly well that day.
After we had drunk coffee and chocolate ever so cozily and sat and chatted, we all walked a bit in our garden and were here in Cathrineberg where my husband played and entertained them. Meanwhile the table was set in the old home, and had you been able to peep in, dear Paul, you would not have known it, so festive was it all within, with Father and Mother as honored guests. The meal was prepared at Cathrineberg and included roast beef and roast pork with red wine and kransekage and apple cake with white wine. From the place of honor to the many guests Berg made a speech to the wedding couple and presented to them at that time a gift of money from the Stenderup townspeople of 135 kr., to the great pleasure of the old people. My husband made a speech for Sister Dorthea and regretted that she was the only one attending of the large family of children, which cost Mother and Father tears from the thoughts of the three dear absent ones, to whom we all send many good wishes with the hope that the old people may be permitted to see their Paul again before they close their eyes forever. For Jes and Iver there is small hope for they are building their families, so remember, dear Paul, they are still waiting day and night for your visit. Your mother says, 'I would like to see Paul again, but then it would be hard for us to say goodbye to him again, but God's will be done'.
After the meal we had a cozy talk with coffee, and it was about 12:30 before we said goodnight to the two old people, whose faces beamed with joy and appreciation for all the honor given them on their great festive day.
Today I was at your parents' and read to them the letter you sent me, which they were glad to hear, as well as your letter to them with the enclosed gift of money, for which they were very grateful, and they asked me to greet you and say thanks for that. They are both well, and they are still very happy about the wedding party.
You asked about Sinnet. She is married in Svendborg and soon will have a child. My husband is, I am sorry to say, plagued with rheumatism and has had to stay in bed a long time, but fortunately he was able to be up for the celebration.
Peter Bogh continues the letter:
Yes, little Paul, a few more words I think. Thanks for being kind enough to write to me.
My wife has already given you an account of your old parents' wedding party. It would have been so charming if you children had been present for the old folks... but the many hundreds of miles which lie between you place an insurmountable obstacle in the way. If you see Jes and Iver, you must give them a greeting from me. Remember to ask Jes whether he can remember the day I drove him to Kolding to leave for America. Jes said then to me that it was so strange for him to think that when we two next saw each other we would be old men. Yes, it strikes me now that I am going on my 45th year, and Jes is 50. God knows whether Jes will ever come home again. Still I have a firm belief that you will come, little Paul. Your father is very feeble and will not be living long, so it can hardly be perhaps that you will see him in this life. However, your mother is very well. They were both very pleased with the wedding party.
Now, little Paul, I will talk no more about it, and I close with kindest greetings from your old parents and sister, and likewise I send you a hearty good greeting from my wife and your devoted, Bogh.