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Translated from Danish by Eleanor Freeman.
Dear cousin Paul,
We have long wanted to write to you, but nothing has come of it. Now I must really get to it. We have also waited for a few words from you, but those have not appeared. Thank you many times for the greetings to us in your parents' letters. There we hear from you, and we are glad that you are well and content in America. We have also heard a little from you from Erich Hatt. He says you are very cheerful and that you are not very homesick for Denmark. Little Paul, that you certainly should not be ashamed of for here you have many dear ones whom you must miss, especially your mother. Dear little Paul, do not forget her, no matter what you do. Remember her always, and I am sure that you will for you have a good and sensitive heart, and you may be sure that she is always longing for her Lille Paul. Yes, she longs for you all, but you are the last to go away from the native home, and you stand most alive in her remembrance.
Dear cousin, you have now already heard through your sister Cathrine that your dear sister Marie is dead. Yes, Paul, that will cause you sorrow as it caused us others, as we all loved Marie. She was an unusually good and lovely girl. It is hardest for your dear mother... she misses her most. We should also remember... it is really too much... last year she had to be separated from you and this year from Marie. But it may be this is best, for the Lord's way is not our way. Marie was not sick long. She had not been so well for a while, but she was better and no one thought it was the end. Tuesday, February 7th, she went to play with the child, and when she bent down to pick something up, she would not rise to her feet again. She went to bed, and on Wednesday your mother was fetched. She was then with Marie both day and night until she died. She died Friday, February 10th.
The Lord delivered her soul. She said just before she died: 'Dear Saviour, open the gate, now I am coming'. Yes, she is well off in Heaven, where some day we will see her again. Dear Paul, do not forget to pray to God and read diligently in your New Testament so that you also may go through Heaven's gate to your sister Marie. You should have been there to hear the preacher's funeral address about her. It was splendid. He said in the sermon that we should imitate Marie, the blessed young girl, so that we might become like her and go through the same gate that she did.
Dear Paul, I have also had a great sorrow since you left. My dear father has gone from us over to Varmark. It has grieved me, and I miss him, but I think it was God's will, and it must be good. He is well. Fourth Christmas Day we were with him to celebrate his birthday. He has Knud's room, and that is nice. He will not do more than he wants, but you know Father. He works as long as he can.
Mads Wiuf has married Hans Byggere's sweetheart, and they had a son eight days after the wedding.
Greetings from Ole Wiuf. He comes here often. He is at home and is a farm hand. Also greetings from Bedstefader and from Hans Holm's, all three. Lorents is home this winter. They are much as usual, and Thules is the same. Paul Brodersen has married a woman from Skive. Also greetings from Anne Wrang. You can be sure we talk often about you. Little Johanne talks about you many times a day. She often goes to America to you. You should see her, so big and sweet she has become. Also greetings from your father and mother. They both were here last Sunday. Your ears must have burned for we talked a lot about you. Do not forget to write often to them. It is almost their only pleasure to hear from you in America. Rasmus Aagaard is getting a horse now. He will take the milk to the creamery. Here we are sawing, and every day it blows. We are busy with the timber till Paulsen comes next month. We have leased the lowest of our land together with the meadow that is 13 1/2 toende (1 toende is 1.36 acres) to Ole Soerensen. We shall have 45 kr. per toende. Niels Wrang has got good use of your skates this winter for it has been severely cold.
Now I have told you a little about everything so you must be contented this time. Now I ask you to greet Jes and all his family both from husband and Johanne and me, and also Iver and Tante and Onkel Wind and his family.
Now, little Paul, write sometime and send us your picture, and when you become a rich man we will have your picture in the cabinet. Now with best wishes from us all, my husband and child and your cousin, Marie Wrang.
Your mother is expecting a letter these days, but it is probably on the way. You soon will be completely English.
No. 810, 542, 410, No. 87, the last verse.
These are the numbers of Marie's hymns so you can read them. You may be sure there were many fine wreaths on her coffin, and there were many people at church.
Marie Hoenhjar? has gone on the last ship to America.
David's psalm 139.
Goodbye till we see you.
Your cousin Marie.